Match Review

United started without Vidic. Therefore Evra, Brown, Ferdinand and Hargreaves played in the back. While Carrick and Scholes played as defensive midfielders and Rooney and Park played left and right wing. Wayne Rooney was playing right wing and just in front of him was Ronaldo and Tevez.

Not to question the great Sir Alex, but “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

Barcelona started with Marquez, Milito, Abidal, and Zambrotta in the back, Toure was the defensive midfielder while Xavi, Deco, and Iniesta and Messi took the attacking mid positions. And Eto’o played alone up top.

With in the first 2 minutes United are awarded with a PK, a hand ball from Milito sends Cristiano Ronaldo to the spot!
This was automatic for Ronaldo, This was what he dreamed of the night before. The spot light was on Ronaldo, could he handle the pressure? If anyone could it was Ronaldo. But as Ronaldo stepped up to take the kick, his eyes were fixed on Valdes, Ronaldo didn’t even look down at the ball until the last second and he hit it too wid.
That PK would affect the both teams in 2 very different ways through out the game.
2 very tough tackles from Barcelona, first on Evra then on Ronaldo. This was going to be a very tough and physical game.

Messi played a very dangerous ball down the middle of the 6, luckily United cleared it in the 9th minute.

United seemed a little shaken up, Barcelona stepped up early and were creating a lot more then United.

Van der Sar gave up position on a routine ball in the 12th minute , and Messi teamed up with Eto’o to create a very good chance for Barcelona, fortunately Scholes cleared the ball.

Tevez came all the way back and committed a stupid foul on Toure just outside the box, First of all what is Tevez doing that far back? There were 4 other United players around him, he wasn’t going to do much, so why foul him?

Barcelona were creating more opportunities then United, as Xavi and Iniesta teamed up in the 25th minute. Xavi rolled it back to Iniesta, but it went wide.

Ronaldo had a nice run in the 26th but he lost possession after a couple of yards.

Ronaldo intercepted a ball from Iniesta in the 29th minute, and had every advantage to continue on his run, but was way to quick to go down, looking for the PK call.

Rooney put in a great ball in the 31st minute but Park couldn’t connect well

Messi with a little show as he volleys Evra in the 32nd minute, nice bit of skill by the Argentine.

It looked like United were not sure what they were supposed to do
It seemed like United was trying to play a defensive game, but Sir Alex had the wrong players on the field for that tactic. Maybe he should have given Pique a chance or O’Shea in defense and let Owen Hargreaves play his more natural position along side Carrick, While Ronaldo played his natural position, at right. Scholes as a center mid, and it should have been Nani on the left with Rooney up top.
Marquez tripped Ronaldo outside of the 18, and was booked. Which means he will miss the return leg
At the end of the 1st half United only had 36% of ball possession

2nd half

United made no changes, I don’t agree with Park being out there, Nani or Anderson would make a much better choice. Park was given an entire half to prove himself, and he didn’t. He was just another body out there.

Great defense by United in the 50th minute. Carrick delayed brilliantly and waited for Rio to get back and help as Eto’0 had the ball just inside the 18 and Messi was making the run down the face of goal.
But if Eto’o decided to flop it would have been a clear PK, Rios 1st tackle was very sloppy. Good thing Eto’o stayed on his feet.

Messi Iniesta and Eto’o connecedt in great one touch football to almost put their side up 1-0 but Eto’o hit the side netting

Carrick does brilliantly to get inside the 18 but the shot hits the side netting in the 54th minute

Barcelona is pressuring much better at the moment, When Barcelona has the ball, United watches.
When United has the ball they are swarmed immediately by Barcelona players

That is why possession was 65%-35% the entire game.

Cristiano continued to look for calls, first Marquez then Zambrotta. Everytime Ronaldo lost the ball, he wanted the referee to call it

Messi off for Bojan, and you could see the disappointment in Messi’s face, he didn’t want to come off. But got a standing ovation as he jogged off the field and was consoled by his boss, Frank Rijkaard

Ronaldo was out of position, and so was Rooney, Ronaldo was playing center forward.

In the 70th minute Ronaldo was tackled in the box once more. But no call, maybe if Ronaldo had not complained so much through out the game, he would’ve gotten the call.

73rd minute, Van der Sar did not want to grab the ball because it came off Evra’s foot and he does some karate kick to clear the ball

Nani came on, but for Rooney. Park should have come off!
Deco off and Henry on in the 77th minute.

Nice Ball by Nani to Ronaldo from one side of the field to the other, Ronaldo continued the play by passing back to Park, Park then gave it away, as he misunderstood Tevez, who wanted the ball at his foot.

Henry walked around Park and took a dangerous shot in the 82nd minute.

And that’s it Manchester walk away with a tie. It does benefit United,
A very strange game from United, who couldn’t really create anything. The tactics and positioning were very strange.
But now United must concentrate on Chelsea and hopefully Ronaldo could get back to form to secure the Premier League Title this Saturday.

But “What If” Ronaldo had scored the PK……

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