Manchester United were indebted to an outstanding
performance from goalkeeper David de Gea as they
came away from the Bernabeu with a highly
satisfactory Champions League draw against Real
Madrid.
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Danny Welbeck gave Sir Alex Ferguson's side an
early lead and a crucial away goal from Wayne
Rooney's corner - but former United golden boy
Cristiano Ronaldo inevitably responded with a classic
header to draw Real level before the interval.
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In an enthralling encounter that lived up to Real
coach Jose Mourinho's claim that it was "the match
the world wanted to see", both sides created
opportunities to take a crucial lead to Old Trafford for
the second leg of this last-16 tie in three weeks' time.
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De Gea brilliantly turned Fabio Coentrao's shot on to
the post early on and, as a tight and tense game
entered its closing stages, Robin Van Persie saw his
drive pushed on to the bar by Real keeper Diego
Lopez and had another attempt scrambled off the
line by Xabi Alonso seconds later.
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United's Spanish keeper,
returning to his home city after
making his name as a youngster
with Real's great rivals Atletico,
distinguished himself with a
succession of saves and a
display that backed up
Ferguson's claim that he is
approaching maturity and
growing into life at Old Trafford.
.
The result leaves the second leg
delicately balanced but even as United took the
acclaim of their travelling fans it was clear much
work is still to be done before they can contemplate a
place in the last eight. Real ominously illustrated
their attacking riches led by the magnificent
Ronaldo, who will relish his return to Manchester.