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Blackburn 0 United 0
If winning a record fourth consecutive league title looked difficult after a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Old Trafford, this 0-0 stalemate made it an outright uphill battle. Now a point behind Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who have a game in hand, it will take a Chelsea collapse to hand the title to the Reds now.
United enjoyed plenty of possession at Ewood Park and one or two chances – Antonio Valencia with the best of them in the first half, and Dimitar Berbatov after the break – but there wasn’t enough in the locker to rise again from a week that saw United lose a big title bout and go out of Europe.
In many ways a trip to Ewood is the last thing you would wish for after a physically and emotionally draining fortnight that has left United’s hopes of winning one of two major trophies hanging in the balance. With the bitter taste of Champions League defeat on away goals to Bayern Munich still lingering, and Chelsea with the advantage in the title race after victory at OT last weekend, this was the first of five remaining games of an unpredictable season, and United had to go for it.
Sir Alex Ferguson signalled his intent to do that by selecting an attacking team with six changes to the side that started against Bayern on Wednesday. Wayne Rooney was missing with a burst blood vessel in his foot, while Darren Fletcher and Patrice Evra were on the bench – the latter not included from the start for the first time in the league this season. Berbatov was joined by Federico Macheda in attack – the Italian youngster came off the bench to score against Chelsea and earned a third Premier League start of his career.
Source : Man Utd
United 3 Bayern Munich 2
United exited the Champions League in heartbreaking fashion, as Bayern Munich reached the semi-finals despite losing an enthralling encounter at Old Trafford.
Darron Gibson's early strike and a brace from Nani put United 3-0 up on the night after 41 minutes, only for Ivica Olic to quickly reduce the arrears before Arjen Robben hit a superb – and pivotal – second away goal for the Germans 16 minutes from time.
United, who had Rafael sent off for two bookings five minutes into the second half, were seemingly home and hosed after a breakneck start to the evening, but Bayern's 2-1 first leg victory in the Allianz Arena laid the foundations for an unlikely turnaround.
The harsh denouement to the evening was a far cry from the rousing manner with which United had started the game. For all the pre-match tub-thumping about raising the Old Trafford roof and providing a soundtrack to inspire Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, far more inspirational was the shock inclusion of Wayne Rooney.
Eight days of hysterical speculation could finally die down, as the team sheets confirmed pre-match whispers that United’s talisman would play a part after his battle with ankle ligament damage. Alongside him, Rafael and Darron Gibson replaced Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, while John O’Shea made a welcome return to the bench after his long battle with a complicated leg injury.
Source : Man Utd
United 1 Chelsea 2
The Ivorian was clearly offside when he latched onto Salomon Kalou’s pass, but was allowed to carry on and fire what could be a hugely decisive goal in the title race. Joe Cole had earlier put the visitors ahead, before Drogba doubled the advantaged soon after entering the action in the second half. Federico Macheda, who had saved United this time last year with a stunning winner against Aston Villa, gave the Reds hope but his goal was too little too late for United, who lacked a real cutting edge without Wayne Rooney up front.
Sir Alex made three changes to the side that started in Munich with one a well-reported enforced change. In the absence of Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, as expected, occupied the lone striker role with support close behind from Ji-sung Park. Chelsea, meanwhile, opted to leave top scorer Didier Drogba on the bench with Carlo Ancelotti sticking with the 11 that put seven past Aston Villa last weekend.
Chelsea started brightest, with Alex heading wide on four minutes from a Frank Lampard corner. The early exchanges were dominated by the Blues who enjoyed good spells of possession, while United, just as against Bayern, struggled to keep the ball.
Spurred on by a vocal Old Trafford faithful, Sir Alex's men carved out their first opening on nine minutes when Antonio Valencia picked out the unmarked Berbatov in the area after good work down the right.
