The second leg at Old Trafford: 2002-2003 quarterfinals vs Real Madrid
Man Utd meet Bayern with a tiny possibility that Wayne Rooney might play off the bench. The Bundesliga giants get back lightning rod Arjen Robben. They are up 2-1 from their first leg.
For the first time since the 2002-2003 Champions League, there is the real prospect of no Premiership team in the final four.
That year Man Utd were beaten 6-5 on aggregate against Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. In the first leg, Raul’s brace with Figo adding a third put Madrid ahead. Van Nistelrooy scored the only goal for the visitors as United lost at the Bernabeu, 3-1.
The return leg saw a pulsating encounter at Old Trafford. Van Nistelrooy’s score, a brilliant Beckham free kick and two own goals by Helguera and Hierro were not enough as El Fenomeno’s magnificent hat trick puts the Merengues through.
Dimitar Berbatov’s classical signs of passivity were on display against Chelsea. He gets another chance at redemption today. Franck Ribery goes up against Gary Neville again with the veteran right back found wanting in the first leg.