Inter were lucky to draw 0-0 with Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League last 16 round first leg at San Siro on Tuesday. Sir Alex Ferguson's team had a host of golden opportunities to win the game, while Inter's home performance didn't match their fans' expectations. United had the upper hand throughout the whole first-half, and the Red Devils showed superiority right after the kick-off. Cristiano Ronaldo started a string of real chances when he met Ryan Giggs' corner with a powerful header. Julio Cesar did well to save the winger's effort. In the eighth minute, Ronaldo whipped in a 30-yard free-kick that whistled past the keepers post. Dimitar Berbatov went nearly through on Cesar, but the Bulgarian opted to square rather than shoot and the ball was parried away by the Inter defence. United's best chance of the half came when Nelson Rivas' missed interception allowed Giggs to go one on one with Cesar. However, Giggs shot straight at the Brazilian guardian. Two minutes later, Ronaldo bumped more fear into Inter fans' hearts with another wicked free-kick. This time the Portuguese's shot clipped the post and went wide.
Within few seconds, Ronaldo once again saw his brilliant header from a John O'Shea cross go inches wide. Inter's only presence of the half was on 33 minutes. A lovely exchange of passes between Maicon and Sulley Muntari released the full-back on the right, but his cross was easily cleared. The second-half witnessed the introduction of Ivan Cordoba in place of Rivas, and the substitution seems to have improved Inter's defence. They had a good chance to score on 47 minutes, but Adriano miscued his shot after Esteban Cambiasso's low cross. Twenty minutes later, a Ronaldo cross from the right went begging in front of the Inter goalmouth, as neither Berbatov nor Giggs could get to the loose ball. Jose Mourinho made a double substitution by bringing Julio Cruz for Muntari and replacing Adriano with Mario Balotelli. However the former Chelsea boss' changes didn't provide Inter with more attacking options, as the Italians looked too slow and undetermined to break United's defence. The two teams will meet in the tie's second leg on March 11th at Old Trafford.
