Manchester United vs. Real Madrid, 2013 UEFA Champions League: Los Merengues through

Giggs continued to do hard work down the flank and did well to win a corner in the 20th minute. His in-swinging delivery found the head of Nemanja Vidic, but the big defender’s header smacked off the post. As the Red Devils scrambled in an attempt to poke in the rebound, Welbeck was flagged for offside.

Five minutes later, Welbeck showed off his top-notch speed again, while van Persie did the same with his technical skill. Once again, van Persie played Welbeck in on goal, but his shot deflected out for a corner. Giggs played in a great delivery again, but van Persie missed a chance to put a shot on target.

There was another controversial moment in the 62nd minute after Raphael Varane’s close range header was headed into the back of the net before it hit off Rafael’s arm and spun clear of the goal. It wasn’t an intentional handball by the defender but then again, his arm basically stopped a goal. None of the officials on and around the pitch saw the play or deemed it foul worthy and play went on.

Four minutes later Luka Modric, who’d come on for Arbeloa a few minutes before, created some space for himself just outside the United penalty area and fired a wicked shot through traffic and past David De Gea. Several United defenders were sitting deep in the box in front of Modric but none of them made a move to close him down.

Madrid’s possession increased after the goal but the match was changed in the 59th minute when the referee sent off Nani after he went for a high ball and cleated Álvaro Arbeloa in the side of the chest. That might sound bad but it didn’t seem like a malicious foul when it happened and even the Madrid players weren’t petitioning the referee for a call.

As Nani got back to his feet, the referee made his decision showing him a red card and leaving United to defense their lead with 10-men.

After some good early pressure from Madrid, United’s first attack of the second half yielded a positive result. United nearly scored in a bit of a scramble in front of the Madrid goal but the ball ended up rolling out towards the left side touchline where Raphael Varane looked poised to deal with it. Instead, Varane only managed to direct the ball right to Nani who crossed the ball back into the box.

It’s halftime at Old Trafford and there’s no doubt that Manchester United will be the happier side with the current 0-0 scoreline.

Gonzalo Higuain nearly had a moment of individual brilliance in the 11th minute somehow managing to create some space at the top of the United penalty area despite having to dribble around at least four United player. Ultimately his shot went well wide, but it was an impressive effort.

Real Madrid midfielder Angel Di Maria left today’s Champions League match against Manchester United in the 42nd minute after picking up a hamstring injury.

Di Maria pulled up as he reacted to a Manchester United attacking foray. He tried to finish out the half, repeatedly rubbing his hamstring before being forced to sit down on the pitch and allow the Madrid physios to come on and take a look at him.

We’re 30 minutes in at Old Trafford and after a fairly calm opening 15 minutes, Manchester United have cranked up the pressure thanks in large part to the work of Danny Welbeck.

In the 20th minute Nemanja Vidic’s header on a corner kick slammed off the near post and fell right to Welbeck. His shot was stopped by Lopez but the linesman had rightly raised his flag as United had two players, including Welbeck, in an offside position.

Through 15 minutes of play, Real Madrid are in control of a game that’s taking a while to get going, but Manchester United are starting to come into the match.

Madrid certainly quieted down Old Trafford a bit in the opening minutes thanks to having a majority of the ball and being calm and methodical with their build-up. There was no unnecessary urgency or rush from Madrid, they clearly have a plan and are content to wait and pick their spots while keeping organized defensively and preventing Manchester United from getting an easy, early goal.

The problem with bringing Giggs into the team is that it can make for a very narrow team. That can be solved by pushing the fullbacks up high, but that’s a disaster waiting to happen with United’s defense and Madrid’s ability to strike on the counterattack. That brings Nani into the team, a winger who will stay closer to the touchline than Rooney would if he was deployed out wide and provide the width United needs.

So how does Rooney get left on the bench for United’s biggest match of the season?

Many United fans will embrace this, seeing it as embodying the spirit of the club in launching an all-out-assault. At the very least, even to disregard strategy, it does pose the question of why you support a football club at all if you forego the chance to go hell-for-leather at the world’s most famous football club on your own turf.

Bernard Niven, in the anthology Deepest Red, notes that the ‘United way’ is a more complex beast, rather than “the unremitting instinct to attack, attack, attack, attack, attack.” Citing United’s overriding of Matt Busby’s defensive instruction against Benfica in 1966, Niven points out the comparison with the latter-day United. “Busby had bred a team, and players, who overrode even his own occasional caution. Compare this with United’s 2008 Champions League semi-final first leg against a shakier Barcelona side than anyone has faced since. Despite fielding a strong attacking line-up, United played with grim defensiveness, scraping a goalless draw. United went on to lift the trophy, but many United fans still view that game with deep distaste, as a betrayal of The United Way which tainted the eventual triumph.”

WAIT, ALL GREEN KITS?

Rumor has it that Real Madrid will be sporting their all green third kit today against Manchester United. Give me a moment while I go throw up behind a dumpster.