Champions League: Real Madrid v Manchester United

Minute-by-minute updates on the last-16 first leg tie at the Santiago Bernabeu

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Real Madrid v Manchester United, live from the Santiago Bernabeu.
The eagerly anticipated Champions League first knockout round 1st leg see's Sir Alex Ferguson go up against his old rival Jose Mourinho, with the two having a rather famous history in this competition - holding a combined four winner's medals.

The pre-game build up has revolved around former United favourite Cristiano Ronaldo, who already has 34 goals this season in all competitions, and comes off of a hat-trick against Sevilla on the weekend. Opposite him, Robin Van Persie will be leading the line for United, with the former Arsenal player scoring 23 goals this season.

The encounter has been spiced up by the Spanish newspaper Marca, who labelled Wayne Rooney a 'footballer and a hooligan all rolled into one'. Do you agree?

Are you ready for the game? There's been a particular buzz all week in the build-up to this game, with everything ready for an absolute cracker.

Here come the teams...

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:16:01 PM
So Raphael Varane starts alongside Sergio Ramos, meaning there's only space for Pepe on the bench. If you don't know much about the Frenchman, you can find out more about him here

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:18:38 PM
The last time the two side's met, we got a Ronaldo hat-trick (the Brazilian striker that is) and a David Beckham double, with the final result of 4-3 to United not enough to see them through, following a 3-1 defeat in the first leg. Do you think United will make it to the quarter-finals, or do you fancy Madrid to make it through?

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:23:21 PM
Jonny Evans starts ahead of captain Nemanja Vidic, who is on the bench. It's a huge call from Fergie, especially with United's defence being very inconsistant this season.

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:25:15 PM
With all the hype surround Ronaldo, have they become a one-man team? You can see how Ronaldo compares with the other strikers at Madrid here where Pete Jenson analyses how they've faired over the last few years

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:28:29 PM
When Mourinho and Ferguson go head-to-head, we usually get fireworks in action-packed games. James Lawton looks at The battle between Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:33:12 PM
These historic clubs have met eight times previously, with Madrid triumphing on 3 occasions to United's 2. Who are you backing to add to that tally?

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:34:47 PM
No Vidic? Welbeck starting? Goodbye Champions League #MUFC

by AlexSmith190990 via twitter 2/13/2013 7:36:33 PM
Phil Jones impressed many last weekend when he man-marked Marouane Fellaini out of the game. Will he be as effective marking Ronaldo, or is the Portuguese captain simply too good?

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:39:35 PM
Forza madrid

by David Deacy via twitter 2/13/2013 7:40:35 PM
The teams are ready in the tunnel, the atmosphere in the stadium is building, here they come...

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:41:33 PM
Both teams are in their home kits, the Champions League anthem rings out and we're nearly ready to go. Bet there's a few nervy Madrid and United fans out there.

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:44:32 PM
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Lopez, Arbeloa, Varane, Ramos, Coentrao, Alonso, Khedira, Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo, Benzema. Subs: Adan, Pepe, Kaka, Carvalho, Essien, Modric, Higuain.

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Jones, Carrick, Kagawa, Welbeck, Rooney, Van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard, Valencia, Anderson, Giggs, Smalling, Hernandez, Cleverley.

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:45:37 PM
2 mins: United have possesion early, but they've given it away and Khedira gets a shot in early, though it goes well wide

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:47:20 PM
3 mins: Diego Lopez comes out of his area to head the ball clear, and he manages to get back before United can get a shot at goal

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:48:28 PM
4 mins: Di Maria get's the first meaningful shot away after getting passed a couple of United defender's, but his shot goes to the left of the post

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:49:54 PM
4 mins: Robin Van Persie picks up the first yellow card for a stray hand that hits Ramos in the face. It's not an elbow, but he gets a booking none the less

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:51:08 PM
5 mins: OFF THE POST - Coentrao curls a low shot towards goal, but De Gea makes a brilliant save to palm the shot onto the post. The ball runs back across the goal-mouth before going to safety

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:52:35 PM
9 mins: United win a corner, but it is cleared easily by Ramos

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:54:01 PM
12 mins: Van Persie does well with a nice bit of skill to get away from Arbeloa and Khedira, but Alonso manages to get back to cover. Madrid are looking the more threatening, though there's been no end product so far

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 7:57:52 PM
Oh! RvP, Beautiful Footwork!

by mufcfans via twitter 2/13/2013 7:58:49 PM
15 mins: Evans is forced to concede a corner, but nothing comes from Alonso's delivery

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:00:33 PM
16 mins: Alonso delivers a free-kick that is cleared for a corner, but Evans goes down after catching a stray arm from Ramos. The resulting corner manages to elude everyone, before Benzema takes a clearance straight to the...well I'm not sure I want to imagine that one. The Frenchman gets up eventually, though it did look a little painful on the replay

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:03:21 PM
19 mins: Van Persie flicks on for Kagawa who gets blocked out for a corner, though it may have come off the United man last

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:05:15 PM
20 mins: GOAL!!!

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:05:36 PM
20 mins: United take the lead from the resulting corner, with Danny Welbeck heading straight in. Poor, poor defending from Madrid, and Mourinho isn't happy with his side already

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:06:47 PM
25 mins: Well who was expecting that? Welbeck was 18/1 to score first by the way. Any takers?

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:10:12 PM
26 mins: From Madrid's corner, De Gea comes out and flaps his wrist towards the ball. you could say it was less than commanding, but the ball is cleared

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:11:28 PM
28 mins: Ronaldo wins a free-kick after Carrick fouls him. Is he going to shoot? Silly question...

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:13:08 PM
28 mins: RVP takes it straight to the head, bet that one hurt. Ronaldo hits the rebound and it goes close, but again just wide

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:14:01 PM
30 mins GOAL!!!!!

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:14:31 PM
30 mins Who else??? Ronaldo scores a beautiful header to level things up, towering above Evra, who didn't even jump. De Gea dives but he can't get near it

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:15:54 PM
That's his 183rd goal in 180 appearances by the way. Not a bad record...

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:16:35 PM
So we're back level at 1-1. Who's going to go on and win it? Or do you think it will remain a draw?

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:18:32 PM
34 mins Welbeck is in again, but he knocks it just wide and United get a corner

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:19:18 PM
35 mins The corner eventually falls to Rooney, who works what little space he can before unleashing a shot just wide

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:20:15 PM
36 mins A couple of United corners come to nothing. The game is wide open, with both teams attacking. It's real end-to-end stuff

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:22:09 PM
38 mins Alonso takes a quick free-kick and launches a ball to Ozil who breaks free, but De Gea stands tall and palms it wide

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:23:28 PM
39 mins Panic in the United box, with Di Maria passing up a shooting chance to Ronaldo, who's flick is blocked and goes through Benzema's legs before being cleared

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:25:02 PM
41 mins Madrid have a free-kick just to the left of the box, Rafael takes down Ozil and gets a yellow for it

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:25:49 PM
41 mins Penalty appeal! But the referee doesn't give it. Madrid are starting to dominate, and Jones just shoves Di Maria away from the ball. Looked the right call

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:27:01 PM
43 mins Ronaldo takes a shot from long range, but it goes over. Not by much though. United will be desperate for the half-time whistle at this rate

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:28:10 PM
Foul on given against Arbeloa for the exact thing Jones did?

by OfficerMudkip via twitter 2/13/2013 8:29:03 PM
45 mins United get a corner, can they work something before half-time?

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:29:58 PM
45 mins Van Persie knocks the ball down for Rafael, who skies it over the bar. No, then.

by Simon Rice (Online Sports... 2/13/2013 8:30:42 PM