Man U’s ‘Real’ test comes at home

But van Nistelrooy’s strike during a gritty comeback by the visitors has given United hope they can yet turn things around, courtesy of a 2-0 win on the night and the away goals rule.

An early goal would certainly give United wings, undermine Spanish confidence and turn Old Trafford into a cauldron at a stroke.

In van Nistelrooy, who has scored a remarkable 41 goals this season for club and country, they have a man who can provide just such a breakthrough.

In his Norwegian strike partner Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, they also have a born predator whose stoppage time winner in the 1999 Champions League final brought mighty Bayern Munich literally to their knees.

However, United’s undeniable ability to score will only be half the equation on Wednesday and it is the other half — a suspect defence — which has given cause for concern.

United stood off their illustrious opponents at the Bernabeu and Ferguson made it clear in last weekend newspapers that the practice must not be repeated at Old Trafford.

“We’ve got to be brave enough to play them one versus one,” Ferguson told the Sunday papers. “It’s straightforward. If we can do that, we’ve got a better chance.”

The loss of right-back Gary Neville through suspension is a blow to a rearguard which will pair England’s Rio Ferdinand and Frenchman Mikael Silvestre, who usually plays at leftback. What has improved United’s chances to a degree, though, is the unexpected loss of the man identified as Real’s most important player, Raul.

The Spanish forward, rated by Ferguson as the world’s best player, had to undergo emergency surgery in a Madrid clinic on Monday for acute appendicitis and has been ruled out for a month.

Real coach Vicente del Bosque need not be too concerned that the absence of Raul will lead to a shortage of goals, with players of the calibre of Fernando Morientes, Guti and Javier Portillo lining up as potential partners for Ronaldo.

Raul adds something more to the team than just a regular supply of goals, though. The 25-year-old is a tireless competitor, always tackling back and urging his team mates on, and, as the player United feared most, he will be sorely missed on Wednesday.

“We’ll be without the team’s emblem,” goalkeeper Iker Casillas recognised on the eve of the game.

“We’re all hopeful, though, that a club with a great squad can get through this test. It’s a last-minute setback but we’ll be travelling with great optimism. “Now, we just want him to recover as soon as possible.”

A victory for Real, who beat United 3-2 at Old Trafford at the same stage of the competition three years ago, would send them into a semi-final with either arch-rivals Barcelona or Juventus, who drew 1-1 in the first leg and meet in Catalonia on Tuesday. (Reuters)