Man Utd 2

Man Utd 2-3 Real Madrid

In the second Spanish inquisition endured by an English side in the Champions League in the space of 24 hours following Chelsea's elimination by Barcelona, even United were unable to recover from suicidally going 3-0 down in 52 minutes.

They may have eventually rediscovered their spirit to pull two goals back but it was never going to be enough to take them through to the Champions League semi-finals as they suffered their first defeat at Old Trafford since December 1998.

The curse of the early conceded goal was the root of United's downfall as, just like Borussia Dortmund three years ago and Monaco 11 months later, Real seized the lead when Roy Keane of all people put through his own net with just 20 minutes gone.

Ferguson believed that his team had learned to cope in adversity by recovering to secure that memorable victory against Bayern Munich in last year's final, as well as in three other European ties already this season. Not so on this occasion, however, for while Chelsea froze in the first half at the Nou Camp, United lost all semblance of poise in their desperation to pull a goal back.

Instead of waiting for the chances to come, they ran about like headless chickens and paid the ultimate price. In short they panicked and, when they eventually recovered that composure, they were 3-0 down and even David Beckham's 64th-minute strike followed by Paul Scholes' late penalty were not even nearly enough to complete another miraculous comeback.

And so, having virtually secured their sixth domestic title in eight years, their attempt to set their sights on establishing a lasting European hegemony - perhaps even one to rival Real's five European Cups in a row in the 1950s - were comprehensively destroyed.

Having not managed to secure an away goal in the 0-0 draw at the Bernabeu, Ferguson's side were vulnerable to Real's attacking mindset even with Nicolas Anelka again left on the bench until the final quarter.

Indeed, the reflexes of keeper Raimond Van der Gouw - a replacement for the injured Mark Bosnich - were first called into action after just 13 minutes to save from Fernando Morientes. Fit-again Roberto Carlos was the provider on that occasion and the Brazilian continued to cause problems for Gary Neville as he capitalised on a weak back-pass by the defender only to himself be denied by Van der Gouw.

However, it was actually from the opposite flank that Real took the lead when the ball fell to Michel Salgado after referee Pierluigi Collina had played a superb advantage following a foul by Paul Scholes on the probing Steve McManaman. Salgado's cross was dangerously fired in towards the near post but Real still required the covering figure of Keane to put his attempted clearance straight into his own net just as Van der Gouw seemed poised to gather.

The fuse was at least finally lit on United's own attacking endeavours and, within two minutes, Dwight Yorke, who had earlier headed wide, spurned a second close-range header before then being distracted by Aitor Karanka as he stretched to meet another cross.

Teenage keeper Iker Casillas also beat away a left-foot shot by Beckham, while Keane - now a man possessed - burst through in a bid to find redemption for his error but was denied by the Spaniard's reflexes. Yet, in adversity, it was not the normal, focused United side as they were instead too hurried and frantic amid the building tension.

Beckham was shouting at his team-mates and flying into challenges, the crowd were becoming restless and there were still holes at the back as the home side desperately piled forward as though full-time was almost upon them.

Andy Cole headed over the bar from underneath it amid appeals from the United players for a handball by Karanka, but Jaap Stam's slip also offered an opening to Raul, who fired over, while McManaman also threatened.

There was no calming United after the break, however, and when Stam stayed forward following a free-kick, Real had a three-two advantage on the breakaway. McManaman played a delightful ball over the head of Mickael Silvestre - a half-time replacement for Denis Irwin - into the path of Raul and he cut back inside the Frenchman to curl a superb shot inside the far post.

Old Trafford was stunned and Keane spurned their one chance of getting back into the game when he shot wastefully over from near the penalty spot. However, if United's defending had been culpable for the first two goals, it was an utter shambles a couple of minutes later when Redondo beat Henning Berg on the left and squared the ball across an empty penalty area to Raul, who duly side-footed home.

It was time to send for the SAS and Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer duly appeared as Cole stormed off, but this was one recovery job that was beyond them. Beckham did almost immediately pulled a goal back with a thunderous shot with 26 minutes left, while Solskjaer went down in the area to no avail and then forced a tremendous save from the impressive Casillas.

With two minutes left, McManaman brought down Keane just inside the penalty area and Scholes struck home the spotkick. But it was too little, far too late and any thoughts of an all-English final have now been firmly replaced by a Spanish takeover of the competition.

Earlier this week, there were two English clubs left firmly in contention - and then, all of a sudden, there was none.