5 Greatest matches played by Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson

Modified Jan 01, 2019 08:11 GMT

#5 Man United 4-3 Real Madrid (2002-03 Champions League quarter-final)

Ronaldo showed his class in that unforgettable match

Real Madrid had beaten United 3-1 in a convincing win at Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the quarter-final. United faced an uphill task at home against the much-vaunted Galacticos of Real who had the likes of Ronaldo Luiz, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Raul in their side. However, United went gung-ho and scored 4 goals in the match, but Ronaldo’s genius ensured that Real qualified by winning 6-5 on aggregate.

Ronaldo was unstoppable that day and scored a hat-trick with one of the finest displays by a striker in the modern era. He ran past and harrowed the United defenders repeatedly and beat Fabian Barthez, the United goalie, with powerful shots.

David Beckham came off the bench to score twice in the second half for United. Ruud Vaan Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron also scored to register a memorable victory for them, but it was not enough to secure qualification for Sir Alex’s side. Still, it was a classic in every sense of the word and remains one of the finest matches during his tenure at United.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Abhinav Munshi