With the blockbuster Champions League tie of the round finally upon us, one coach named his expected line-up and one something a little more obscure. Inter tactician Jose Mourinho paired the resurgent Adriano with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in attack, while both of Manchester United's defensive injury doubts, Jonny Evans and John O'Shea, were fit enough to make the starting line-up. Sir Alex Ferguson pulled a couple of surprises out of his bag, including Park Ji-Sung and Darren Fletcher in midfield, with Wayne Rooney starting on the bench.
First Half
There was some mist in the air as the sides kicked off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, but nothing murky about Manchester United's sharp performance, which they sustained for the opening half-hour. During that period, they should have been at least one to the good.
Cristiano Ronaldo, booed by the home faithful, looked threatening in the early stages, attacking a Ryan Giggs corner only to see his bullet header beaten away by Julio Cesar.
The Red Devils dominated the early possession and were able to win numerous free-kicks in Ronaldo territory. The Portuguese winger's first effort was pushed away by the 'keeper.
As Inter player after Inter player was whistled by the ref, Ronaldo was able to come ever closer with his attempts. After a Sulley Muntari foul, he swerved one wide of the right-hand post, much to the relief of the tense Nerazzurri support.
United created chances from open play, too. A Giggs through-ball found Dimitar Berbatov, whose driven cross was deflected away before it could reach Park.
Then, Ronaldo's ball from the right hit a confused Giggs on the back. The Welshman, in a great position, couldn't locate it and the chance was gone.
Berbatov the was next to go close, leaping to nod Patrice Evra's cross back across goal and wide of the post.
Inter, for their part, couldn't really get the cogs turning in the final third and were limited to hopeful efforts from distance.
At the busy end, a wide-open Giggs drove a shot at the 'keeper with Berbatov better placed in the middle and Julio Cesar had to push another Ronaldo free-kick away with strong hands, before he looped a header off-target from a Giggs cross.
Having weathered the storm, Inter started to look a bit more comfortable. Ibrahimovic and Adriano dropped deeper to seek the ball and the and the pair almost c****ined to deadly effect. Ibra teased Carrick before clipping a cross just too far in front of the Brazilian.
Inter were becoming increasingly frustrated with the referee and the half ended on a sour note, with the bench going mental after the umpteenth foul was called against them.
Inter had to improve and obliged immediately after the interval, with Ivan Cordoba now on for Nelson Rivas. They were soon appealing for a penalty when, with Dejan Stankovic's cross hanging in the air, Adriano went to ground as he tussled with Rio Ferdinand. The referee said no.
Stankovic was again the architect as Inter attempted to pose more of a threat. He picked out runner Ibrahimovic from the half-way line and the Swede thought he was in, only to be flagged offside. It was a very tight call.
A decision went against Inter again soon after: Esteban Cambiasso's follow-up shot was blocked virtually on the line after Maicon had challenged Edwin Van der Sar in the air. The play was whistled dead for a foul on the goalie.
United weren't creating as many chances as they had before the break, but did have a couple of decent openings. First, Ronaldo played a one-two with John O'Shea down the right, drove to the byline and watched as his ball across goal evaded his colleagues. Cordoba then made a superb block on Giggs as the veteran tried to find a shooting angle.
The best chance of the half fell nearly fell to Cambiasso, who arrived at the back post just in time to meet a dangerous corner, but couldn't make killer contact with the ball at an awkward height.
Both managers used their wild cards as time wore on. The hosts used Mario Balotelli and Julio Cruz, with United bringing Rooney into the mix. Rooney chased a promising through-ball inside the last ten minutes, but his 82nd minute introduction perhaps came too late.
The last kick of the game nearly became a sensational Ronaldo exclamation mark, but his dipping free-kick was scooped away by Julio Cesar and thus it finished: goalless.
Mourinho will be the happier gaffer in the aftermath. United couldn't force an away goal and he managed to inspire a far better second-half performance from his troops. The Old Trafford return leg should now be every bit engrossing as this clash was.
With the blockbuster Champions League tie of the round finally upon us, one coach named his expected line-up and one something a little more obscure. Inter tactician Jose Mourinho paired the resurgent Adriano with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in attack, while both of Manchester United's defensive injury doubts, Jonny Evans and John O'Shea, were fit enough to make the starting line-up. Sir Alex Ferguson pulled a couple of surprises out of his bag, including Park Ji-Sung and Darren Fletcher in midfield, with Wayne Rooney starting on the bench.
First Half
There was some mist in the air as the sides kicked off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, but nothing murky about Manchester United's sharp performance, which they sustained for the opening half-hour. During that period, they should have been at least one to the good.
Cristiano Ronaldo, booed by the home faithful, looked threatening in the early stages, attacking a Ryan Giggs corner only to see his bullet header beaten away by Julio Cesar.
The Red Devils dominated the early possession and were able to win numerous free-kicks in Ronaldo territory. The Portuguese winger's first effort was pushed away by the 'keeper.
As Inter player after Inter player was whistled by the ref, Ronaldo was able to come ever closer with his attempts. After a Sulley Muntari foul, he swerved one wide of the right-hand post, much to the relief of the tense Nerazzurri support.
United created chances from open play, too. A Giggs through-ball found Dimitar Berbatov, whose driven cross was deflected away before it could reach Park.
Then, Ronaldo's ball from the right hit a confused Giggs on the back. The Welshman, in a great position, couldn't locate it and the chance was gone.
Berbatov the was next to go close, leaping to nod Patrice Evra's cross back across goal and wide of the post.
Inter, for their part, couldn't really get the cogs turning in the final third and were limited to hopeful efforts from distance.
At the busy end, a wide-open Giggs drove a shot at the 'keeper with Berbatov better placed in the middle and Julio Cesar had to push another Ronaldo free-kick away with strong hands, before he looped a header off-target from a Giggs cross.
Having weathered the storm, Inter started to look a bit more comfortable. Ibrahimovic and Adriano dropped deeper to seek the ball and the and the pair almost c****ined to deadly effect. Ibra teased Carrick before clipping a cross just too far in front of the Brazilian.
Inter were becoming increasingly frustrated with the referee and the half ended on a sour note, with the bench going mental after the umpteenth foul was called against them.
Second Half
Inter had to improve and obliged immediately after the interval, with Ivan Cordoba now on for Nelson Rivas. They were soon appealing for a penalty when, with Dejan Stankovic's cross hanging in the air, Adriano went to ground as he tussled with Rio Ferdinand. The referee said no.
Stankovic was again the architect as Inter attempted to pose more of a threat. He picked out runner Ibrahimovic from the half-way line and the Swede thought he was in, only to be flagged offside. It was a very tight call.
A decision went against Inter again soon after: Esteban Cambiasso's follow-up shot was blocked virtually on the line after Maicon had challenged Edwin Van der Sar in the air. The play was whistled dead for a foul on the goalie.
United weren't creating as many chances as they had before the break, but did have a couple of decent openings. First, Ronaldo played a one-two with John O'Shea down the right, drove to the byline and watched as his ball across goal evaded his colleagues. Cordoba then made a superb block on Giggs as the veteran tried to find a shooting angle.
The best chance of the half fell nearly fell to Cambiasso, who arrived at the back post just in time to meet a dangerous corner, but couldn't make killer contact with the ball at an awkward height.
Both managers used their wild cards as time wore on. The hosts used Mario Balotelli and Julio Cruz, with United bringing Rooney into the mix. Rooney chased a promising through-ball inside the last ten minutes, but his 82nd minute introduction perhaps came too late.
The last kick of the game nearly became a sensational Ronaldo exclamation mark, but his dipping free-kick was scooped away by Julio Cesar and thus it finished: goalless.
Mourinho will be the happier gaffer in the aftermath. United couldn't force an away goal and he managed to inspire a far better second-half performance from his troops. The Old Trafford return leg should now be every bit engrossing as this clash was.