Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
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Here are tonight’s teams…
Some pre-match reading for you…
- 5 of the most disappointing Champions League campaigns by Premier League clubs
- 5 talking points ahead of the final round of Champions League group matches
- Everything you need to know ahead of Man United’s must-win game in Wolfsburg
- The Man United squad looked a LOT different the last time they faced Wolfsburg in Germany
- Being exciting is the whole point of being Manchester United
- A forgotten face back in Man United squad as injuries wreak havoc before Wolfsburg clash
- ‘We will treat Wolfsburg game like it’s a Champions League final’ – Schneiderlin
“We don’t have any excuse anymore, we have to win, so that’s what I tell the players,” says Louis van Gaal with a slight smirk on BT Sport.
He also dismisses the suggestion that Martial is under pressure to score.
Meanwhile, back in Manchester…
We’re underway…
Let off for Man United already!
Kruse heads on to Schürrle, who blasts over with the goal at his mercy.
Not the most assured start for United, with Wolfsburg looking sharper thus far.
As expected, Varela has lined up at right-back, while Darmian is at left-back.
Mata’s shot on the edge of the box is blocked, before Fellaini is flagged offside.
The onus will be on the Spanish international, in particular, to provide United’s creativity tonight.
MAN UNITED 1-0 WOLFSBURG (MARTIAL 10)
Mata plays an intelligent through ball for Martial, who makes no mistake with the finish.
That’s the French youngster’s sixth goal of the season and second in the Champions League.
MAN UNITED 1-1 WOLFSBURG (NALDO 13)
Man United’s lead has lasted just three minutes and four seconds.
A free-kick is floated into the box and Naldo guides the ball home with a superb volley.
Man City have taken an early lead against Borussia Mönchengladbach through David Silva.
You can keep up to date with tonight’s other Champions League matches via our score centre here.
This time, Arnold’s free kick, from a similar position to the goal, is overhit and Man United breathe a sigh of relief.
Wolfsburg have been forced into an early change with Schäfer replacing Rodriguez.
Vierinha makes a driving run towards goal, but his shot deflects safely into De Gea’s hands.
Down the other end, United attack and end up winning a corner, as a cross into the box is diverted out of play.
Despite Man United’s boring reputation, it’s been a pretty entertaining game with a nice flow so far.
Blind makes an excellent challenge to stop a threatening run from Draxler.
Still 0-0 in the PSV-CSKA game by the way.
Great save! Fellaini’s header from a corner is parried off the line by Benaglio.
For all the Belgian international’s lack of finesse, he is a clear goal threat,.
WOLFSBURG 2-1 MAN UNITED ( VIERINHA)
Fantastic passage of play, as Wolfsburg open up the Man United defence with some slick passing.
Draxler eventually unselfishly squares it to Vieirinha, who has a simple tap-in.
Here are all the goals so far…
As it stands, Man United are going out of the Champions League.
It’s still 0-0 in Holland, but PSV would advance by virtue of their superior head-to-head record with the Red Devils.
Wolfsburg launch another impressive counter-attack.
Draxler outfoxes his marker, but his subsequent shot on the edge of the box is well saved by De Gea.
This is looking quite ominous for United at the moment, and it seems as if Darmian will have to be forced off injured.
Interesting. Van Gaal doesn’t bring on either Paddy McNair or Ashley Young.
Instead, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson comes on for Darmian.
Controversial. Man United think they’ve scored, but the officials belatedly rule it out.
Lingard plays the ball in and it finds the back of the net. Mata was standing in an offside position and there is some debate whether he got a touch or interfered with play in anyway.
The officials eventually decide that the Spaniard was active.
HALF-TIME: WOLFSBURG 2-1 MAN UNITED
Were the officials right to rule this out? Have a look and judge for yourself.
The all-ex-United BT Sport panel seem to think the referee made the correct decision, as Mata was in the eyeline of the goalkeeper.
So Man United are looking at a Champions League exit if the situation doesn’t improve in the next 45 minutes.
Wolfsburg lead 2-1 in an entertaining clash that defies Man United’s reputation for ‘boring’ football. Unfortunately for Louis van Gaal, however, it’s the hosts who have played the majority of the attacking football.
While looking far from secure in defence, the Germans have been a joy to watch in attack at times, with the imperious Julian Draxler living up to his reputation as one of German football’s brightest young talents.
It’s looking bleak for United currently, with PSV’s 0-0 draw against CSKA currently enough to take them through with Wolfsburg. The Red Devils have been out-fought and out-thought, with a much-improved second-half display needed to get them back in this game.
The second half has begun…
Another belated decision from the officials.
Naldo goes down when trying to stop Depay, and the referee takes an age to award the decision in Wolfsburg’s favour.
That’s that cleared up then.
Depay sends in a dangerous ball towards Fellaini, and Wolfsburg clear somewhat uncomfortably.
It would be no surprise to see Man United rely increasingly on that tactic as the half develops.
Frustration for United, as Lingard gets into a decent position, but hits his cross out of play.
The home side are clearly approaching this second half more cautiously than the first, with Man United being given more freedom to play as a result.
Good save by Benaglio from close range to stop a Depay volley.
United are getting closer and beginning to dominate this game.
Lingard’s shot from the edge of the box deflects away from goal.
PSV surely can’t withstand this level of intense pressure for another half an hour.
Super save from De Gea.
The Spanish international ill-advisedly comes for the through ball and fails to claim it. He then rushes back to his goal and just about palms away a well-executed Schürrle lob.
Draxler plays Schürrle through.
Lingard’s subsequent tackle wickedly deflects towards goal and De Gea has to be alert to tip the ball over the bar.
So close! Kruse gets on the end of a Schäfer corner, but his volley goes just wide.
Meanwhile, Man United have made their final two substitutions — Carrick and Powell replace Mata and Schweinsteiger.
Man United continue to press but Wolfsburg have looked the more likely side to score in recent minutes.
As I type, however, Martial goes down on the edge of the box quite easily, but the referee awards a free kick.
Wow! Depay curls a free kick just wide from the edge of the box.
The ex-PSV star almost came back to haunt his former club with a crucial goal there.
CSKA 1-0 PSV – MAN UNITED ARE GOING THROUGH AS IT STANDS
PSV 1-1 CSKA – MAN UNITED ARE GOING OUT OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AS IT STANDS!
More bad news for Man United.
Chris Smalling is now struggling with an injury and the visitors have made all their substitutions.
MAN UNITED 2-2 WOLFSBURG (GUILAVOGUI OWN GOAL 83)
WOLFSBURG 3-2 MAN UNITED (NALDO 84)
PSV 2-1 CSKA (Pröpper 86)
Incredible drama! Man United are level for just over a minute – Guilavogui unfortunately heads into his own goal from a Fellaini knockdown.
Moments later, Naldo heads home from a corner as Wolfsburg regain the lead.
To compound United’s woe, PSV have taken the lead against CSKA.
Schäfer makes a last-ditch block to deny a United shot. From the ensuing corner, Lingard’s attempt is then also blocked.
This match really has been the antithesis of the stereotypical United game this season, but the Red Devils’ supporters are likely to be similarly displeased with the outcome.
FULL-TIME: PSV 2-1 CSKA
Man United are now effectively out of the Champions League.
The Red Devils need two goals to progress.
FULL-TIME: WOLFSBURG 3-2 MAN UNITED – UNITED ARE OUT OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!
So that’s that. Man United exit the Champions League at the group stage.
An uncharacteristically entertaining United match ended with the Red Devils on the wrong side of a 3-2 result.
Ultimately, Man United weren’t good enough over the course of their six games in Europe this season.
Paul Scholes, speaking on BT, brands United an “average team”.
Right, that’s that. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Stay tuned, as we’ll have more reaction to follow.
