Manchester United take on Real Madrid in a battle of star players

The day just can’t get any better than the reunion of Real Madrid and Manchester United. The football world stood still when back in December, the draw was made between the mighty giants. And although both of them have had a bump against the ruling mighty Barcelona, these giants have an aura of their own.

Manchester United travel to Spain in the first leg at the Bernabeu, wrapping up their group stage campaign in style after a horrendous campaign last season. Sir Alex has made sure he has the right artillery this time, by buying none other than Arsenal hit man Robin Van Persie to lead the charge up front.

Robin Van Persie, since his arrival, has had a fairy tale season, breaking easily into the United style of play and his move to Old Trafford looks like it was just written in the stars.

With Van Persie being on song, thanks to his 22 goals in all competitions, United sit a whopping 12 points clear of cash rich title rivals Manchester City in the Premier League and also comfortably in the FA Cup too.

Although there’s much more to Manchester United, with Chicharito scoring critical goals and club favourite Wayne Rooney hitting form at the right time, United couldn’t have wished more from their striking department.

Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley have been very consistent and deserve a massive praise for easing up United’s troublesome midfield worries.

Manchester have had an unusual season this time when it comes to their wingers, with all the three wingmen (Valencia, Young and Nani) being ineffective in most of the matches this time, and also the arrival of Dortmund ace and Bundesliga‘s Player of the Year Shinji Kagawa hasn’t set the world alight.

Real Madrid have had a dreadful domestic campaign, being 16 points behind league leaders Barcelona. It looks as if they have no possible way to defend their Title this time.

This failure in their domestic campaigns also means that the wounded beast is in desperate need to have a bite at Europe as it remains the only stage to win some silverware this season.

Jose Mourinho has never been under such pressure as he is now, as the Portuguese is rumoured to have had a fall out not just with his club’s Board and the fans, but also with his players.

With all odds stacked against him and also a possible sack looming around the corner, Jose has made it clear he has accepted their domestic campaign as a failure and has set his sights on winning the prestigious Champions League trophy, by winning it for a historic and club record 10th time.

No matter what the situation, it’s indeed THE MATCH of the season.

Old boy Cristiano Ronaldo looks all pumped up with his recent goalscoring spree and a recent hattrick on Saturday against Sevilla, so he’ll give his old club a headache on how to neutralize him.

With United’s defense coming under the scanner for giving away too many goals this time around, their young goal keeper David De Gea will be under pressure to handle Real Madrid’s energetic runners and trequartistas at the Bernabeu.

On the other hand, Real Madrid will have to be wary of United’s front men Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie who both look hungry for goals and wouldn’t shy away from having a go at Real Madrid’s replacement goal keepers Lopez and Adan, who are replacing injured Casillas at the moment.

Ronaldo vs Rafael and Evra on the wings, Ozil and Xabi vs Cleverley and Carrick, RVP and Rooney vs Pepe and Varane – so many battles to look forward to. It’s surely a mouth watering tie, with United having an advantage of playing away first, and they will look to score away goals and try to get a draw if not a win.

Travelling Squad –

De Gea, Lindegaard, Büttner, Evans, Evra, Ferdinand, Jones, Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Anderson, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, Nani, Valencia, Young Hernandez, Kagawa, Rooney, van Persie, Welbeck.

Home Team squad –

Diego López, Adán, Jesús, Varane, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Albiol, Coentrão, Carvalho, Arbeloa, Alonso, di María, Khedira, Essien, Kaká, Modric, Özil, Callejón, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuaín