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MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 13: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Robin van Persie of Manchester United go up for a header during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester United
Real Madrid versus Manchester United.
The Special One versus The Immortal Scot.
The match the World was Waiting for.
Usually, the most hyped matches turn out to be pretty lame and leave the viewer frustrated and begging for more at the end of it. But not this time, as it turned out to be a fascinating battle between two of the most loved football clubs in Europe. From the first kick of the ball, it was game on.
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The match saw Real Madrid dominating possession, while United looked to hit back on the break. It was the men in white who looked more threatening in the beginning with Fabio Coentrao forcing a brilliant save from De Gea inside the first 10 minutes of the game. Manchester United looked threatening with Shinji Kagawa threatening to get through the Madrid defense with balls from Rooney and RVP. But it was Danny Welbeck who got the goal for the Reds on the night. With 20 minutes on the clock, Rooney delivered a delicious corner, Welbeck got nice and high to slot a neat header into the net giving the visitors a vital away goal.
With Real threatening with their pacey midfield, and Mesut Ozil beginning to find spaces within the United defense, Madrid looked bound to get an equalizer before the second half commenced. And who else could it be! Mourinho’s golden boy, nurtured and developed by Sir Alex – Cristiano Ronaldo, on the brink of 30 minutes, soared high above above Patrice Evra to score with a superb header from an equally brilliant cross from Di Maria. With half an hour gone, the scores were level at one goal a piece.
Welbeck had a great opportunity to put United in the lead once again from a curling cross from Van Persie. But this time, the young Englishman could not get a decisive hit on the ball and the Madrid goalkeeper, Lopez did well to put the ball out for a corner. So, at the end of first half, it was locked at 1-1.
The second half began with United on the front threatening to score within the first 3 minutes; but after some nervous moments, the Madrid defense was finally able to clear the ball to safety. The second half went along the lines of the first, with Real trying to force their way through the United defense and United looking for an opportunity to catch Madrid off guard. Madrid fired shots from range and De Gea, who had superb day at the office, kept Real at bay. But his best save of the night came from a Coentrao shot inside the box in the 62nd minute as the former Atletico goalkeeper had to make a flying kick to keep the ball from going past the line.
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 13: David De Gea of Manchester United makes a save with his foot during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester United
Then came the moment. 71 minutes on the clock. RVP’s powerful strike hits the post after a striking goalkeeper’s gloves. The ball then falls for United again. After a loose ball found RVP inside the area, he chested it down and with only the goalkeeper to beat, he mistimed his volley at the crucial moment to give the ever alert Xabi Alonso the opportunity to clear the ball before it crossed the line. It could have easily been 2-1 to United then.
The game continued in the same fashion for the rest of the match, with Madrid unable to find a way through owing to some gritty defending by United. But it was the men in red again who could have gone on to take the lead via Ryan Giggs in the 81st minute of the game. After Evra’s ball fell for Ryan Giggs inside the box, the Welshman took a touch when the ball should have been hit the first time, allowing a couple of defenders to get back and smother the chance. In the 85th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo took a chance with a free kick which went swerving to land on the roof of the net. In the final seconds of the game, RVP struck the ball fiercely only to be denied by Lopez, who tipped the ball out for a corner. The scoreline finished at one goal a piece.
To sum it up, it was a match totally living up to its expectations. With attractive football from both sides, the scoreline could easily have been two goals or more for each team. Ronaldo scored a vital equalizer while Welbeck got United the crucial away goal. One might tend to feel Real should have won the game dominating the possession and the midfield; but in reality, it would be Sir Alex’s men who would go into the dressing room thinking that they should have won the game. Real controlled the game, but the Reds had better chances at goal. With the next battle at Old Trafford, and with an away goal, it’s advantage United for now.
