Manchester United's Champions League dream was destroyed in Barcelona's Nou Camp, as the Spanish champions ran out 4-0 aggregate winners in their quarter-final showdown.
United, having produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Paris Saint-Germain in Paris in the last 16, had hoped to produce similar in Catalunya having trailed 1-0 from the first leg at Old Trafford.
But they were no match for a Barca side inspired by captain Lionel Messi, the Argentine scoring twice in a 3-0 win.
However, the exact moment that can be pinpointed as the moment United's hopes of another turnaround were stopped dead, came not because of magic from Messi, but rather a howler from David de Gea.
The Spain No.1, currently at an impasse in contract negotiations with United as he seeks money that will put him closer to the club's top earner, Alexis Sanchez, did his cause no good whatsoever by allowing a tame Messi shot to spill into his net in the 20th minute, effectively killing off the tie.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's message to Alexis Sanchez after Man Utd defeat
For the Spaniard, it was his Massimo Taibi moment.
“That’s unfortunate with goalkeepers,” said United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer post-game, refusing to condemn his stopper. “When you make an error it can get highlighted and that’ll be remembered tonight.
"But he made some fantastic saves as well, which all in all, his contribution to the team is good but sometimes that happens in football.
“You know when you get to this level you cannot slip up and you cannot make mistakes and you’ve got to take the chances you get yourself.
"And we didn’t capitalise on our great chance, but then they have their first two shots on target, that’s two goals and game over.”
Gary Neville's stinging assessment of Paul Pogba performance against Barcelona
Solskjaer's attention will now turn to United's battle for a top four finish and a return to Europe's premier club competition next season.
United currently sit sixth in the Premier League and Solskjaer admits the club face a "massive" couple of years, as they look to put themselves back at the pinnacle of the European game.
"We did well to get here and you could see the difference between the two teams.
"We know there's work to be done. I've said all along this isn't going to change overnight and the next few years are going to be massive for us to get to the level where Barcelona and other teams are at the moment.
"We have to look at ourselves, we know we have a job to do and we are getting on with it.
"We need to get the best out of each other, create an environment of world-class attitude every single day. Because we've got good players and I've got good players to work with.
"We've done really, really well to get to the quarters and challenge for the top four. "So we've got a rebuilding job but it starts with the coaches and players, and of course one or two additions to the squad will happen in the summer."
