PREMIER LEAGUE: Mata off as Man Utd lose, Benteke saves Liverpool

LONDON -- Juan Mata was sent off as Manchester United's hopes of Champions League qualification were dealt a serious setback in a 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

The Spaniard received two quick-fire bookings mid-way through the first half, for blocking a free-kick and then taking a swipe at Darren Fletcher, and West Brom made their numerical advantage count in the 66th minute when Salomon Rondon netted his fourth goal in six Premier League games.

It ended United's recent revival of four straight wins and left Louis van Gaal's side in sixth place, three points below the Champions League berths having played a game more than fourth-place Manchester City.


"We have played 60 minutes with 10 against 11 and this is the fifth match in 14 days, so it's very difficult to play against 11 players," said United manager Van Gaal, who branded Mata's first booking "stupid".

"That's the reason that we lost this game."

United are now in danger of being caught by forthcoming Europa League opponents Liverpool, who are three points behind them with a game in hand following a last-gasp 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.

"It's a big blow because these kind of matches, you have to win," Van Gaal added.

Asked what United require from their final nine league games to finish in the top four, the Dutchman replied: "27 points."

Mata was shown his first yellow card in the 24th minute at The Hawthorns for blocking Fletcher's free-kick and saw red two minutes later for clumsily swinging his foot at the former United midfielder.

Craig Dawson almost put West Brom in front immediately, only for his ambitious 25-yard lob to fall inches wide of the left-hand post.

Having survived until half-time, United started the second half strongly and threatened through young forwards Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.

But West Brom claimed the points when Venezuelan striker Rondon gathered Sebastien Pocognoli's drilled left-wing cross before slamming home left-footed to lift Tony Pulis's men 15 points clear of the bottom three.

- 'Big moment' for Liverpool -

"The most important thing is the next game," said Pulis, whose side are now one point shy of the 40-point mark traditionally synonymous with survival.

"As you've seen this year, results have been off the radar. Let's get 40 points. I think that's definitely safe."

Earlier, substitute Christian Benteke won and scored a 96th-minute penalty as 10-man Liverpool came from behind to win 2-1 at Palace.

Joe Ledley's 48th-minute strike and Liverpool midfielder James Milner's second-half dismissal for two bookable offences looked to have set Palace on course for a first win in 12 league matches.

But a slip by Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy gifted Roberto Firmino a 72nd-minute equaliser, before Damien Delaney's rash challenge on Benteke enabled the Belgium striker to net the winner from the spot.

"You can try (to make changes), but the rest is passion," Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports at Selhurst Park.

"Football is like this. You make a plan at the end, but the lads did great. This is the third league win in a row. I can't believe how it feels -- really good, a big moment for us."

Liverpool climbed two places to seventh after recording a third successive league win for the first time in a year.

Palace manager Alan Pardew, whose side are without a league win in 2016, criticised referee Andre Marriner's decision to award Benteke a penalty.

Delaney pulled out of a sliding challenge on Benteke inside the box, but the Irishman had already gone to ground and replays showed that his right knee had clipped the Belgian's left foot.

"(Benteke) is looking for it. Our player is pulling out of it," said Pardew whose team side remain nine points above the relegation zone.

"If the linesman gives it for the touch of the knee in the last minute, I think it is harsh."

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Confusion reigns over De Gea's Real Madrid move

MADRID - Confusion reigns over goalkeeper David De Gea's expected transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid after media reported the relevant paperwork was not delivered in time on Spain's deadline day.

The Spain stopper signed his new contract but the documents did not reach the professional league's offices by the midnight cut-off on Monday/Tuesday, said several reports without identifying the source of their information.

However, Cadena Ser radio said Real had proof that United sent the paperwork at one minute before midnight and the club were expecting the deal to go through.

Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas is due to join United as part of the deal if the transfer is completed.

Neither Real nor the professional league could be reached for immediate comment.

If the transfer has failed it will leave De Gea in a difficult position because United coach Louis van Gaal has left him out of the squad for the Premier League club's opening games of the season.

Real want the 24-year-old former Atletico Madrid keeper as a long-term replacement for his Spain team mate Iker Casillas, the former club captain who joined Porto in July.

De Gea was selected last week by Spain for the forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Macedonia although coach Vicente Del Bosque hinted he could lose his place in the squad if his club situation remained unresolved. (Writing by Iain Rogers; Editing by Tony Jimenez)

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Chelsea held in Bridge storm, five-star City cut gap

LONDON - Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Burnley as rivals Manchester City thrashed Newcastle United 5-0 to leave Jose Mourinho smoldering with rage after the title race was injected with new life on Saturday.

Leaders Chelsea offered a chink of light to City after a stormy game at Stamford Bridge where Nemanja Matic was sent off for retaliating to an awful challenge from Burnley's Ashley Barnes and the hosts were denied two strong penalty claims.

City made the most of their lifeline, emphatically exposing Newcastle's failings with two goals from David Silva among the highlights of a crushing victory that reduced their deficit at the top of the Premier League to five points.

It was another ominous display from second-placed City who have scored nine goals in their last two games and look back to their very best.

SIMMERING MOURINHO

In typical fashion, all of Saturday's action, that included a 2-1 win for Arsenal at Crystal Palace and defeat for Manchester United at Swansea City by the same scoreline, was largely overshadowed by the simmering Mourinho.

It began so brightly for Chelsea as Branislav Ivanovic's knack of scoring crucial goals looked to have set the hosts on the way to a routine win after 14 minutes.

Then an Ivanovic shot struck Michael Kightly's arm and Diego Costa was pushed over by Jason Shackell but both penalty appeals were waved away by referee Martin Atkinson who then became public enemy number one.

Barnes flew into an ugly challenge on Matic, catching the Serbian enforcer on the shin. The Burnley player escaped without a booking while Matic, who chased the striker before throwing him to the floor, was dismissed with 20 minutes left.

Any sense of injustice may have been mitigated had the home side clung on but Ben Mee rose to power in a header at the back post and Mourinho was left to seethe.

"I am punished when I refer to these situations and I don't want to be punished," he told the BBC.

His mood would not have improved when Manchester City took the lead in Saturday's late game after two minutes, with Sergio Aguero coolly converting from the spot.

Samir Nasri fired into the roof of the net for the second and Edin Dzeko, felled for the penalty, added a third after being fed by Silva.

The Spanish playmaker then scored twice in three minutes at the start of the second half.

SWANSEA DOUBLE

Manchester United will be sick of the sight of Swansea who completed the double over Louis van Gaal's side, having also won on the opening day of the season.

There was an element of role reversal at the Liberty Stadium where United, who have frequently this season played poorly and still won, dominated but were undone when Bafetimbi Gomis deflected in Jonjo Shelvey's long-range strike for Swansea.

United, who took the lead through Ander Herrera before Ki Sung-Yueng levelled, slipped to fourth, 13 points off the top, after only their second defeat in 20 games.

They are a point adrift of Arsenal who made it five league wins out of six by beating Palace.

A Santi Cazorla penalty and an eighth league goal of the season for Olivier Giroud allowed Arsene Wenger's side to survive a late scare when Glenn Murray reduced the deficit in stoppage time.

Tim Sherwood's first match as Aston Villa manager ended in disappointment as his new charges squandered a first-half lead to lose 2-1 at home to Stoke City who scored an injury-time penalty from Victor Moses to snatch the points.

At the bottom of the table Hull City moved four points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers who had midfielder Joey Barton sent off in the first half.

Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion drew 0-0.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

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Old Trafford new chapter in Messi-Ronaldo rivalry

LONDON - Cristiano Ronaldo's second Old Trafford home-coming will be another highly-charged affair with big rival Lionel Messi leading Argentina in their friendly with Portugal on Tuesday.

Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford for the first time after leaving Manchester United in 2009 when Real Madrid beat United 2-1 with his winning goal in a Champions League tie in March last year, but he can expect plenty of support this time from fans who would love him to make a permanent move back.

The Portugal captain will not have it all his own way, though, given the backing the Manchester-based Argentine colony in coach Gerardo Martino's squad can also expect in the two great players' 27th clash though only the second at national level.

Messi, on top in their head-to-head record with 12 wins to Ronaldo's seven and the remainder drawn, gave Argentina a 2-1 win with a late penalty in a February 2011 friendly in Geneva after Ronaldo had scored Portugal's equaliser.

Carlos Tevez, recalled for the first time since July 2011, will also be looking for a part, having played for both United and Manchester City who provide Argentina with three players including Sergio Aguero.

Tevez and Aguero, though, look set to start on the bench with Gonzalo Higuain taking the centre forward role as coach Martino looks to give most of his squad a game on their two-match tour in England that started with Wednesday's 2-1 win over Croatia in London.

RIGHT WING

Messi, whose winning penalty against Croatia was his 45th goal in his 96th international, played on the right wing -- nominally Ronaldo's position too -- where Martino believes he can best serve the team with three top candidates vying for the centre forward role, Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Tevez.

"It had been a long time since I played in that position, having done so for Barca. I've got to get used to it now, it's not something new but I have to adapt again," Messi said after Thursday's match.

Ronaldo, with 52 goals in 117 internationals, comes fresh from scoring the only goal in Portugal's 1-0 win over Armenia in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday.

Argentina, preparing for next year's Copa America in Chile, have a record of three wins and a defeat in four matches under new coach Martino since they lost the World Cup final to Germany in July.

(Editing by Mike Collett)

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Manchester United agree record $1.3-B Adidas kit deal

LONDON - Adidas AG will pay a record 750 million pounds ($1.3 billion) to supply Manchester United with shirts and kit, underlining the enduring pulling power of the former English soccer champions despite a dismal last season.

The 10-year agreement announced on Monday is a world record for a soccer club and more than double the previous biggest, a 31 million pounds-a-year deal the German sportswear company is reported to have with Spanish side Real Madrid.

Its total value is also just 40 million pounds less than United's owners the Glazer family paid for the club in 2005, highlighting how it will help to underwrite the rebuilding of the team under new manager Louis van Gaal.

The Dutchman takes charge of the Old Trafford club on Wednesday just days after leading the Netherlands to third place at the World Cup.

Nike, the world's largest sportswear group, had sponsored United since 2002 but earlier this month pulled out of a bidding war with Adidas, meaning the 2014-15 season will be the U.S. firm's last as a partner of the 20-time English champions.

Adidas, which also has similar deals with elite European clubs including England's Chelsea, Germany's Bayern Munich and Italy's AC Milan, takes over the contract from 2015/16.

The deal with arguably the world's most popular team is a coup for the German firm, protecting its leading position in a soccer market in which Nike has made strong inroads over the last 20 years.

"This collaboration marks a milestone for us when it comes to merchandising potential. We expect total sales to reach 1.5 billion pounds during the duration of our partnership," Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer said in a statement.

Its lucrative value also points to the continued prominence of the United brand despite a 2013/4 campaign - its first without influential manager Alex Ferguson who retired after 26 years in May 2013 - that saw the club finish seventh in the league and miss out on a Champions League spot for the first time in 19 years.

The allure of the club's famous red shirts, worn by millions around the globe, had already helped persuade General Motors to put its Chevrolet brand on the team's jerseys in a deal worth $559 million that will run until 2021.

That agreement - double the going rate for most major European teams - will see Chevrolet on the front of United shirts from this season in Nike's swansong campaign.

Van Gaal, who replaces David Moyes as manager after the Scot parted company with the club less than 10 months into his tenure, will spend two days at United's training complex before flying to Los Angeles with the team on Friday.

Nike was also recently replaced by United's league rivals Arsenal, who have signed a kit supplier deal with Germany's Puma , the third-ranked company in the market, worth a reported 30 million pounds a year.

Shares in Adidas were up 2.5 percent to 73.31 euros at 1332 GMT, with United shares flat at $17.8.

($1 = 0.5877 British Pounds) (Editing by Kate Holton and John Stonestreet)

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Man United signs Luke Shaw for USD 51M

MANCHESTER - Manchester United's attempts to move on from a season of failure have quickened pace with the signing of left-back Luke Shaw from Southampton on Friday for a fee thought to make him the most expensive teenager in football.

The Old Trafford club have reportedly spent close to 60 million pounds ($102.04 million) on 18-year-old Shaw and Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera, who arrived from La Liga side Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.

British media have said Shaw cost around 30 million pounds (around $51 million, eclipsing the 25.6 million United paid to Everton for Wayne Rooney in 2004, a figure that would also make him one of the costliest defenders.

Shaw changed his Twitter profile on Friday morning to read: "Professional footballer at Manchester united Football Club" before quickly removing the information, but the transfer was confirmed later in the day.

"I am thrilled and excited to be joining Manchester United. I have been at Southampton since I was eight years old and I would like to thank them and the fans for everything they have done for me," he told the club website (www.manutd.com).

"I want to continue to progress my career and joining United is the ideal place for me to do that. I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life and also looking forward to learning from the world-class players and management at the club."

The teenager, who was part of England's doomed World Cup squad and earned his third cap in the goalless draw with Costa Rica, will compete for a place with experience Frenchman Patrice Evra, who himself signed a new one-year deal at United in May.

Shaw has penned a four-year deal with an option for a further year.

United missed out on the lucrative Champions League spot after finishing last season in seventh place in the Premier League. A series of limp displays also cost manager David Moyes his job before the end of the campaign.

Dutchman Louis van Gaal, still with the Netherlands in Brazil, has since been appointed and has been tasked with returning United to England's elite as quickly as possible.

ATTACKING INSTINCTS

Herrera, 24, will bring some skill and vitality to a ponderous midfield, while Shaw, despite his young age, has made 60 Premier League appearances in two seasons and will offer competition and attacking instincts on the flank.

United have seen highly decorated defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic leave the club as they look to move on from a poor season following the retirement of Alex Ferguson.

Ryan Giggs, who retired at the end of last season after managing the club following Moyes's departure and will now assist van Gaal, said they were delighted Shaw was joining.

"Luke is a very talented young left-back with great potential. He has developed immensely during his time at Southampton and has all the attributes to become a top player."

Shaw's departure is the latest blow for Southampton, who finished the Premier League campaign in eighth place with a club-record 56 points. Following the end of the season, manager Mauricio Pochettino left for Tottenham Hotspur while striker Rickie Lambert joined Liverpool.

Media reports on Friday said midfielder Adam Lallana, who also earned a spot in Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad on the back of his strong club form, was set to have a medical ahead of a potential move to Liverpool.

Southampton, who have appointed Dutchman Ronald Koeman as manager following Pochettino's departure, said after Lambert's move that they had received a number of offers for players, but that they were under no pressure to sell.

"We fought to ensure that we got the right deal for a player in whom we have invested a great deal of work over the past decade," Southampton executive director Les Reed said on the club's Twitter account.

"This deal is a good one for #SaintsFC, and hopefully sends a clear message to other clubs wishing to bid for our players.

"Luke's transfer fee will be reinvested into the team as Ronald Koeman builds for the new season and for years to come."

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Van Persie demands Dutch focus after Spain romp

SALVADOR - Netherlands striker Robin van Persie has urged his Oranje team-mates to stay focused on their World Cup campaign following their stunning 5-1 drubbing of holders Spain.

The 30-year-old Manchester United star scored twice as Holland humiliated the reigning world and European champions in the Group B opener in Salvador on Friday.

He equalised for the Dutch with a superb diving header just 90 seconds before the break after Spain's Xabi Alonso had converted a first-half penalty.

Van Persie then added his second and Holland's fourth when he beat Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas to a loose ball and tapped the ball into an empty net with 72 minutes gone.

The Dutch ran riot in the second-half claiming four goals without reply as Arjen Robben also netted twice, while defender Stefan de Vrij headed home to make amends for conceding the converted Alonso penalty after fouling Diego Costa.

Holland now faces Australia next Wednesday in Porto Alegro, but Van Persie says they must build on their win and forget any dreams of reaching a second consecutive World Cup final.

"We've beaten the best team in the world for the last six years and if you look at how much we wanted it and how well we played, it's a massive compliment to the team," said the Dutch man-of-the-match.

"We have to take it all in and enjoy it, but then focus on Australia, this was an incredible evening for the whole of Holland, but it's only three points."

Van Persie has a history of being part of Dutch squads who dazzle in the group stages at major tournaments, only to bow out in the knock-out stages.

Having made his international debut in 2005, Van Persie was part of Marco van Basten's Dutch squad which was beaten by Portugal in the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup.

He was also in the squad when the Netherlands humbled both Italy and France at Euro 2008 to dominate their group, only to bow out in the quarter-finals 3-1 against Russia.

The Dutch avenged their 2010 World Cup final defeat to Spain in empathic style, but memories of the Euro 2012 group stage exit are still fresh having lost all three games to Germany, Portugal and Denmark.

Van Persie said the squad needs to work together to improve if they are to become the first European side to win the World Cup in South America.

The Dutch were the last team to reach a World Cup final in south America having lost to Argentina 3-1 after extra-time in 1978.

"I've been here before, this is my fifth tournament and I don't want us to be too excited, because this is just one game and three points," he said.

"We have to improve and we have to stick together."

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Manager David Moyes leaves Man United

LONDON -- David Moyes's troubled reign at Old Trafford came to an abrupt end on Tuesday when the Scot was sacked after a hugely disappointing 10-month spell as manager after replacing Alex Ferguson last July.

Announcing his departure in a terse, two line statement, United thanked Moyes for "the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role".

Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs, 40, was appointed to take interim charge of the team for the final four games of the season, with United mired in seventh place and out of the running for a Champions League.

Newspapers had earlier reported that Moyes would be sacked, trumpeting the "End of an Error" after the American owners, the Glazer family, lost patience and decided the manager had to go in the wake of a tame 2-0 defeat at Moyes' former club Everton on Sunday.

Moyes, who turns 51 on Friday, was appointed on the recommendation of fellow-Scot Ferguson, who retired at the end of last season after 26 years in the job.

Speculation immediately turned to who might take over at Old Trafford, with Dutchman Louis van Gaal quickly installed as the bookmakers' favorite.

The former Barcelona, Ajax Amsterdam and Bayern Munich boss is coach of the Netherlands but has already said he will stand down after the World Cup in Brazil and has talked of a move to the Premier League.

Ferguson had steered United to the title last season for the 13th time and the club's 20th overall but the self-belief and confidence that had characterised his years in charge evaporated abruptly under Moyes.

Former United stalwart Gary Neville suggested Moyes should have been given more time to make his mark and said the fault was not his alone.

"The idea of giving people three and four and six year contracts and then getting rid of them after 10 months is something that is foreign to me," he told Sky television.

"However there is no disguising that the football this season has been poor, the results have been poor. As a fan, I've not enjoyed watching it. I'm sure David Moyes himself hasn't enjoyed watching it.

"I've played with a lot of those players, they love the club and are desperate to do well for the club but they've just completely lost confidence and belief. That's ultimately what's cost David Moyes"

Busby memories

Moyes's sudden departure evoked memories of the traumatic spell the Old Trafford club suffered between 1969 and 1971 when Matt Busby retired after 24 years as boss.

His hand-picked successor Wilf McGuinness only lasted 18 months before Busby took over the reins again.

It is highly improbable though Ferguson will swap his lucrative career as an after-dinner speaker and business consultant for a return to the dugout.

Moyes, who was previously in charge of Everton for 11 seasons without winning a trophy, was given a six-year contract by United, but they have lurched from one crisis to another.

A shockingly lame performance at Goodison Park on Sunday - which completed their first league double defeat to Everton in 44 years - was the final straw for the Glazers, with seventh-placed United failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995-96.

The knives had already been out before then, with disgruntled fans paying for a plane trailing a banner over Old Trafford reading "Wrong One - Moyes Out" in a game against Aston Villa in March.

United won that match 4-1, and most of the fans inside the ground applauded the manager, but the writing was on the wall even if he was reluctant to read it.

Fans of rival sides started to chant "David Moyes, we want you to stay" and stewards stood guard to keep home supporters away from the prominent banner inside Old Trafford declaring the manager to be "The Chosen One."

At Everton last weekend, Moyes was taunted by one pitch-side fan posing as the Grim Reaper, complete with inflatable scythe and death mask.

Ageing squad

Until last week the view was that Moyes would ride out the wreckage of this campaign and be given money to invest.

That will not now happen, with the owners clearly unwilling to trust the manager with the significant sums required to revamp the ageing side in the close season.

There was little hint of the trouble to come back in July.

United won the Community Shield against FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic in Moyes' first match in charge at Wembley in August before they launched the defence of their league title with a 4-1 win at Swansea City.

The first alarm bells rang when they were crushed 4-1 at home by Manchester City on Sept. 22 and defeat in their next home game to West Bromwich Albion, who had not won at Old Trafford since 1978, left them 12th in the table.

It was United's worst start to a league season for a quarter-of-a-century.

Everton also won at Old Trafford for the first time in 21 years, Newcastle United won there for the first time in 41 years and Swansea for the first time ever when they triumphed in the third round of the FA Cup.

Not only were the results disappointing, so were the performances. The cautious approach that had made Everton a solid team punching above their weight was not what United fans demanded.

Moyes's first major signing, Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who followed the manager from Everton, looked ponderous and out of his depth as United failed to show attacking spark.

Rumors emerged of player dissatisfaction with Moyes' training regime, while his virtual ignoring of Giggs, worshipped at Old Trafford, further alienated the new manager.

The few bright sparks came in the Champions League but they were extinguished when United went out to holders Bayern Munich and United may now struggle to sign the elite players needed to take them back to the top.

When Ferguson left Old Trafford, he told the fans in a farewell speech "Your job now is to get behind our new manager". The search for another has started.

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Bayern hold upper hand after 1-1 draw at United

MANCHESTER, England - Holders Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw at a resilient Manchester United on Tuesday but remain favorites to clinch their Champions League quarter-final despite losing Bastian Schweinsteiger to a red card.

Bayern played the last few minutes at Old Trafford with 10 men after Schweinsteiger, who scored their equaliser in the 67th minute, got a second booking for tripping Wayne Rooney, ruling him out of next Wednesday's second leg at the Allianz Arena.

Schweinsteiger's superbly taken first-time lash into the roof of David De Gea's net came nine minutes after United skipper Nemanja Vidic stretched to clinically head a Rooney corner past stranded goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the 58th.

"Congratulations to the team," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola told reporters. "I am satisfied because Manchester United is one of the best teams in the world and that is something we should not forget.

"The away goal is extremely important even though the 1-1 can be tricky. We will try to win the return leg and I have full confidence in my players," added the Spaniard whos team are still on track to repeat the treble they claimed last season.

United's performance was in stark contrast to their recent 3-0 home defeats by arch-rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in a lacklustre Premier League campaign.

Although the draw ended United's run of four straight Champions League home wins this season, it was a huge improvement on much of their domestic league form which has left them stranded in seventh place in the table.

Manager David Moyes, who has endured a tough baptism this season after taking over from the retired Alex Ferguson, had said his main wish was to have a foothold in the tie going into the second leg and he was encourged by United's performance.

"I was really pleased with the way we played there was a great atmosphere a great crowd, it was really gutsy, " he told ITV Sport.

"There was a real determination tonight to make sure we did well. Its a competition we have a really good history in, and we played a really good side tonight."

With Schweinsteiger and defender Javi Martinez now suspended for the return, Moyes was asked if he had more belief in winning next week against a side who retained their domestic title with seven matches left and are in the German Cup semi-finals.

"Well we have to score a goal because if the score stays as it is, Bayern goes through and we have to do something about it.

"We said we wanted to go into the second leg with a real chance and we have done that. We have given ourselves a real opportunity. We will go to Munich and try and get a victory."

BAYERN SUCCESS

Bayern had won their last four matches on English soil in the last 13 months, including two wins at Arsenal, a victory at Manchester City and success in last season's Champions League final when they beat Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

After a scare when United's Danny Welbeck saw a goal ruled out after five minutes for raising his foot too high, Bayern looked capable of extending that winning run, and taking their overall Champions League away record to eight successive wins.

They established a grip on the game, creating seven scoring chances in the opening 35 minutes, as defenders David Alaba and Rafinha poured forward to support the attack and they looked sharper to the ball than the home side.

But, for once, the German side, who had scored in their last 60 matches in all competitions, appeared to have lost their cutting edge in front of goal.

The best of those first-half efforts came after 31 minutes when winger Arjen Robben was allowed too much space and De Gea had to dive full length to beat away his inswinging shot.

Despite being overrun by Bayern's attacking momentum, United had the best chance before the break when Rooney found fellow England striker Welbeck with a low through ball after 40 minutes which Bayern defender Jerome Boateng attempted to block but fell over instead.

That allowed Welbeck time and space to beat Neuer but his weak chip gave the keeper the chance to paw the ball safely away.

Ryan Giggs, making his 141st Champions League appearance, one short of Raul's record, suffered a groin injury and had to be replaced by Shinji Kagawa at halftime.

The enterprising Japanese midfielder, who never lost to Bayern when he was at Dortmund, caused the visitors plenty of problems with some intelligent runs and passes.

From one of them United won a corner which Rooney swept into the box. The ball went slightly behind the incoming but unmarked Vidic who turned his head to nod past Neuer for his first goal in Europe for more than five years.

United only led for nine minutes though before Schweinsteiger replied.

Dutchman Robben came close to a late goal for Bayern but, despite only drawing, the tie is balanced in their favour before as they prepare for the return in Germany next week without Schweinsteiger and Martinez.

(Reporting by Mike Collett; editing by Ken Ferris)

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