5 Beautiful Manchester United GIF moments from the Real Madrid game
Manchester United came away from the Bernabeau with a valuable away goal and a 1-1 draw in the First Leg of their Last 16 Champions League tie with Real Madrid.
United selected an pretty attacking line up including, as I mentioned in my preview, a start for Danny Welbeck and it was he who gave United the lead, heading home from a corner after 20 minutes. The sight of a local lad who has grown up at the club scoring away in such a big tie is one of real joy.
Former United hero, Ronaldo, levelled the tie with a header of his own before half time. Despite United having to defend, and heroically at times for most parts of the 2nd half they always offered a good attacking threat and could easily have gone away with the win. Robin van Persie had 3 sights at goal and Ryan Giggs choose to take an extra touch when a shooting chance appeared. We mustn’t get greedy though as before the game all we could ask for was to head to the 2nd leg at Old Trafford still in the game with a chance of progression.
There were plenty of moments to enjoy from those in Red, here are my Top 5 GIF moments…
1. David de Gea Save
World class saves from this young Keeper are not uncommon on this site. Shot stopping is his strongest asset and this save must rank as his greatest to date. Diving to his left he somehow manages to get fingertips to the ball and push onto the inside of the post. It prevented Real from getting an early lead and huge momentum into what could have been a much worse night for United.
2. Robin van Persie Skill
Whilst not on the score sheet when he perhaps could have been, his overall play was outstanding. He was able to hold the ball up, link with our midfielder’s as well as offer that constant threat to the Real defence.
This moment of skill sums up the class of the player. Brilliant feet to get away from 2 Madrid players and drive United into an attack.
3. Ryan Giggs Tackle and Skill
His recent form is testament to the fact the Giggs even featured in this game after a poor spell earlier in the season but he came on and did what was asked. He offered experience and helped United sty clam in possession This moment late on in the game was class. The fist part was a perfect tackle on the dangerously advancing Mesut Ozil, the second was to trick his way past the next player and eventfully win United a free kick and a late breather.
4. Phil Jones Defending
Selected to help out defensively, Phil Jones more than justified his inclusion with a battling and effective display in the centre of midfield offering great protection to the defence. His most important moment came in injury time, tracking the run of Ronaldo into the box, he made 2 crucial touches. The first to block the second the knock the ball away.
5. Phil Jones Pass, Robin van Persie Effort
Whilst we didn’t see much of it on a night when he was not asked to, Phil Jones can offer a threat when bursting forward. This first time pass into Van Persie was brilliant, as was the chest control and low effort by the Dutchman. So close to winning it right at the death.
Which was your favourite moment? Vote in the poll at the bottom of the page and share your choice on Twitter using the Buttons under each GIF.
The Manchester United Goal
Super Super Dan…Super Danny Welbeck!
Replays
Bonus United GIFs
Wonderful defending by Phil Jones to throw himself into blocking a Benzema shot
Cool defending by Rio let this pass run through to David de Gea
More great play by RVP finds Kagawa who gives it back. The Dutchman plays a wonderful cross towards Welbeck who is inches away from scoring
Unconventional? Yes. Effective? Yes!
Wins the ball, gets it back from Carrick and runs straight at the Real defence
Brilliant defending by Rio to get in front of Ronaldo and clear the cross
Break and pass by Rooney plays in RVP whose shot is well saved onto the bar
The 1 player you would fancy to bury this chance!
Great skill and then determination to keep the ball wins United a late free kick
Recent Posts
After the match, i think my team in the preview would have lost by more than 4or 5 goals !
Well done Sir Alex !
I think Jones was a beast on the pitch.What a player,what a fighter and what a key player for us.
But De Gea gets my man of the match, his potential is scary. Sky is the limit for him. Like Giggsy said “shot stopping second to none “Brilliant ”
Great work rate from danny,did not stop running at the madridistas and a well taken header.
A pure entertaining match, only one thing poor in this glamour tie – Refreeing was really poor. I was stunned to see this at this level.
On a last note well done manu,treble still in sight:)))))))
Thanks Beautifullyred !!!
And yes,my vote goes to the save. Absolutely World Class -reminds me of that fingertips save to deny Ruiz last time. Pure beauty David.
Nice vote!
Jones was brilliant in such a big game too. He has the makings of a great CM if thats where United see his future
Thanks for commenting.
Dave save (well, look at that, it rhymes!), without a doubt. That was going in and thanks to your super slo-mo GIF at the end, you can appreciate the save even more. To concede an early goal away might cost us as we would need to attack more, which would leave gaps for Real to exploit. For that, Dave has my vote.
BTW, was anybody even mad Ronaldo scored against us? Though I hope that’s the last time he does that…….
Got to be the save, so early on and would have made the match completely different. Kept us alive, would have been easy for heads to drop if you concede so early on in a game like that – although Jones’ tackles was just as important, he had a blinder.
Loving the fact that the Bonus GIFs and Goal GIFs are on the same page now, top notch
Thanks!!
I think the save will be a clear winner. Top class and as you say, vital is terms of the time
De Gea saved Man United… Real Madrid could have won it if it wasn’t for him…
Van Persie put in a stellar performance. All that was missing was a goal. If only that last effort went in and the death…
He will make it up at Old Trafford.
Thanks once again really like the new look website
Thanks
De Gea save with foot is the best one i think. where’s that? hehehe
In the bonus
Voted De Gea. Don’t think it’s his best save (it was amazing), I have his ones from Mata and Torres ranked higher, but he is perhaps the best shot stopper I’ve ever seen. Phenomenal.
Bad news is they’ll be desperate to sign him in Spain now.
Aye it would have caught several eyes in Spain sadly
they can look and try, but tut tut no ddg for you.
watching all this ‘beauty’, just make me more optimis for the second leg. And, wow!, we have a lot of players with huge potential as best world class player.
i vote for ……. ah again,you give me dillema
Average age of 24 in that first leg!
I went for the save, could have completely killed us had we gone behind so early.
A gif I thought you would have included was Ferdinands very cool headed turn (on benzema i think), when he was the last man back, However i’d not like to see him do it again as my heart skipped a beat!
Am liking the new bonus gif layout by the way!
Ooh I missed that one.
Thanks for the comment and feedback
I don’t know if you have the game recorded, but I have just checked a live commentary of the game and it was around the 56′ minute mark- on Ozil actually
Thanks for those .gifs! Some great moments. Loved the Giggs one. Remember thinking “Oh, Giggs is in trouble in this 1v1 with Özil” then Sir Ryan goes charging in leaving Özil on the floor and then glides past another. Legend!
Liking the new website design and features btw!
i really enjoy the game..as for ♍ƺ is so perfect..buh Dr felix doesn’t allow us to do our #man utd come at the last minute of the ..I’m so excited the way we handle Real madrid..
love the new look
Cheers mate