Manchester United hold Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw

The game needed no build up. It was Jose Mourinho vs Sir Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo vs Robin Van Persie, Real Madrid vs Manchester United. A match worthy enough to be a final. A match that matched up to any final.

The game started brightly with Coentrao smacking the woodwork after his shot was pushed wide by a stretching De Gea in the earlier part of the first ten minutes. At the other end, Kagawa was causing some trouble timing his runs to perfection, but only to be frustrated by the Real defense, as he was not able to get a shot away on both occasions. Against the run of play, it was Manchester United who took the lead with a precision header from Danny Welbeck, beating Diego Lopez who was guarding the post in the absence of Real legend Iker Casillas. Both sides looked very lively in the minutes that followed.

It was finally Ronaldo who pulled one back for the all whites, heading past De Gea from a delightful Di Maria cross in the thirtieth minute. In the next fifteen minutes that followed after the goal, Real poured on the pressure while all Manchester United could do was soak it all in. Real had a few half chances and some odd chances here and there, but they could not make it count in the last third of the pitch. Ozil was by far the best player in the first half, even though it was Ronaldo who scored for Madrid. It seemed that when the German got the ball, he had all the time and space in the world to pick out his options. At half time, the teams left for the dressing room all square at 1-1.

Real Madrid started the second half shakily, but soon got back back in the groove with which they played the first half in. Benzema was substituted for Higuain, hoping to make a desperate impact on the game. Two great chances fell for RVP in quick succession, only for him to be denied by Lopez the first time, and then Alonso – who cleared off the line on his second attempt. With Mourinho using his second substitution bringing in Modric for Di Maria, Real started to take it up a notch against the Red Devils. But it seemed as if United had borrowed the ‘Bus’ from their Premier League rivals Chelsea, as they frustrated the nine-time Champions of Europe.

As the final whistle blew at the Bernabau, all eyes will be on Real Madrid for the next few weeks, as they have two ties against Barcelona, one each in the Copa Del Rey and the league. And as for the reverse leg of this clash, only time can reveal who goes through. But one thing is for sure – it won’t be without any twists in the tale. There is much to look forward to.