Beckham dropped as Macca starts for Real

David Beckham has been left out of Manchester United’s starting line-up to face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford tonight.

And Steve McManaman has been included in Real's starting line-up for the mouthwatering Old Trafford clash.

Beckham, who has never come out on top in his personal duels with Real’s outstanding Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos, has been given a place on the bench as United look to overcome the nine-times European Cup winners’ 3-1 first-leg lead.

With Juan Sebastian Veron starting for the first time since the beginning of March after recovering from a knee ligament injury, Ferguson was left with a straight choice between Beckham and in-form Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with the Norwegian winning Ferguson’s favour.

The Scot’s selection is bound to intensify talk of Beckham leaving his only professional club in a move to Real, which has been mooted will take place in the summer.