Van Persie rues missed chances in Madrid

Red-hot in front of goal in the Premier League all season, Manchester United striker Robin van Persie was left to rue his misfortune in the Champions League draw with Real Madrid on Wednesday that left the last 16 tie evenly poised.

The Dutch striker has en-joyed a fruitful first campaign after swapping the red of Arsenal for United, his league-leading 19 goals putting the Old Trafford side well on the way to regaining the title.

Van Persie was out of luck, though, in an intriguing first leg at the Bernabeu which ended in a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital.

United, who led through Danny Welbeck’s header only for former player Cristiano Ronaldo to equalise, were indebted to a series of fine saves from goalkeeper David De Gea.

Van Persie might have swung the tie in United’s favour in the second half, having one fierce shot turned on to the bar by Real keeper Diego Lopez and a scuffed effort cleared off the line by Xabi Alonso soon after.

The Dutchman controlled the ball in the area but miscued his volley and Alonso was able to race back and hook the ball away with Lopez stranded.

“I had three (chances) in the second half, especially the one just after I hit the bar. That was a big chance.

“I should have put that one in. I just slightly mis-kicked it, didn’t hit it properly,” Van Persie said.

“With a bit of luck it could have gone in but didn’t and in the dying seconds the Real goalkeeper made a really good save – I was counting on that one to go in.”

In the frenetic dying minutes at the Bernabeu, Lopez palmed a Van Persie drive around the post.