Ronaldo misses penalty as Barca and United draw blank

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo fluffed an early penalty as his side drew 0-0 with Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Nou Camp yesterday.

The Portugal international, who has scored 38 goals in all competitions this season, sent his spot-kick wide after Gabriel Milito handled the ball in the area with just over a minute gone.

"I didn't change my style on the penalty, today I didn't score but no problem - I will score in Manchester," Ronaldo told Sky Sports.

"Nil-nil away is a good result."

United appeared stunned and surrendered the initiative to Barca but although the Catalans dominated they failed to take advantage and visiting keeper Edwin van der Sar was only seriously tested by substitute Thierry Henry late in the game.

Barca, the only non-English side in the semis, have been poor in the league but gave a far more impressive performance against an out-of-sorts United and will feel short-changed by a result that leaves the tie delicately balanced before next week's return at Old Trafford.

United seemed to have got off to a dream start when Milito conceded a penalty in the second minute, handling the ball after Ronaldo had beaten him to a header in the area.

But the normally super cool Portuguese missed the target, sending the ball past Victor Valdes's left post after he tried to chip it into the top corner.

The crowd exploded with delight at the winger's error, while United seemed to be in shock at their team-mate's miss.

Barca took advantage of the confusion in the United ranks to put the visitors under pressure with Deco driving forward from midfield and providing some good service for attacking trio Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Samuel Eto'o.

United barely got a sniff off the ball as Deco and Yaya Toure bossed the midfield and when they did get possession they looked nervous and surrendered the ball immediately.

But the visitors did cause Barca a scare on the half-hour when Ronaldo went down in the area as he tussled with Rafael Marquez after Iniesta misjudged a pass to the Mexican.

Barca continued to dominate but did not seriously challenge Van der Sar until the United no.1 tipped a long-range shot from Gianluca Zambrotta over the bar.

Messi and Iniesta sliced open United's defence with a gleaming one-touch passing move that left the ball in the path of Eto'o but the Cameroon striker hit the side netting.

Messi, making his first start since returning from a thigh injury, ran out of steam in the second half and Barca coach Frank Rijkaard sent on youngster Bojan Krkic and then Henry.

The Frenchman almost broke the deadlock with a rasping drive seven minutes from time but Van der Sar beat the shot clear.

Barca's Marquez will miss the second leg after picking up a booking for a foul on Ronaldo.

Scholes's 100th

Paul Scholes joined the Champions League century club yesterday when he made his 100th appearance in the competition for United at the Nou Camp.

His century, which does not include matches in the qualifying round, comes 14 years after his first appearance also against Barca, in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in October 1994.

Scholes, 33, becomes only the ninth player to make 100 appearances in the competition proper, according to official figures issued by UEFA, European soccer's governing body.

Scholes's United midfield partner Ryan Giggs made his 100th Champions League appearance against Lyon last month and has now played 102 matches, while club captain Gary Neville has made 99 appearances for United in the competition proper.

The other seven players to make 100 appearances in the competition are Raul (116), Roberto Carlos (114), Paolo Maldini (109), Oliver Kahn (103), David Beckham (103), Clarence Seedorf (101) and Luis Figo (100).

Maldini holds the record for all European club competitions with 172 appearances.

Barcelona: Valdes; Zambrotta, Marquez, Milito, Abidal; Xavi, Yaya Toure, Deco (Henry '77); Messi (Krkic '62), Eto'o, Iniesta.

Man. United: Van der Sar; Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra; Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Park Ji-sung; Tevez (Giggs '85), Rooney (Nani '76).

Referee: Massimo Busacca (Swit-zerland).

Attendance: 98,000.