By Simon Peach, PA Chief Football Writer
Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League after falling just short of a remarkable European comeback at RB Leipzig as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side lost 3-2 in Germany.
Having started Group H with a win at last season’s runners-up Paris St Germain and a five-star display at home to Tuesday’s opponents, the Red Devils undid that fine work and have now dropped into the Europa League.
United had only required a point from their final two matches to reach the knockout phase, yet last week’s loss to PSG was compounded by a heartbreaking defeat at Leipzig as poor defending proved too much to overturn in a grandstand finish.
⏰ 2' Angeliño
⏰ 13' Haidara
⏰ 69' Kluivert
⏰ 80' Bruno Fernandes
⏰ 82' PogbaLeipzig ? Manchester United ?#UCL pic.twitter.com/iRRtMKBamR
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 8, 2020
Angelino, on loan from Manchester City, got Julian Nagelsmann’s men off to a dream start by lashing home inside two minutes, with Amadou Haidara adding a second soon after.
United could easily have fallen further behind before substitute Justin Kluivert took advantage of hesitant defending to put Leipzig three goals ahead moments after a Bruno Fernandes free-kick hit the bar in the second half.
It proved a hole too big for Solskjaer’s comeback kings to dig themselves out of, despite Fernandes scoring from the spot and substitute Paul Pogba heading in off the back of Harry Maguire in the final 10 minutes.
