United took their first steps on the road to the final in Portugal in September. We look at their Champions League journey.
Manchester United took their first steps on the road to the final in Portugal in September with victory over Sporting Lisbon. We look at their Champions League journey.
GROUP F
SPORTING LISBON 0 MAN UTD 1
Cristiano Ronaldo got his incredible scoring season up and running by netting the winner against his former club. The Portugal winger finished off Wes Brown's low cross just past the hour mark but tellingly did not celebrate out of respect.
MAN UTD 1 ROMA 0
No repeat of the previous season's 7-1 mauling and thankfully no repeat of the crowd trouble either. United were made to work hard for a 1-0 win, which came courtesy of Wayne Rooney's fine first-time finish, the striker's first goal of the season.
DYNAMO KIEV 2 MAN UTD 4
Ronaldo and Rooney were again to the fore but it was Rio Ferdinand who opened the scoring. Rooney put United in complete control but Diogo Rincon pulled one back. Ronaldo's double made the game safe before Ismael Bangoura made sure Dynamo would be the only side to score more than once against United all competition - up to the final at least.
MAN UTD 4 DYNAMO KIEV 0
United's most emphatic win in the competition was kick-started by defender Gerard Pique, making his first Champions League start. Carlos Tevez then grabbed his first European goal before Rooney and Ronaldo got in on the act late on.
MAN UTD 2 SPORTING LISBON 1
An under-strength United fell behind for the first time in the competition thanks to Fernando Abel's 22nd-minute opener. Tevez's half-time introduction changed the game, the Argentina striker levelling, but it took a stunning stoppage-time free-kick from Ronaldo to ensure United topped Group F with a game to spare.
ROMA 1 MAN UTD 1
With United first and Roma guaranteed second spot, Sir Alex Ferguson played a second-string side. They did him proud, with Pique putting them ahead in the first half. Roma levelled through Mancini but a draw ensured United remained unbeaten.
LAST 16
LYON 1 MAN UTD 1
That unbeaten record came very close to ending after a poor performance against the French champions when the competition resumed. Karim Benzema gave Lyon a deserved lead but Tevez came off the bench to scramble home a crucial equaliser three minutes from time.
MAN UTD 1 LYON 0
Another uncomfortable night followed in the return leg but United eked out a 1-0 win courtesy of Ronaldo's goal late in the first half.
QUARTER-FINALS
ROMA 0 MAN UTD 2
Arguably United's finest performance on the road to Moscow, they soaked up everything Roma could throw at them and scored a superb breakaway goal thanks to Ronaldo's stunning and courageous header. Rooney scrambled home number two and United could have killed the tie with better finishing late on.
MAN UTD 1 ROMA 0
United rested key men, including Ronaldo and Rooney, and almost paid the price when Roma won a first-half penalty. However, Daniele de Rossi blazed it over the crossbar and United gradually got into the game. Tevez's diving header made the tie safe with 20 minutes remaining.
SEMI-FINALS
BARCELONA 0 MAN UTD 0
Ronaldo blew a golden opportunity to give United a priceless away goal when his third-minute penalty hit the stanchion. The Portugal winger was denied what appeared another spot-kick but otherwise Barcelona totally bossed the game. A lack of cutting edge from the home side ultimately spared United defeat.
MAN UTD 1 BARCELONA 0
Again, United were outplayed for long periods in a thrilling exhibition at Old Trafford. Paul Scholes' brilliant first-time shot flew into the top corner after 14 minutes but Barca could easily have levelled before half-time. Chances came and went for both sides after the break but United hung on.
