Man United 1-2 Real Madrid (2-3 agg): Red Devils unhinged after Nani sending off

Manchester United were left to lament a contentious refereeing decision as they crashed out of the Champions League after losing to Real Madrid by 3-2 on aggregate at Old Trafford.

United found themselves down to 10 men after an hour when Nani was sent off following a bizarre decision from Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir, who penalised the winger for a high foot when the Portuguese international was legitimately challenging for the ball.

And the decision set the tone for the rest of the game, as Madrid upped the ante and piled the pressure on the United back-four which saw them concede two knock-out goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric in three second-half minutes.

An energetic opening half saw opportunities for both teams to open the scoring, and while Madrid had the upper-hand in possession, United calved out the more clear-cut chances.

Danny Welbeck and Robin van Persie had strikes saved well by stand-in goalkeeper Diego Lopez, while Nemanja Vidic saw his header clatter the post.

But it was an own goal from Madrid defender Sergio Ramos that put the home side in front just after the break, with the Spaniard mistakenly sliding the ball past his own keeper after a cross-goal pass from Nani.

Old Trafford erupted with anger following the Portuguese international's sending off moments later and the La Liga side made their advantage count within 10 minutes, as former Tottenham star Modric levelled the scores with a super finish, curling a totally unsavable strike from outside the box that cannoned in off the post.

And it was none other than Ronaldo who secured Madrid’s quarter-final place, as United's former talisman scored the winner in his first return to Old Trafford since his £80million move to the Bernabeu in 2009, getting the better of Rafael to tap home after a great bit of wing play from Mesut Ozil and Gonzalo Higuain.

Welsh wizard Ryan Giggs - who didn't have the fairytale 1,000th senior appearance he may have hoped for - dictated play for the Red Devils, offering penetrating passes for the lively Danny Welbeck and Robin van Persie.

And while Sir Alex Ferguson’s men never gave up and pushed for the equaliser until the very end, Diego Lopez proved to be the difference as the stopper kept out further efforts from Van Persie, Vidic and substitute Wayne Rooney in the dying embers of the match.