Hanging by a thread

Real Madrid 3 Manchester United 1

The Spanish striker found the net either side of the interval after Luis Figo had put the home side in front with a brilliant curling effort to leave Sir Alex Ferguson's men staring at humiliation.

However, the Old Trafford men bravely battled back but could only muster a Ruud van Nistelrooy header in reply, and with Paul Scholes and Gary Neville both picking up bookings which leave them suspended from the second leg, the chances of completing the revival on home soil in a fortnight look slim. United were not getting too many touches in the opening stages as Real kept possession patiently, although