Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League last night by Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The side from the Spanish capital won 2-1 at Old Trafford in the second leg of the knockout stages of the competition, to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory over the Premier League leaders.

In a relatively quiet first half United came the closest to breaking the deadlock as Nemanja Vidic’s header came off the woodwork and Danny Welbeck failed to score from the rebound.

The second half produced much more drama and controversy. The home side took the lead early in the second period. Real keeper Diego Lopez denied both Robin Van Persie and Danny Welbeck, before Nani took the ball of Raphael Varane, fired a cross into the box which was put past his own keeper by Sergio Ramos.

Controversy was to follow as Nani was given a shock red card for high and clumsy challenge on Real Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa. That left united more than half-an-hour to play with just ten men against Los Blancos.

And it didn’t take Real long to make the extra space count. Former-Tottenham star Luka Modric picked up the ball just outside the area took on Michael Carrick, before firing in a superb effort that went in off the inside of David de Gea’s post.

It got even worse for the home side three minutes later as Real took the lead. It was almost inevitable that former-United hero Cristiano Ronaldo would have a huge say in this tie and it was the Portuguese international that scored the winner.

Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain got into the box and pulled the ball back for Ronaldo to slide the ball into the net. The goal was celebrated in muted fashion by the former Old Trafford hero. This effort was enough to send Real through to the quarter-finals, despite all United’s valiant late efforts.

Should Nani have been sent-off?