Barça grateful for Ronaldo reprieve

Semi-finals - 23 April 2008 20:45 (CET) - Camp Nou - Barcelona
	Barcelona	0 - 0	Man. United

A missed penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo ensured FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC remain deadlocked at 0-0 after an enthralling first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Extraordinary scenes
The English side's last visit to the Camp Nou had ended in extraordinary scenes as they won the 1999 UEFA Champions League with two added-time goals, and they almost picked up where they left off on their first return since, only for Ronaldo to fire a third-minute penalty wide after Gabriel Milito had handled. It was as close as they came on a night when Paul Scholes made his 100th appearance in the competition, although the visitors will be thankful to escape with a draw after being forced on the back foot for much of the match.

Penalty miss
The tie sprang to life from kick-off, providing drama as early as the second minute when Ronaldo headed on Scholes' corner only for Milito's raised arm to intervene. The Portuguese international took the spot-kick himself, but fired wide to the relief of the majority in the 98,000 sell-out crowd. Well off the pace in the Primera División, Barça's season rests on this tie and they quickly found their feet, a lightning run from Lionel Messi putting the away team on the back foot. It was breathless stuff as the home side probed a makeshift United back line, shorn of the unwell Nemanja Vidić.

Attacking intent
Sir Alex Ferguson had named an attacking side with Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tévez all selected, but they could not break out of their half. Starved of possession, Ronaldo reacted angrily as Rio Ferdinand pumped a clearance high over his head and soon after Rooney was forced to clear off the toes of Samuel Eto'o deep inside his own area. Against the run of play, though, United nearly broke through. Andrés Iniesta's misplaced pass let in Ronaldo, who was eased off the ball by Rafael Márquez as he closed in on goal.

Ronaldo chance
Despite Barcelona's possession, United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was rarely troubled, a low save from the returning Deco's free-kick on 38 minutes his main contribution of note as half-time approached. At the other end Ronaldo's darting run was halted by Márquez's clumsy challenge, with the resulting booking ruling him out of the second leg.

Classic encounters
The talk in the build-up had been of classic encounters between the sides and the second half began at a pace worthy of the fixture. On 48 minutes Messi's shot was blocked, then Michael Carrick's tackle kept out Eto'o. Moments later Eto'o drove into the side-netting before Carrick did likewise at the other end. United breathed a sigh of relief when Bojan Krkić replaced the tiring Messi two minutes past the hour.

Evenly poised
The home team could still not find a way through, with Van der Sar forced to push away Thierry Henry's fierce drive after the Barcelona substitute had cut inside from the left, and United looked increasingly dangerous on the break as the half progressed. Neither side, however, could break the deadlock, leaving the tie evenly poised for the return at Old Trafford next Tuesday.

Touré confirms Barcelona progress

Yaya Touré sent FC Barcelona through to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals as the Spanish side overcame initial nerves before easing to a 2-0 aggregate victory over FC Schalke 04.

Timely first
Yaya Touré struck his first goal in the competition two minutes before half-time, coolly slotting in after opening-leg scorer Bojan Krkić had wreaked havoc in the visitors' defence. It calmed nerves that had been frayed by a positive opening by Schalke, and Frank Rijkaard's men may have to improve if the sole non-Premier League survivors are to overcome in-form Manchester United FC in the last four.

Visitors bright
Schalke began at Camp Nou as they had finished in Gelsenkirchen, spurning several clear-cut chances in a vibrant first 20 minutes. Gerald Asamoah was all urgent running and neat flicks, Jermaine Jones's passes carried precision and Kevin Kuranyi looked a constant threat. The hosts had early warning after seven minutes when Fabian Ernst fed Asamoah and the winger back-heeled the ball into Halil Altıntop's path. The Schalke No19 hit a fizzing shot that Víctor Valdés got his body behind, only for the ball to spin back goalwards and it took a desperate stretch from the keeper to paw it wide.

Neuer save
Human error, rather than Lady Luck, was to blame when Asamoah missed a free header from Jones's cross, while Kuranyi could not turn it in at the back post despite a committed lunge. These were nervous moments for Barcelona who soon responded to the crowd's urgent demand for action. Even between Schalke's best two opportunities, it fell to Manuel Neuer to atone for his first-leg mistake with a brilliant block. Andrés Iniesta slid a pinpoint pass for Xavi Hernández to beat the offside trap, but one on one with Neuer, the midfielder came off second best as the goalkeeper produced a marvellous reaction save.

Precocious talent
In the first leg it had been Bojan who made the difference with his maiden UEFA Champions League goal and just before half-time he changed the complexion of the game again. Sprinting down the right, his centre caused chaos in Schalke's penalty area. Marcelo Bordon skied his clearance and Mladen Krstajić's subsequent header off the goalline only fell as far as Touré, who swept the ball into the unguarded net. Barça were reborn. The second half started with another mazy Bojan run, although Thierry Henry wasted his delivery, firing over from five metres.

Puyol blow
Neuer made another super stop to keep out Iniesta's raking drive, but then came a blow for the Blaugrana: Carles Puyol was booked for a foul on Asamoah and will miss the first leg against United here. The setback may have pleased Sir Alex Ferguson's brother, present at Camp Nou, yet it failed to sully the home fans' enjoyment as they roared the waspish Bojan on as the youngster harried the Schalke back line. The Bundesliga side's own attacking force was extinguished and they will now focus on a return to the UEFA Champions League next season. For Barcelona, next up is United.