With an embarrassing 3-2 away defeat to RB Leipzig on Tuesday (December 8), Manchester United loses any hope of making it out of the group stages of the UEFA Champions League (UCL).

Bereft Red Devils fans watched their team crash and burn out of the UCL after a disastrous showing at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena. The nightmare manifested rather early as Angeliño scored a brilliant goal in the second minute.

The Manchester United outfit was still slow to respond to Leipzig and again paid dearly in the 13th minute, when midfielder Amadou Haidara doubled the German side’s lead.

The first half saw Leipzig, joint Group H leaders with Paris Saint-Germain, beaming with confidence – inching closer to a win.

A 69th-minute brace by Justin Kluivert tripled Manchester United’s woes, as the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer-managed team grew increasingly desperate for a breakthrough.

After a brief recalibration, Man U returned with an emblazed passion and piled on the pressure on Leipzig—with their first salvo coming in the form of a penalty on Mason Greenwood in the 80th minute.

Bruno Fernandez converted, reduced the deficit to 3-1 and the Red Devils went into hyperdrive.

The drama continued as Leipzig faltered under the Man U pressure, a major opportunity for Paul Pogba in the 80th, who leapt at the back post as the ball bundled into the net.

The goal was subjected to a video-assisted referee (VAR) check over concerns that the ball struck Maguire’s hand on the way in but that is soon over and United are within one goal of qualification.

Alas, the dream of a last-minute comeback died, and with it Old Trafford’s hopes to further advance. Leipzig, brushing off a 5-0 thrashing, overtook Man United in the table with this win.

It was a complete reversal of Man U’s three emphatic wins at home, where the team dominated Group H, but, needing just two draws to secure a knockout stage spot, the Red Devils are out.