Manchester United have been knocked out of the 2015/16 Champions League at the group stage after suffering a 3-2 away loss to Wolfsburg on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
The crucial fixture began in promising fashion for the visitors, who took the lead in the 10th minute through Anthony Martial.
However, Wolfsburg did not take long to wrangle back momentum, hitting the lead by the 30th minute to hold a 2-1 lead at half time.
Wolfsburg would extend their lead in the dying stages, before conceding a late own goal to give United some respectability on the scoreboard.
In Group B’s other result, PSV Eindhoven secured their advancement to the business end of the competition with a 2-1 win at home against CSKA Moscow.
Final score:
Wolfsburg 3
Manchester United 2
Wolfsburg host Manchester United, with both sides just a solitary win away from cementing a place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Join The Roar from 6:45am (AEDT) for live scores.
Pool B is tightly packed, with Wolfsburg on nine points, United on eight, and third-placed PSV Eindhoven on seven.
A win for the Dutch side over CSKA Moscow in Group B’s corresponding fixture guarantees them a spot in the last 16, meaning Wolfsburg can afford a draw, but Manchester needs the three points.
Wolfsburg is coming off a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund in their last fixture. Ricardo Rodriguez equalised in injury time to draw scores level, however Shinji Kagawa stunned Wolfsburg moments later with another late goal to steal the points.
United for their part are coming off three straight draws – to West Ham, Leicester City and PSV Eindhoven. Despite failing to get a win, Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal has other things to worry about.
Wayne Rooney, Paddy McNair and Morgan Schneiderlin are all in doubt, while Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia will all miss the midweek fixture.
The last time these sides faced off was in early October. Daniel Caligiuri fired early for Wolfsburg; Juan Mata equalised shortly after, then Chris Smalling found the net in the second half to secure the 2-1 win for the Red Devils.
Wolfsburg could opt for a more defensive style, and Manchester United need to be careful not to get caught on the counter. Either way, it should be a close game.
Prediction
Wolfsburg 1-1 Manchester United
Will it be Wolfsburg or Manchester United that cement their place in the last 16 of the Champions League? Join The Roar from 6:45am (AEDT) for live scores to find out.
aladdin sane
Roar Rookie
we'll have to start scoring first mate. we've defended brilliantly so far but can't rely so heavily on the back four to keep clean sheets every game. and just so boring to watch. so boring. kills me.
Doug Graves
Guest
I hope they never sack Van Gaal. He's keeping United stuck right were they belong. No threat to any silverware and they have to spend hundreds of millions of pounds just to scrape into the top 4 and get humiliated in the CL group stage. Manchester United, a slightly bigger Spurs.
Brian
Guest
Not in the big 3 sure, but not in the 16. That's pretty shameful when you look at the budgets of PSV or Benfica who have made that last 16.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Won't happen. EPL is the focus this season. Although we're not playing great, we're a little more consistent than the rest. I can see us being at the top or very near to it in April.
aladdin sane
Roar Rookie
With the squad at his disposal this is an abject failure of LVG to navigate what was considered one of the easier groups. This is the slowest, least threatening United side I've ever seen. I would be sacking him at the end of the year and going hell for leather at either of Guardiola or Ancelotti.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I agree that they're poor at the moment. But I think the focus is on getting the team qualifying for UCL consistently and building a squad which will compete with the top teams again very soon. I don't feel that United are a top 16 team in Europe at the moment. The gulf that has formed between them and the serious big boys of European football (Bayern, Barca and Real) is enormous. It was just 4/5yrs ago when most would speak of United in the same breathe as those teams, if not superior in some ways.
Brian
Guest
Wolfsburg are a good team but to get only a point in 2 games against PSV after buying Memphis from them was really poor. They should be going through with Wolfsburg.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Not completely surprised to see United knocked out. The squad is no where near as established as their opponents despite the money spent. Next season's campaign will be more telling.