Thursday 14 February 2013


Danny Welbeck
13 February 2013
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.

all goals and highlights ----


Hard work already done?

  • Manchester United have progressed in 17 of 19 European Cup knockout ties where they've avoided defeat in a first leg away from home (via Opta)
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.
Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Cristiano Ronaldo's goal was his 35th in 34 games this season
  • According to Uefa, he led the game with 10 attempts (four on target)
  • Robin van Persie was Man Utd's leading shooter with four attempts (all four on target)
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.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Real Madrid

  • 41 Diego Lopez
  • 02 Varane
  • 04 Ramos
  • 05 Coentrao
  • 17 Arbeloa
  • 06 Khedira
  • 07 Ronaldo
  • 10 Ozil
  • 14 Alonso (Pepe - 83' )
  • 22 Di Maria (Modric - 75' )
  • 09 Benzema (Higuain - 60' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Adan
  • 03 Pepe
  • 11 Carvalho
  • 08 Kaka
  • 15 Essien
  • 19 Modric
  • 20 Higuain

Manchester United

  • 01 De Gea
  • 02 Rafael Booked
  • 03 Evra
  • 04 Jones
  • 05 Ferdinand
  • 06 Evans
  • 16 Carrick
  • 26 Kagawa (Giggs - 64' )
  • 10 Rooney (Anderson - 84' )
  • 19 Welbeck (Valencia - 73' Booked )
  • 20 Van Persie Booked

Substitutes

  • 13 Lindegaard
  • 12 Smalling
  • 07 Valencia
  • 08 Anderson
  • 11 Giggs
  • 23 Cleverley
  • 14 Hernandez
Ref: Brych
Att: 85,454

Match Stats

Possession46%54%90minsReal MadridManchester United

Shots

29 11

On target

14 6

Corners

12 8

Fouls

14 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:26 Full time
Full Time The match has reached full-time.
90:00 +2:40 Shot by Robin van Persie. Rodriguez Diego Lopez makes a fantastic save.
90:00 +1:51 Alvaro Arbeloa concedes a free kick for a foul on Robin van Persie. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Robin van Persie, Garcia Sergio Ramos makes a clearance.
90:00 +1:01 Luka Modric sends in a cross, Phil Jones gets a block in.
90:00 +0:22 Mesut Ozil fouled by Michael Carrick, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alvaro Arbeloa.
89:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Alvaro Arbeloa on Michael Carrick. David De Gea restarts play with the free kick.
88:50 Sami Khedira delivers the ball, comfortable save by David De Gea.
87:18 Direct free kick taken by Alexandre Fabio Coentrao.
87:18 Booking
Booking Booking for Antonio Valencia for unsporting behaviour.
87:09 Garcia Sergio Ramos fouled by Antonio Valencia, the ref awards a free kick.
84:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Phil Jones on Luka Modric. Cristiano Ronaldo produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
83:55 Substitution
Substitution Oliveira Anderson is brought on as a substitute for Wayne Rooney.
82:53 David De Gea restarts play with the free kick.
82:53 Substitution
Substitution Kleper Pepe on for Xabi Alonso.
82:53 Unfair challenge on Ryan Giggs by Alvaro Arbeloa results in a free kick.
81:41 Antonio Valencia sends in a cross, clearance made by Alvaro Arbeloa.
81:23 Phil Jones fouled by Cristiano Ronaldo, the ref awards a free kick. Rafael Da Silva takes the free kick.
80:05 Corner taken by Luka Modric from the right by-line.
79:44 Centre by Alvaro Arbeloa, clearance made by Jonny Evans.
78:53 Sami Khedira takes a shot. Save by David De Gea.
78:03 Corner from the left by-line taken by Mesut Ozil, clearance by Phil Jones.
76:31 Gonzalo Higuain takes a shot. Save made by David De Gea.
75:55 A cross is delivered by Gonzalo Higuain, clearance made by Rio Ferdinand.
74:22 Substitution
Substitution Angel Di Maria leaves the field to be replaced by Luka Modric.
73:53 Mesut Ozil takes a shot. Blocked by Jonny Evans. Corner from left by-line taken by Mesut Ozil.
72:58 Substitution
Substitution Danny Welbeck goes off and Antonio Valencia comes on.
72:29 Cristiano Ronaldo takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar. Mesut Ozil takes a outswinging corner. Shot on goal by Sami Khedira from just inside the area goes over the target.
71:33 Shot from 12 yards by Robin van Persie. Xabi Alonso manages to make a clearance.
71:08 Effort from 12 yards by Robin van Persie. Fantastic save by Rodriguez Diego Lopez.
70:24 Alexandre Fabio Coentrao takes a shot. Comfortable save by David De Gea.
70:13 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Mesut Ozil from the right by-line.
69:38 The ball is delivered by Gonzalo Higuain, Shot from close range by Cristiano Ronaldo misses to the right of the target.
67:14 Unfair challenge on Danny Welbeck by Alexandre Fabio Coentrao results in a free kick. Rio Ferdinand restarts play with the free kick.
67:06 Xabi Alonso produces a cross, Michael Carrick manages to make a clearance.
66:48 Centre by Angel Di Maria, Phil Jones makes a clearance.
66:27 Outswinging corner taken by Angel Di Maria, clearance made by Phil Jones.
66:15 The ball is crossed by Angel Di Maria, Rio Ferdinand manages to make a clearance.
64:16 Alexandre Fabio Coentrao challenges Wayne Rooney unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Wayne Rooney from right wing, clearance made by Alexandre Fabio Coentrao.
63:10 Rafael Da Silva takes the direct free kick.
63:10 Substitution
Substitution Ryan Giggs joins the action as a substitute, replacing Shinji Kagawa.
63:10 Alexandre Fabio Coentrao concedes a free kick for a foul on Shinji Kagawa.
61:31 Inswinging corner taken by Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra takes a shot. Danny Welbeck is caught offside. Free kick taken by Garcia Sergio Ramos.
60:38 Gonzalo Higuain takes a shot from inside the box clearing the bar.
59:58 The ball is crossed by Sami Khedira, Alexandre Fabio Coentrao takes a shot. Save made by David De Gea.
59:15 Substitution
Substitution Gonzalo Higuain replaces Karim Benzema.
56:18 Angel Di Maria has an effort at goal. Save by David De Gea.
55:05 Alexandre Fabio Coentrao concedes a free kick for a foul on Rafael Da Silva. Robin van Persie delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Raphael Varane makes a clearance.
52:37 Angel Di Maria has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
51:42 Effort on goal by Angel Di Maria from 25 yards. Comfortable save by David De Gea.
51:04 The ball is sent over by Alvaro Arbeloa, clearance made by Jonny Evans.
50:22 Foul by Phil Jones on Cristiano Ronaldo, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Sami Khedira.
49:50 The ball is crossed by Angel Di Maria, clearance made by Rafael Da Silva.
48:03 Effort from 20 yards by Cristiano Ronaldo. Save by David De Gea.
46:31 Corner taken by Wayne Rooney, Raphael Varane makes a clearance. Phil Jones produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.
46:11 Wayne Rooney delivers the ball.
45:58 Robin van Persie sends in a cross.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
45:00 +2:36 Half time
Half Time It is the end of the first-half.
45:00 +0:55 Alexandre Fabio Coentrao crosses the ball, Close range headed effort by Cristiano Ronaldo goes wide of the left-hand upright.
45:00 +0:06 Effort on goal by Rafael Da Silva from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
44:25 The ball is crossed by Patrice Evra, save made by Rodriguez Diego Lopez. Corner taken by Wayne Rooney.
43:02 Alvaro Arbeloa gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Patrice Evra. Direct free kick taken by Jonny Evans.
42:08 Shot by Cristiano Ronaldo from outside the box goes over the net.
41:07 The ball is delivered by Xabi Alonso, Rio Ferdinand makes a clearance.
39:21 The free kick is swung in right-footed by Xabi Alonso, clearance made by Danny Welbeck.
39:21 Booking
Booking Rafael Da Silva is shown a yellow card.
39:19 Rafael Da Silva gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mesut Ozil.
39:00 Cristiano Ronaldo takes a shot. Jonny Evans gets a block in.
37:17 Rafael Da Silva handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Xabi Alonso takes the direct free kick. Mesut Ozil takes a shot. Save made by David De Gea. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Mesut Ozil from the right by-line. Unfair challenge on Patrice Evra by Mesut Ozil results in a free kick. David De Gea restarts play with the free kick.
36:42 Alvaro Arbeloa gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Welbeck. Jonny Evans takes the free kick.
35:36 Corner taken by Robin van Persie.
35:05 Corner taken right-footed by Wayne Rooney.
33:23 Robin van Persie produces a cross, volleyed left-footed shot by Danny Welbeck. Save by Rodriguez Diego Lopez. Inswinging corner taken by Robin van Persie from the right by-line, save made by Rodriguez Diego Lopez. Wayne Rooney produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.
33:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Alexandre Fabio Coentrao on Wayne Rooney. Rafael Da Silva takes the free kick.
31:52 Effort from 18 yards by Robin van Persie. Comfortable save by Rodriguez Diego Lopez.
30:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Wayne Rooney by Sami Khedira. Rio Ferdinand restarts play with the free kick.
29:08 Assist on the goal came from Angel Di Maria.
29:08 Goal scored
Goal - Cristiano Ronaldo - R Madrid 1 - 1 Man Utd Cristiano Ronaldo finds the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Real Madrid 1-1 Man Utd.
29:02 The ball is sent over by Angel Di Maria,
27:04 Michael Carrick gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo. Strike on goal comes in from Cristiano Ronaldo from the free kick. Cristiano Ronaldo produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.
25:57 The ball is swung over by Karim Benzema.
25:32 Corner taken by Mesut Ozil from the left by-line, Phil Jones makes a clearance.
25:03 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Angel Di Maria, David De Gea makes a save.
24:37 Robin van Persie handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Rodriguez Diego Lopez restarts play with the free kick.
22:20 Angel Di Maria takes a shot. Save by David De Gea. Mesut Ozil takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Robin van Persie makes a clearance.
22:07 The ball is swung over by Alexandre Fabio Coentrao, clearance by Michael Carrick.
19:29 Assist on the goal came from Wayne Rooney.
19:29 Goal scored
Goal - Danny Welbeck - R Madrid 0 - 1 Man Utd Danny Welbeck finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Real Madrid 0-1 Man Utd.
19:27 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Wayne Rooney,
18:02 Mesut Ozil takes a shot. Jonny Evans gets a block in.
16:18 Mesut Ozil takes a inswinging corner.
15:24 Unfair challenge on Garcia Sergio Ramos by Shinji Kagawa results in a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Xabi Alonso, Jonny Evans manages to make a clearance.
14:26 Corner taken by Mesut Ozil.
13:11 Foul by Angel Di Maria on Patrice Evra, free kick awarded. Rio Ferdinand takes the free kick.
11:58 Effort from 25 yards by Wayne Rooney. Save by Rodriguez Diego Lopez.
10:59 Karim Benzema takes a shot. Blocked by Phil Jones.
10:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mesut Ozil by Patrice Evra. Sami Khedira restarts play with the free kick.
9:06 Robin van Persie is caught offside. Direct free kick taken by Raphael Varane.
7:44 Wayne Rooney takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Raphael Varane.
7:14 Cristiano Ronaldo has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left.
6:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Rafael Da Silva on Cristiano Ronaldo. Xabi Alonso crosses the ball, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Garcia Sergio Ramos goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
5:08 Alexandre Fabio Coentrao produces a curled right-footed shot from the edge of the box and hits the post.
4:30 Xabi Alonso takes the direct free kick.
4:30 Booking
Booking Robin van Persie goes into the book.
4:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Robin van Persie on Garcia Sergio Ramos.
3:20 Angel Di Maria has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
2:48 The referee blows for offside. Rodriguez Diego Lopez takes the direct free kick.
1:32 Sami Khedira produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.
0:00 The referee gets the game started.