Barcelona Vs. Manchester United Result Report

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a second-minute penalty as United held Barcelona to a goalless draw in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final, first leg.

The Portuguese winger blazed wide from 12 yards after Gabriel Milito had been penalised for handball, while Michael Carrick smashed a shot into the side netting with the Reds’ best second-half opening.

Samuel Eto’o wasted Barca’s best opportunity as a superb defensive display from Sir Alex Ferguson’s side neutralised the Catalans’ potent attack.

The prudent nature of the first leg could well have been blown out of the water as early as the second minute, however, had Ronaldo converted a golden opportunity from the penalty spot.

From a Wayne Rooney corner, Gabriel Milito blocked Ronaldo’s diving header with his hands, and referee Massimo Busacca immediately awarded the spot kick.

After lengthy protests from the home side, the Portuguese winger placed the ball on the spot, adopted his trademark stance, sidled up and sidefooted his effort off target.

A huge let off for Barca, and a missed opportunity for United. Despite that glorious early opening, the game failed to descend into the anticipated slugfest where both sides would wantonly deploy their rich attacking arsenals.

With the stakes so high, the two teams opted instead to remain at arm’s length. Barca cagily probed with more attacking intent, while United reverted to the initial gameplan of containment and countering.

Barring two scuffed kicks from Edwin van der Sar which suddenly put the Reds on the back foot, United were able to restrict their hosts to pretty, but largely ineffective possession.

On one of United’s rare forays into enemy territory, just before the half-hour mark, referee Busacca could very easily have given Ronaldo a second chance from the penalty spot.

Seizing on a slack pass from Andres Iniesta, the 23-year-old burst through on goal, only to have his route unceremoniously blocked by Rafael Marquez, who showed little interest in playing the ball.

Busacca quickly waved away the claim, however, much to the delight of the home contingent. Ronaldo, already frustrated by his earlier miss from 12 yards, could scarcely believe the decision.

At the other end, Wes Brown was alert to block a goal-bound shot from the ever-dangerous Samuel Eto’o, while Edwin van der Sar comfortably clutched a low 25-yard free kick from Deco.

In the first half’s final act, Ronaldo was again tripped by Marquez. This time the foul was given, outside the area, and the Mexican was punished with a yellow card which rules him out of next week’s return leg. From the free kick, Ronaldo curled his effort a yard wide of the far post.

The second half started in the same vein as the first had ended, with Barca probing without genuine purpose – although Gianluca Zambrotta saw a speculative 30-yard effort fly just over van der Sar’s crossbar.

Four minutes after the break, United were indebted to the defensive backtracking of Michael Carrick. Eto’o skipped away from Ferdinand’s lunging challenge and pulled the ball back for Messi 10 yards from goal, but Carrick brilliantly intercepted the cross and hoofed it to safety.

That opening sparked a brief, flurried exchange from both sides. Lovely slick interplay from Messi and Xavi fed Eto’o, who fired wastefully wide, before Carrick engineered space for himself on the left side of the area before firing high into the side netting.

Xavi went one better just before the hour mark, hitting the target with a powerful effort from 20 yards, but van der Sar contorted well to hold the Spaniard’s low, deflected shot.

The Catalan crowd were growing in confidence as their side showed more attacking intent, but were dealt a huge blow when Messi was withdrawn with an injury after 62 minutes.

The Argentine, a victim of recurring thigh problems throughout his burgeoning career, was replaced by Croatian teenager Bojan Krkic – himself something of a star in the making at the Nou Camp.

Although the man billed as Barca’s most likely threat to United had left the fray, the Reds still struggled to gain a creative foothold in the game. Sir Alex’s men defended stoutly, but could impact little on a home defence missing suspended skipper Carles Puyol.

It was a familiar foe who almost snatched victory for Barca with eight minutes remaining. Former Arsenal skipper Thierry Henry, on as a substitute for Deco, stung the palms of van der Sar with a rasping drive from the edge of the area, but Hargreaves was able to clear the loose ball.

With United so resolute at the back, such pot-shots were Barca’s best hope of establishing a lead. Iniesta tried another from fully 35 yards, but van der Sar was again comfortably equal to it.

Amid the pre-match fervour of two of world football’s most talented attacks coming together, the word ‘caution’ rarely surfaced in conversation. However, those who sat down to gorge on a feast of attacking football will not have been satisfied.

With 90 decisive minutes to come in Manchester next Tuesday, however, it’s safe to assume that the second course will be a far tastier affair.

United will be regarded as having a slender advantage going into the match and, with a baying home crowd behind them, the scene is set for Old Trafford to roar the Reds to Moscow.

FC BARCELONA: Valdes; Zambrotta, Marquez, Milito, Abidal; Deco (Henry 77), Toure, Xavi; Messi (Krkic 62), Eto’o, Iniesta

Subs not used: Pinto, Gudjohnsen, Sylvinho, Giovani, Thuram

MANCHESTER UNITED: Van der Sar; Hargreaves, Brown, Ferdinand, Evra; Rooney (Nani 76), Carrick, Scholes; Park, Ronaldo, Tevez (Giggs 85)
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Anderson, Pique, O’Shea, Silvestre