Manchester United went a long way towards booking their place in the Champion's League final with a convincing 2-0 win in the first leg away to Schalke 04. Despite squandering a raft of chances in the first half, with recent hero Javier Hernandez a leading culprit, United eventually were rewarded with two goals in as many minutes from Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney in the second half.
Not that United's players were entirely responsible for the goalless first half - Schalke's goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, was brilliant and has surely greatly enhanced his transfer value with the performance. Rumours have been swirling for months that Bayern Munich and Manchester United have been chasing his services, and Arsenal must be another contender, although Arsene Wenger has been less than assertive in bolstering his defensive stocks of late, and may well be an under-bidder to Manchester United, even in Bayern remain favourites.
Schalke have a mountain to climb in the return leg at Old Trafford, and it's hard to see United being as generous at the back as Inter was when Schalke managed a three goal victory there. This time, they will be doing well to escape with a morale boosting draw on last night's evidence, and United's quest for a Premier League and Champion's League double remains well on track.
Barcelona travel to the Bernabéu to face Real Madrid in the first leg of the other semi-final tomorrow.
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