Article by Mark Graham, Stats Nerd
Manchester United 1 v 0 FC Barcelona, Old Trafford, 19.45pm, Tuesday 29th April 2008.
Goals: Manchester United: Scholes (14) - FC Barcelona: n/a.
Attendance: 75,061

A Paul Scholes's thunderbolt sent United to Moscow on Tuesday night after United kept their unbeaten record in Europe for the current season intact.  United will now face Chelsea in the Champions League Final on the 21st May & here's to Alex Ferguson maybe attacking Chelsea on this occasion!!!

With no Rooney & Vidic as expected, SAF played Hargreaves at right back with Brown in the middle of defence and opted for Nani & Park's industry & young legs instead of Ryan Giggs.

Carlos Tevez & Ronaldo played in attack as United tried to make their home field advantage work with a riotous crowd.

After missing the 99 Final, disaster almost struck again for the Ginger Ninja as within minutes of kick off, a clumsy tackle on the gifted Lionel Messi almost gave Barcelona a penalty, however Referee Herbert Fandel awarded a free kick to the visitors.

Veteran Italian defender Gianluca Zambrotta then made a crucial mistake after Ronaldo had penetrated the box & with a poor clearance, Scholes was right place right time as he teed up a shot from 25 yards out which keeper Victor Valdes realised he would have no chance of saving as he began his dive.

Scholes had doubled his tally for the season having only scored once previously back in August against Portsmouth at Fratton Park & what a game to score his second.

Barcelona, never out of the game saw as they did in the Nou Camp the tricky Argie Messi the standout player possessing the most threat, as an extraordinary passage of play saw him beat most of the United defence on a mazy run before EVDS had to save Messi's left foot shot.

United replied with chances from the brilliant & unrelenting throughout the game Ji-Sung Park as the Korean side-footed inches wide, Art Deco for Barcelona then saw two chances narrowly miss as Barcelona made an uncomfortable night for United & their fans, dreading the away goal.

For all the visitors possession United's rear guard never buckled as Rio & Wes Brown were monstrous in central defence, combined with Ji Sung Park & the "too wonderful for words" effort of Carlos Tevez, United had a concrete platform to play off.

Nani shortly before half time could have easily put the game beyond Barcelona after Park crossed into the box, but the young Portuguese winger headed wide when he maybe could have done better.

In the second half United worked the 1st decent chance of the period after Barca dominated without causing problems as work from Ronaldo & Tevez had Valdez save from the Apache.

Frank Rijkaard then sent on striker Thierry Henry for Andres Iniesta as the Dutch manager tried to salvage the game, Messi continuing to bamboozle United kept the durable United defence on edge before SAF introduced Fletcher & Giggs for Nani and Scholes to try to wrestle possession from Barcelona, keep the ball & run out the clock.

Still needing a solitary goal to go through to the final a heart in mouth moment came after an unmarked Henry headed goal bound from Xavi's corner and was fortunately grabbed by EVDS.

Still on the offensive Barcelona bombed United's penalty box but a defence lead by the awesome Rio Ferdinand with colossal help from Brown and the selfless, tireless attitudes of Park & Tevez, United ran out the clock giving the Reds a date with destiny in Moscow with Chelsea.