MAN UTD. ROAD TO THE FINAL TRACED




GROUP STAGE MATCH 1


19/9/2007, Sporting Lisbon vs. Manchester United




A 63rd minute strike by Cristiano Ronaldo against his former club was enough to see off Sporting Lisbon and get United’s Champions League campaign off to a winning start. Although they got the three points, United looked far from convincing in the 1-0 win, and struggled to find their usual attacking form.




GROUP STAGE MATCH 2

02/10/2007, Manchester United vs. AS Roma




The Red Devils dominated for large portions of the match, but found it difficult to break down a resilient Roma defence. Eventually, a 70th minute strike from Wayne Rooney, his first goal of the season, was enough to secure a 1-0 win over the Italians.




GROUP STAGE MATCH 3


23/10/2007, Dynamo Kiev vs. Manchester United




Some questionable defending by Dynamo Kiev saw United record their biggest away win in Europe for nine years, as goals from Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and a double from Cristiano Ronaldo saw the side cruise past Kiev 4-2.




GROUP STAGE MATCH 4


07/11/2007, Manchester United vs. Dynamo Kiev




Manager Alex Ferguson decided to let some younger players have a run in the second meeting of the two sides. The gamble paid off for the Scotsman, with United playing free-flowing attacking football and sweeping aside Dynamo 4-0. Goals from Pique, Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo ensured that United would progress to the knockout stages.




GROUP STAGE MATCH 5


27/11/2007, Manchester United vs. Sporting Lisbon




United went into the match at Old Trafford looking to wrap up a top-seed position for the knockout stages, as the next match against Roma would come against a tough Premier League encounter with Liverpool. The match didn’t go entirely to plan for the Red Devils though; the first half saw United put on a woeful display which culminated in an error by stand-in keeper Tomasz Kuszczak that saw Sporting go ahead. A second-half equaliser by Tevez set the stage for Cristiano Ronaldo to fire in a free-kick in the 90th minute, handing United a perhaps undeserved 2-1 win.




GROUP STAGE MATCH 6


12/12/2007, AS Roma vs. Manchester United




United travelled to Rome with progression to the knockout stage guaranteed, and Ferguson again fielded an under-strength side. The young team performed well, with Carrick and Fletcher holding the midfield and Wayne Rooney responding well to receiving the captain’s armband. Gerard Pique put the Red Devils one-up after 34 minutes, but a 71st minute strike by Alessandro Mancini ensured the side would share the spoils at 1-1.




SECOND ROUND, LEG 1


20/02/2008, Olympique Lyonnais vs. Manchester United




Manchester United travelled to Lyon to take on the French League champions in what proved to be a tight and cagey match. Lyon struck first with a brilliant goal by 20-year-old Karim Benzema, but United responded by throwing men forward, a ploy which eventually paid off with Carlos Tevez leveling the score at 1-1 after 87 minutes.




SECOND ROUND, LEG 2

04/03/2008, Manchester United vs. Olympique Lyonnais




United put in a strong performance to beat Lyon 1-0 at Old Trafford and advance through to the quarter-final stage. United never really looked threatened, although they did struggle to finish off their chances. Ultimately though, Cristiano Ronaldo’s 30th goal of the season was enough to progress.




QUARTER-FINAL, LEG 1

01/04/2008, AS Roma vs. Manchester United




The Red Devils put on a fine display to beat Roma 2-0 in the third meeting of the two sides, stifling Roma’s creativity and creating a good amount of chances. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney resigned the Italians to a disappointing home defeat.




QUARTER-FINAL, LEG 2


09/04/2008, Manchester United vs. AS Roma




Although United rested key players Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, The Red Devils ensured a place in the semi-finals thanks to a tight 1-0 victory. Roma threatened and were eventually awarded a penalty, which Daniele De Rossi proceeded to blast over the bar. Carlos Tevez capatalised on Roma’s inability to score by putting United 1-0 up on the night, and 3-0 up on aggregate in the 70th minute.




SEMI-FINAL, LEG 1

23/04/2008, Barcelona vs. Manchester United




At a packed and hostile Camp Nou, United played out a tense match against a Barcelona brimming with attacking talent. Neither side was able to find the net, but Barcelona certainly created more opportunities, albeit very few clear-cut ones. Cristiano Ronaldo had the best chance of the match with a penalty in the third minute, but incredibly considering his current form, failed to convert it. Neither side could break the deadlock and the match finished 0-0.




SEMI-FINAL, LEG 2
29/04/2008 Manchester United vs. Barcelona



Paul Scholes sent Old Trafford into raptures in the 14th minute with a superb long range effort to score his first goal in Europe since October 2006 and put the home side 1-0 up. United could have had more in the first half had they been more economical in front of the Barcelona net. The mood became increasingly tense however as Barca began to press forward and create chances in the second half, knowing that a draw would see them go through to the final on the away goals rule. Ultimately though, Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown – in for the injured Nemanja Vidic – held firm and United can now book their flights to Moscow for the final on May 21.