Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo missed an early penalty but Manchester United are favourites to advance to the Champions League Final after a 0-0 draw against Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the first leg of their semi-final. In a game of surprisingly few chances the game's crucial moment came after only two minutes, when Ronaldo fired wide from the spot.
And while Sir Alex Ferguson's team were composed in defence they rarely threatened Frank Rijkaard's Barcelona themselves, with their conservative outlook belying their reputation as the most entertaining team in Europe, let alone one that has scored 73 goals in 35 Premier League games this season.
Yet the hosts were also kept quiet by an excellent professional, defensive display, giving United the edge when the tie is to be settled at Old Trafford next Tuesday.
The game had been billed as a straight fight between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and it took less than two minutes for the Portuguese, scorer of a stunning 38 goals so far this season, to have the opportunity to strike the first blow.
His chance came from the spot after referee Massimo Busacca decided that Gabriel Milito had used an arm to block Ronaldo's header.
The protests were inevitable but, once calm had been restored, the 22-year-old appeared almost too casual and showed that he is not completely infallible, flashing his penalty wide of Victor Valdes' left-hand post.
The miss served only to encourage Frank Rijkaard's men, who had won only one of their last eight league games, although United kept them at arms length, keeping chances at a premium as the hosts were forced to play in front of the visitors' back four, who were weakened before kick-off by the news that Nemanja Vidic had failed a fitness test, with Owen Hargreaves coming into the side.
But the next moment of drama came in Barcelona's penalty box as Ronaldo saw fervent appeals for another penalty waved away after Rafael Marquez appeared to bring him down as he intercepted a sloppy pass and drove towards goal.
The tempo, sedate at times in the first 45, quickened after the break, with both sides hitting the side-netting from promising positions within the first ten minutes of the second period, but United's contentment to contain was epitomised by the sight of Wayne Rooney repeatedly trotting back to his own goalline to help out his right-back.
With Yaya Toure, brother of Arsenal's Kolo, shielding Barcelona's defence superbly, chances were at a premium, with Thierry Henry's shots from distance proving the biggest threat against his old foes.
United saw the game out, though, and have a slight advantage, but they would do well not to ignore previous lessons; in the 2000, quarter-finals, the then-defending champions drew 0-0 at Real Madrid before being knocked out 3-2 at home. A goalless draw away from home, stated Ferguson then, is not a great result.
It remains to be seen how much United rue their failure to push for that away goal - or Ronaldo's inability to deliver it so early on.
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Posted by RowdyRandy – 23 Apr 2008, 10:32 PM
Unfortunately, this made for a very boring game to watch. The excitement seems to come when the players make the riskier plays and make it. This one was a snore fest instead.