© EuroFootball.com
On Thursday, the return UEFA Europa League round of 16 matches sensationally turned into the final breaths of what once were considered tournament favorites - the Manchester teams - unsuccessfully striving for the second most prestigious club football trophy.
After a surprising 2-3 defeat at "Old Trafford," the Manchester United players and in Spain failed to resist Athletic Bilbao, losing 1-2.
Seeking consolation for the 'Red Devils' who fought hard, Wayne Rooney scored a goal at the end of the second half when everything was already clear.
An even harsher blow was suffered by the Manchester City team, who were eliminated from further competition for away goals by Lisbon Sporting Club.
A week ago in Portugal, Roberto Mancini's players fell by a minimal result of 0-1, thus being determined to take revenge on their southern opponents.
However, the opponents had other plans, and after the first half, they were leading by 0-2.
In the second part of the match, the 'blue side' besieged the opponents' goal, and mainly thanks to Sergio Aguero's efforts, they scored three goals, but they failed to find the decisive fourth.
In the fifth added time minute, Manchester City's goalkeeper Joe Hart came to Sporting's penalty area and was very close to heading the ticket to the next stage, but the ball flew just beside the goalpost.
In the Europa League quarterfinals, we will also see the teams of Hannover, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, AZ Alkmaar, Metalist Kharkiv, and Schalke 04.
The draw will take place on Friday.
Results:
- Bilbao Athletic 2 - 1 Manchester United (first leg 3 - 2, aggregate result 5 - 3)
- Man City 3 - 2 Sporting Lisbon (first leg 0 - 1, aggregate result 3 - 3)
- Hannover 4 - 0 Standard Liege (first leg 2 - 2, aggregate result 6 - 2)
- PSV Eindhoven 1 - 1 Valencia (first leg 2 - 4, aggregate result 3 - 5)
- Udinese 2 - 1 AZ Alkmaar (first leg 0 - 2, aggregate result 2 - 3)
- Besiktas 0 - 3 Atletico Madrid (first leg 1 - 3, aggregate result 1 - 6)
- Olympiakos Piraeus 1 - 2 Metalist Kharkiv (first leg 1 - 0, aggregate result 2 - 2)
- Schalke 04 4 - 1 FC Twente (first leg 0 - 1, aggregate result 4 - 2)
