Cristiano Ronaldo rescued Real Madrid with a brilliant header against former club Manchester United to salvage a 1-1 draw in Wednesday’s heavyweight Champions League last 16 first leg showdown at the Bernabeu.
Real gave the Premier League side a torrid time in the early stages but United took the lead against the run of play in the 20th minute when Danny Welbeck nodded past Diego Lopez from a Wayne Rooney corner.
Ronaldo levelled 10 minutes later when he rose to send an Angel Di Maria centre arrowing into the corner.
There was a muted goal celebration from the Portuguese, who became the world’s most expensive player when he left United for Real in 2009.
“It’s a place where I played for six years and I have a lot of affection for the club as everyone knows,” Ronaldo said.
“United are very strong in defence and they created some problems for us. But with the chances we had, we could have scored more.”
United goalkeeper David De Gea, who earlier tipped a Fabio Coentrao effort on to a post, superbly denied the same player on the hour before Robin van Persie fluffed a shot when he had the goal at his mercy 18 minutes from time.
The result gives United a slight advantage for the return leg in Manchester on March 5.
Real attacked the visitors’ goal from the start while United struggled to retain possession.
They had yet to have an attempt on goal when Welbeck slipped marker Sergio Ramos and nodded inside the post for only his second goal in 28 matches.
Ronaldo went close following up on his own free-kick before grabbing the equaliser with a trademark towering header.
Real were far more threatening going forward but nearly conceded a second in the 34th minute when Welbeck came close to poking a Van Persie centre past Diego Lopez.
United started the second half brightly but were soon on the back foot as Real continued to press forward.
Although they were seeing little of the ball, the visitors still looked dangerous and Lopez tipped a searing Van Persie drive on to the bar moments before the Dutch striker squandered a golden chance for United.
He 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.
Shakhtar held
In the other match played yesterday, Borussia Dortmund grabbed a late 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk which was overshadowed by a fatal plane crash involving fans.
Mats Hummels headed in from an 87th-minute corner after substitute Douglas Costa thought he had won it for the hosts in the 68th minute to leave the German side as favourites ahead of the second leg in Dortmund on March 5.
The Ukrainians had struck first when Darijo Srna netted with a 31st-minute free-kick but Dortmund deservedly scored through Robert Lewandowski four minutes before half-time.
The match went ahead despite at least five people being killed when a plane carrying supporters to the match in eastern Ukraine overshot the Donetsk runway and broke up when it attempted an emergency landing hours before kick-off.
Last 16 – first legs
Played yesterday
Real Madrid vs Man. Utd - 1-1
S. Donetsk vs B. Dortmund - 2-2
Second legs: March 5.
Played on Tuesday
Celtic vs Juventus - 0-3
Valencia vs Paris St Germain - 1-2
Second legs: March 6.
February 19 – 20.45
Porto vs Malaga (2nd leg: Mar. 13)
Arsenal vs Bay. Munich (2nd leg: Mar. 13)
February 20 – 20.45
Galatasaray vs Schalke (2nd leg: Mar. 12)
Milan vs Barcelona (2nd leg: Mar. 12)