United can learn from battling Barca

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson’s search for clues on how to topple Real Madrid need extend no further than Real’s tormentor-in-chief Zinedine Zidane.

The French man was a forlorn, frustrated figure on Saturday night as the world and European club champions were held to a 1-1 draw by a battling Barcelona, who made a mockery of the 24 points that separate the fierce rivals in Spain’s Primera Liga.

Zidane succumbed to Barca’s plan to close him and his team-mates down as quickly and aggressively as possible.

Zidane admitted that he failed to deal with Barca’s aggression, although he did overlook the fact that Real committed almost twice as many fouls: “I received a lot of fouls throughout the game and I didn’t like that at all. I never felt comfortable and that was reflected in the way I played. Generally, we suffered because they were very aggressive. We noticed the tiredness in our legs at the end of the game, but we have to start thinking about Manchester now.

“This was a difficult game, nothing more and I’m sure the game at Old Trafford will be spectacular.”

Apart from a lapse in the 16th minute, when Ronaldo broke free to put Madrid ahead, Barca controlled the game.

The Catalans’ coach, Raddy Antic, decided that to sit back and try to absorb Madrid’s pressure, as United tried to do in that fatal opening 45 minutes in the Bernabeu, would be suicide. Instead, he opted to put the excellent Thiago Motta in front of the back four and behind central midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Gaizka Mendieta, while giving full-backs Gabri and Juan Pablo Sorin liberty to push forward.

Meanwhile, Deportivo Coruna striker Roy Makaay netted twice in a 3-1 win over Seville to help his side go to within a point of leaders, Madrid.

In Italy, two goals from Alessandro Del Piero helped Serie A leaders Juventus take an important step towards their 27th Italian title with a 2-1 win over AS Roma, as rivals AC Milan look out of the race after they lost 1-0 at home to 10-man Empoli.

Inter Milan kept the pressure on the defending champions after an injury-time goal from substitute Hernan Crespo gave them a 1-0 win at Brescia.

With five games of the season remaining Juventus have 64 points, Inter are on 58, while Milan, beaten by a 12th minute goal from Antonio Di Natale, trail Juve by nine points.

All three of the sides fighting for the fourth Champions League spot enjoyed home wins: Lazio beat Piacenza 2-1; Chievo won 2-1 against Reggina; and Parma defeated Torino 1-0.

Monaco returned to the top of the French league with a 2-0 victory over Strasbourg. With four games of the season remaining, Monaco have 61 points, ahead of Olympique Lyon (held to a 0-0 home draw by Lille) on goal difference

Marcio Amoroso’s second-half penalty earned German champions Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 victory over runaway Bundesliga leaders, Bayern Munich.

Yet second-placed VfB Stuttgart fell 3-1 at VfL Bochum, meaning Bayern retained their 11-point lead.

Bayer Leverkusen lost 3-1 at home to Schalke 04 yesterday meaning last year’s runners-up in the German League and Cup plus Champions League are still in a relegation place at third from bottom.