After an entertaining 1-1 tie at home against defending champion Bayern Munich, Manchester United believes it can reach the Champions League semifinals.
Bastian Schweinsteiger scored in the 67th minute to offset a goal by Nemanja Vidic on Tuesday night, then was ejected near the final whistle of the first leg of the home-and-home, total-goals series. “Tonight’s performance was more than you’d hope for,” United manager David Moyes said. “Hopefully tonight shows we will go there and go toe to toe with them. Our best football has been in this competition, and we will need to show our best football next week.”
In the night’s other game, Neymar’s 71st-minute goal gave Barcelona a 1-1 draw at home against Atletico Madrid in an all-Spanish matchup. The visitors went ahead on Diego Ribas’ stunning shot from about 25 yards in the 56th minute that grazed the fingertips of goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto as it curled into the top corner.
“They played a good game and they made it very hard for us to create chances,” Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said. “This was not a good result for us.”
United, seventh in the English Premier League in Moyes’ first season, took the lead in the 58th minute on Vidic’s header from Wayne Rooney’s corner kick. (AP)
Korean clubs go winless
FC Seoul eked out a dramatic draw against a Japanese opponent, while undermanned Ulsan Hyundai blew an early lead and fell to a Chinese rival in AFC Champions League play this week.
FC Seoul scored a last-minute penalty for a 2-2 draw against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at home, while Ulsan fell to Guizhou Renhe 3-1 in an away match on Tuesday.
Despite the winless performances, both K League Classic clubs remained in position to reach the knockout phase, open to the top two teams from each of the eight groups.
Rafael Costa brought FC Seoul back from the brink of defeat with a successful penalty in the dying seconds. (Yonhap)
