Real Madrid and Manchester United, possibly the biggest clubs in world football. It's rare we get to see these two giants come face to face but when they do, they rarely disappoint. They've faced each other in four different Champions League ties, the first way back in 1957 when Madrid won 5-3 on aggregate. In 1968 United would exact their revenge with a 4-3 win. In 2000 Real scored three times at Old Trafford to win 3-2 and in 2003, when David Beckham returned to face his former club, Madrid won 6-5. Only once has their been a 0-0 draw between these sides and six times there was at least four goals. Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best in the world, comes up against Robin Van Persie, the best in England. José Mourinho, one of only four managers to win a league title in four different countries, against Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably the greatest manager of all time. The scene is set for these two giants of world football to collide.
They may be sixteen points behing bitter rivals Barcelona, and four behind their city rivals Atletico, but there is no doubting the quality that Madrid possess. Players such as Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain are capable of scoring out of nothing which makes them constantly dangerous. Players like Mesut Ozil, Kaka or Angel Di Maria are capable of creating chances out of nothing, while a player such as Ronaldo only needs a half yard to devastate teams. Fresh from scoring his fifth hat-trick of the season, Ronaldo is coming up against United, with who he won the Champions League and three league titles as well as countless individual awards, for the first time since his £80 million move to Madrid in 2009. It didn't take long for Ronaldo to become a club legend at United and when he returns to Old Trafford for the second leg he will be welcomed back with open arms. The outcome of tonight's game at the Bernabeu could very well depend on the impact the Portuguese star can have.
Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the best in the business when it comes to stopping influential players on opposing teams so I'm sure he's spent every day since the draw was made thinking about how he will stop Ronaldo. I expect him to use Phil Jones. He may only be 19 and he might be inexperienced but he can have a huge effect on this game. He nullified Gareth Bale when United faced Spurs a few weeks ago. Marouane Fellaini had been a thorn in United's side for two games but, when he faced Jones on Sunday, he was ineffective. Everytime Ronaldo is on the ball I would be surprised if Jones wasn't very near by. If Ronaldo stays on the left then Rafael and Jones will likely double up on him. If he plays on the right then Evra and Jones will double up. Personally, I think Ronaldo would be more effective through the middle tonight but I don't expect him to play there. He will drift from side to side if he isn't getting the right service and that's why a man marking job might be the only way.
If Ferguson doesn't go with Jones then I think we might see Valencia on the right, Carrick and Cleverley through the middle and Giggs on the left. I expect Rooney to sit in the middle and try to stay close to Xabi Alonso. He done a similar job on Arteta earlier in the season and was very effective. That gives Ferguson the option of crowding the middle by switching Rooney to the left and playing Giggs through the middle. I would be very surprised to see Ferguson take the game to Madrid away from home. It is likely to be a very conservative approach tonight and try to attack them on the break. I do think that if United came out and attacked Madrid they could get goals, and plenty of them, but that would leave them open at the back and if average Premier League teams are scoring goals then Madrid would be in their element with all that space.
It's going to be interesting to see the mini battles all over the field with two master tacticians on the sidelines. Madrid have been hit and miss so often this season but I don't see them being anything but their best over these two legs. United were conceding goals too often earlier in the season but the defence has been much stronger in recent times with clean sheets coming more regularly. Mourinho will fancy his side to score at Old Trafford so he wouldn't be disappointed with a 0-0 draw. I think United need a goal tonight. They need something to take back home and I think they'll get it. Despite the conservative game that many expect, I do think there is too much attacking quality on show for there not to be goals. Madrid are suspect t conceding on the counter and United have been excellent on the counter all season. I think we will get goals tonight and I think it will be all square going into the second leg.
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