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According to football pundits and fans worldwide, Manchester United went into the Champions League quarterfinal first-leg clash against Bayern Munich with nothing to lose as the Germans are arguably the best team in the world right now. But with the performances of United hitting rock bottom this season in the Premier League era, Manchester United fans feared that another thumping, now at the hands of the German champions (already) would have given just another reason for the MoyesOut brigade to come out of hiding after the plane stunt of ‘Wrong One – Moyes Out’ during the weekend match against Aston Villa.
The prospect of a clash with the defending champions was a hair-raiser in itself for the United faithful. But what they saw in 90 minutes was something that even the most optimistic United fans would never have dreamt of.
Bayern Munich got their all-important away goal through Bastian Schweinsteiger ahead of the next leg that is to be played at the Allianz Arena. But he got sent off for a second yellow after a tackle on Wayne Rooney late in the second half, which means he will miss the next leg on next Wednesday, along with his teammate Javi Martinez who got booked for a cynical last man foul on Javier Hernandez.
Bastian Schweinsteiger scores against Manchester United
Earlier in the match, Nemanja Vidic got an unlikely lead for the hosts through a set piece, skilfully heading the ball into the far corner which left Neuer rooted to the spot as he could only watch the ball go past him.
The first half went as the fans had expected, with Bayern Munich dominating possession and United hardly getting any time on the ball. The fact that United had their first shot on target after 31’ spoke for itself, with Danny Welbeck trying an ambitious shot from far out.
The Bayern players had their hearts in their mouths when Rooney put Welbeck through on goal. With only Neuer to beat, Welbeck tried a cheeky chip over the Bayern goalkeeper who was able to save comfortably with his right palm.
Marouane Fellaini seemed a liability in the centre of the park, in what was a 4-3-3 with Giggs and Carrick, after he lost the ball thrice in the first half which did United no good as they were barely enjoying possession.
Even Ryan Giggs couldn’t replicate his stunning display against Olympiakos, as he was always second to the Germans in terms of getting to the ball. David Moyes made the right choice by bringing on Kagawa for Giggs to inject more pace and mobility into the team.
Against all odds, Vidic put the hosts in front, in what was his first Champions League goal in five years, through a brilliant header off Rooney’s corner. United fans worldwide probably found it to be a little ironic that the Germans couldn’t deal with a corner 15 years after that eventful night in Camp Nou.
Vidic scores his first Champions League goal in five years
Old Trafford erupted when the goal was scored, but the joy was short-lived as Schweinsteiger levelled for the visitors with a half volley after a lovely exchange of passes when Mario Mandzukic nodded the ball down to set him up.
Some real drama unfolded during the final stages of the game when Schweinsteiger was sent off for a sliding tackle on Rooney which seemed harmless at first, but after watching replays was clearly something that Rooney made the most of.
Bastian Schweinsteiger tackles Wayne Rooney
The first talking point in the game came after three minutes when it looked like Welbeck had put the hosts in the lead only for it to be disallowed for a high boot on Javi Martinez in the buildup.
Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben were involved in much of Bayern’s best work but were made to work hard after solid defensive displays by Phil Jones and Alexander Buttner as the fullbacks.
With no defender on the bench and Buttner feeling a slight hint of an injury, Moyes got Ashley Young on for him with Jones moving to left back and Valencia as the right back. Moyes will have something to cheer about in the next leg when Evra returns from his suspension.
Both the goalkeepers were mere spectators in the first half an hour before the best chance of the game fell to Robben. A vintage Robben cut inside from the left leaving the United defenders wrong footed and curled the ball towards the far post. David de Gea was quick to sense this and made a terrific save to his right to keep the score line nil-nil.
Antonio Valencia was fortunate to not have got sent off in the second half for a sliding tackle on Boateng. But in hindsight, it seemed the right decision as his foul on Lahm in the first half for which he got his yellow seemed very soft.
Pep Guardiola would be disappointed to have not killed the tie, as United were the clear underdogs. But with an all-important away goal, the tie is slightly in their favour when they host United next week.
United’s performance was an endeavour that United fans had long wanted coming. In what has been a tumultuous eight months for Moyes at the helm, he got his tactics absolutely spot on last night, and this United team can go into the next leg with nothing to fear.
