Real Madrid 1-1 Man United
Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United were indebted to an outstanding performance from goalkeeper David de Gea as they came away from the Bernabeu with a highly satisfactory Champions League draw against Real Madrid.
Danny Welbeck gave Sir Alex Ferguson's side an early lead and a crucial away goal from Wayne Rooney's corner - but former United golden boy Cristiano Ronaldo inevitably responded with a classic header to draw Real level before the interval.
In an enthralling encounter that lived up to Real coach Jose Mourinho's claim that it was "the match the world wanted to see", both sides created opportunities to take a crucial lead to Old Trafford for the second leg of this last-16 tie in three weeks' time.
De Gea brilliantly turned Fabio Coentrao's shot on to the post early on and, as a tight and tense game entered its closing stages, Robin Van Persie saw his drive pushed on to the bar by Real keeper Diego Lopez and had another attempt scrambled off the line by Xabi Alonso seconds later.
United's Spanish keeper, returning to his home city after making his name as a youngster with Real's great rivals Atletico, distinguished himself with a succession of saves and a display that backed up Ferguson's claim that he is approaching maturity and growing into life at Old Trafford.
The result leaves the second leg delicately balanced but even as United took the acclaim of their travelling fans it was clear much work is still to be done before they can contemplate a place in the last eight. Real ominously illustrated their attacking riches led by the magnificent Ronaldo, who will relish his return to Manchester.
United were without captain Nemanja Vidic and it soon became clear that Phil Jones was not under orders to shadow Ronaldo, with Rooney pushed to the right flank.
The tone was set for a magnificent first half as Real poured forward into attack. Angel Di Maria went narrowly wide and it took a top-class save from De Gea to touch Coentrao's low drive on to the upright.
After surviving that early pressure, United exploited Real's weakness at set pieces to secure an away goal after 20 minutes as Welbeck pulled away from Sergio Ramos to meet Rooney's corner and angle a fine header away from Lopez.
For all Real's failings at the back, they were attacking United from all angles. It was no surprise when they restored parity on the half hour - and no surprise that the source was Ronaldo.
In a moment reminiscent of his goal for United in the 2008 Champions League victory against Chelsea in Moscow, Ronaldo hung in the air to meet Di Maria's delivery and direct a header past the diving De Gea.
The celebration against his former club was subdued but this iconic arena did not hold back as his name rang around the Bernabeu.
United, however, had been encouraged by Real's defensive frailties as a stretching Welbeck almost produced the perfect response, only to direct his finish off target. Rooney then gave Real another anxious moment by shooting narrowly wide.
Mourinho was prowling his technical area throughout and responded to chants of "sit down Mourinho" from United's travelling support perched high to his right with an imperious wave.
Real maintained their impetus after the break and De Gea was in action again with an athletic stop at the far post to block Coentrao once more.
Little had been seen of Van Persie, apart from an early yellow card after a clash with Sergio Ramos, but he burst into the action and could have twice restored United's lead.
He was unfortunate as his rising shot was touched on to the bar by Lopez but he was guilty of a bad miss when he was presented with time and space in the area seconds later.
As Real waited for an offside flag that never came, the normally clinical striker miscued his shot and its lack of power allowed Alonso to recover and clear off the line.
De Gea rescued United again with 11 minutes left as Real continued to press, diving away to his right to clutch Sami Khedira's effort.
Van Persie had one more chance to snatch a win for United in the closing seconds, but his angled drive was touched to safety by Lopez.
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Sergio Ramos is an embarrassment to the beautiful game.
Credit to Ronaldo for his muted goal celebration. Must of got a nose bleed what with how high he jumped!
Credit to the Madrid for their great reception when Giggs came on. They can be demanding fans but they know a fantastic club servant when they see one. (Raul)
A fantastic game of football!
Stop letting your jealousy make you so bitter and twisted.
Anyways, perhaps that kind of thing is alien to these blogs.
Naughty boy.
Great shot stopping by De Gea, particularly early on. Nervous when he came for corners though!
Not sure where Real's 'inevitable cricket score' was?!
Considering we have LFC,city,chelsea etc fans all on here today backing Utd as they are English I think u may be in the bitter minority who would cheer if Madrid do actually go through.
u summed yourself up by saying Real wiped the floor with us,they clearly didnt so please dont bring this thread down a level,its been good topical discussions before trolls like u turn up!
No doubt warming up for some nonsense remarks and no doubt if we go through, don't worry you'll never get past Barca lol
Awww....another night when after kicking the dog and throwing the remote at the telly,you come on here and it's all if and buts!
Listen son...Madrid BEAT citeh,end of!
Whilst we were under the cosh at times,we could also have sneaked a win. After all,according to your vast CL knowledge,Utd were going to lose 3-1. Sorry you were disappointed....not.xx
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Brave words on a forum suggest you try the same opinion over there, any pub in Belfast, Derry Dublin or Cork will do.
I hate clearing hair out of plug holes, but that's not relevant to this thread either.
Was worried you'd choked on the humble pie :)
I thought we were gonna get smashed? What happened, ref conspiracy?
As for us parking the bus, 6 shots on target and 8 corners indicates otherwise. Arguably we had the better chances too: RVP, Giggs and Welbeck an inch away from second.
P.s City had less shots than us at the Bernabeu so not sure who was parking the bus!
I thought Welbeck, De Gea and Jones all had their best games in Utd shirts. I was worried about the team selection but it was spot on, another Fergie masterstroke.
I thought the referee was poor. Utd got three soft bookings yet Ramos/Kheidera none for consistently fouling...and the red card!