The Centre Circle

Sir Alex Ferguson should have learnt from the Arsenal experience the week before. If you gamble on injured players, it rarely pays off. Wenger risked everything playing Fabregas and Gallas, and lost both player with re-occurrences of injuries past for the rest of the season. Sir Alex sent on Wayne Rooney from the start of the game and after 20 minutes the England forward was hobbling effectively a passenger until he limped off early in the second half. He also gambled on youth ahead of experience with Rafael playing for Gary Neville. The youngster was booked early for petulantly reacting to a Van Bommel foul and then was sent off for a second yellow for pulling back Ribery. Just like putting all your chips on red, and seeing the the little ball in the roulette wheel land on black.

United were cruising at 3-0 after 40 minutes and the game at that point should have been dead and buried. Gibson had put United ahead with a right foot shot from the edge of the box after just 3 minutes. Then Nani scored twice, the first a little flick from a Valencia cross to make it 2-0 after 7 minutes and his second and United’s third came via the same two players, Valencia to the Portuguese who finished high into the net.

Maybe United went to sleep for a minute and lost their concentration, and it was a vital slip. Muller headed on for Olic who finished from a tight angle past Van de Sar. The Germans were now within a goal of knocking United out and went into half time with renewed hope.

Early into the second half and Ribery showed his experience and Rafael his lack of it. Ribery seemed to be away on his way to goal but realising Rafael was challenging him on a yellow card almost waited for the young Brazilian to pull him to draw the foul. The young full back took the bait and referee Rizzoli had no option but to send him off. The Germans now had their tails up, even more so when Rooney was replaced by John O’Shea. The Old Trafford fans were trying to encourage their team and Nani nearly put the game safe when he broke clear but his effort was saved at his post by Butt. However, their worst fears were realised when a corner was played out directly to Arjen Robben on the edge of the box and his left foot volley crashed into the corner of the net. Try as they might, United were never going to pull back the tie with only 10 men, and the final whistle was met with wild celebrations from the 4000 visiting fans.

We wait to see what damage Wayne Rooney has sustained. The gamble on him may not have only cost United in the Champions League, it might just cost them a 19th league title too.

As for Bayern Munich, they move through to the semi-final where they will take on Lyon.

Man Utd 3-2 Bayern Munich (4-4)  - Bayern progress on the away goals rule.