Real quality trumps ref justice

Man United 1 Real Madrid 2

An organised display looked set to pay off when a Sergio Ramos own-goal gave the hosts the advantage just after the break, but after Nani was shown a controversial red card for catching Alvaro Arbeloa, which left Ferguson seething at referee Cuneyt Cakir, Real turned on the power.

Luka Modric, a longstanding Ferguson target during his Tottenham days, came off the bench to bend in an equaliser before Cristiano Ronaldo — who else? — stabbed in the second.