First Half: Welbeck has a goal ruled out for a high footed tackle. Muller spurns a decent chance from a Ribery cross. Robben has a curling shot from long range across goal pushed behind from a diving save. Rooney has a shot from the edge of the box blocked by Lahm. Welbeck goes past Boateng and through on goal but has a deft chip palmed away. Valencia has a driven shot deflected over the bar.
Half Time: 0-0.
Second Half: Schweinsteiger fires a shot over at the near side. Kroos has a low shot from long range blocked. Goal! 1-0, United take the lead as Vidic heads in from Rooney's corner into the far bottom corner. Boateng has a long range driven shot saved. Goal! 1-1, Bayern equalise as Mandzukic heads down towards Schweinsteiger who skilfully scores with a shot into the near top corner. Valencia is dives into a tackle and is lucky to not get a second yellow card. Robben fires a low shot just wide of the near post. OFF! Schweinsteiger fouls Rooney and is shown a second yellow card.
Full Time: 1-1.
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Vidic. United were extremely resilient in defence after playing most of the game in their own half. Vidic was instrumental in keeping Bayern out but United struggled to pass the ball out of their own half as Bayern pressurised high up the pitch. Welbeck had a goal wrongly disallowed in my opinion for a high foot. Not convinced it was foul but Welbeck had another great chance in the first half which should have been buried after he was through on goal but opted to audaciously chip Neuer which didn't work out. They took the lead just before the hour mark which dramatically lifted the crowd inside Old Trafford when Vidic headed in from a corner. However, they were put under more pressure and couldn't keep a vital clean sheet which means that they have to score in Munich to avoid going out. Valencia was very lucky to stay on the pitch after crazily lunging in whilst already being on a yellow card. United are still in the tie which was a huge relief after recent performances but going through will be extremely tough now.
Bayern will be delighted that they managed to score an away goal. They will fancy their chances of winning the return leg after dominating for most of the match tonight. They had plenty of possession but didn't make it count on a number of occasions as many chances passed them by. The United goal seemed to wake them up and they looked much more of a threat going forward and the pressure eventually told as Schweinsteiger scored with a good finish. However, Schweinsteiger lunged in on Rooney late in the game and picked up a second yellow card which rules him out of the return leg in Munich. Guardiola and Bayern will be satisfied with their work tonight and go into the return leg as favourites to progress.
Barcelona 1 v 1 Atletico Madrid Diego (57), Neymar (71)
My Opinion:
Barcelona have been struggling for form in recent weeks and didn't look quite up to their normal standards again tonight. They created chances but Messi just wasn't at his best. They went behind to an absolute wonder goal from Diego but managed to hit back as Neymar struck 14 minutes later to level the tie. The result doesn't favour Barcelona going into the return leg as they will be forced into scoring a goal as they are currently heading out on away goals. They will need a big performance from their start players in Madrid next week but many pundits are expecting them to face a champions league exit.
Atletico were very strong and will be delighted to have scored such a vital away goal. It was a thunderous strike from Diego from so far out and not to mention the angle from which he struck it. Incredible goal. Despite conceding, Atletico will really fancy their chances of causing a big upset in Madrid as they prefer to counter teams on the break. Therefore, the scoreline really favours the way they like to play as Barcelona will be forced to push for a goal in Madrid. If Atletico play like they did tonight and Barcelona don't find the magic they need then it all points to Atletico progressing into the semi-finals.
Best Goal: Schweinsteiger, Diego, Neymar. Winner: Diego
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