UEFA Champions League - Match Day 1

When : 19-09-2012, Wednesday (Midnight 12.15 IST)

What : Manchester United vs Galatasaray

Where : Old Trafford

Attendance: 75,142

Referee: Wolfgang Stark

Result : Manchester United 1 - 0 Galatasaray

Scorers: Manchester United:  Michael Carrick - 7th  Minute  (Assist : Kagawa)

Magical European Nights - as Fergie would describe them - returned to Old Trafford. After the dreadful last season in which United failed to qualify for the Knock out stages, Manchester United were determined to set things right in the new season. The first match of the group stages saw Galatasaray visit Old Trafford. SAF put out his best team with Vidic, Evans, Evra and Rafael making up  the defense. That Paul Scholes started the match was a testimonial to the determination of the Red Devils to not repeat last season mistakes when they tinkered too much with the players and the formations. Carrick partnered Scholes with Valencia and Nani on the wings. Van Persie was upfront and Kagawa started in the support striker role, a formation which seemed to bring the best out of the Kagawa-Persie partnership.

The match started off on a cautious note, when Galatasaray had a penalty appeal turned down as early as the 3rd minute. Vidic seemed to foul Bulut in the penalty box, but the referee waved play on and United seemed to escape. It was united's turn to attack and Michael Carrick did just that, running with the ball from the midfield and laying the ball to Van Persie who passed it pass in to Carrick's stride. Carrick then exchanged a brilliantly timed one two with Kagawa to slice the defense open. The goal keeper came charging out and hung his foot out to trip Carrick. Carrick kept his footing and passed into the open goal to score United's first goal of the night. That he stayed on his feet, when he could have easily gone down with the challenge, which would also had the GK sent off, showed that United were determined not to lose any chances. United scored early and there were expectations of  this being a high scoring United victory. 

Galatasaray were not ready to sit back and almost scored in their next attack when Nordin Amrabat struck the post with a curling shot. That was the warning sign for United that they were in for a difficult night. Though United controlled the possession and had a few chances to score, Galatasaray attacked on the counter and looked dangerous. Altintop was Galatasaray's go to man in the midfield as he kept making powerful runs at the defense. 

Early in the second half, Rafael made a surging run into the box and was brought down by Yilmaz for a United penalty. Having already missed two penalties in the season, United looked uncertain and when Nani stepped up, there were a few nervous faces in the dug out. Nani stopped midway through his run up and hit a weak shot which was comfortably saved by the goal keeper. That made it three penalty misses for United in the season. Galatasaray attacked on the counter and almost scored the equalizer. David De gea was up for the challenge first blocking a shot from Yilmaz and then making a brilliant one hand block to stop Colak's spectacular effort on goal. 

United were looking tired and SAF had to ring in the changes. Paul Scholes made way for Darren Fletcher who was making a comeback to the team after being away for 10 months because of a bowel inflammation complaint. There were doubts about his comeback and it was great to see the mid fielder make a return. The Old Trafford faithful showed their appreciation marking Fletcher's return with a warm applause. With the clock running down, Kagawa and Persie were replaced by Wellback and Hernandez as United managed to keep the Galatasaray attack out and win their first match of the season. 

United would look to build on this momentum and top the group and erase the memories of a woeful last season.

                                           

                                           Man Of The Match: Michael Carrick

Next Fixture: The Biggest game of all

Liverpool vs Manchester United 

When : 23-09-12

Where : Anfield

                                    

Match Day 4: Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic

When : 15-09-2012, Saturday

What : Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic

Where : Old Trafford

Attendance: 75,142

Referee: Michael Oliver

Result : Manchester United 4 - 0 Wigan

Scorers: Manchester United:  Paul Scholes - 51st  Minute  (Assist : Nani)

                                    Hernandez - 63rd Minute (Assist: Buttner)                                                                             Buttner - 66th Minute  (Assist:   )

 Powell - 82nd Minute (Assist: Hernandez)

The premier league action was back after the international break. Wigan travelled to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United. It was a match of landmarks for Manchester United as Paul Scholes was making his 700th appearance for the Red Devils. The other legend Ryan Giggs was making his 600th Premier league appearance and Rio Ferdinand was making his 400th appearance for the club. It was also Sir Alex Ferguson' s 500th EPL game as manager at Old Trafford. Anders Lindergaard started between the posts for United. Vidic and Rio partnership was intact from the last game and Rafael was at RB. Alexander Buttner made his debut for United, starting at LB in the place of Evra. Giggs was handed his first start of the season playing on the left of a midfield that had Scholes and Carrick in the centre and Nani on the right. Hernandez was also given his first start of the season alongside Danny Wellback. 

United started on the front foot right from Kick off and had a penalty as early as the 3rd Minute of the match. Danny Wellback charged into the box and when Al Habsi came charging out to get the ball, Wellback went down under the challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. The replays were inconclusive about whether Habsi made contact with Wellback. Hernandez stepped up to take the penalty and his low shot to the right was blocked by Habsi. United continued to apply pressure and Wellback volleyed a measured lob from Nani that just missed the target. Wellback had another shot deflected wide by Gary Caldwell. Wigan tried to play on the counter and had their chance when a counter attack led to Beausejour floating a cross into the box but Kone was put off by the deflection from Rio's foot and ended hitting the side netting. The scores were level at half time and there were a few doubters popping up their heads in the crowd. 

Wigan started off the second half well with Kone heading the ball just over the bar. But it was United who seized the initiative. Carrick split the Wigan defence with a brilliant pass to Nani who selfishly took a shot at goal. Al Habsi deflected the shot but ended up pushing it back into the box, and Scholes tapped the ball in to the net for his 155th United goal. It was one of those runs that Scholes is so brilliant at. Having taken the lead United looked sharper and did not take much time to extend their lead. Buttner, who was playing in place of Evra looked sharp all through the evening and when he had a misdirected shot at goal, Hernandez was on the spot to turn it into the net. Two minutes later Buttner made his debut match even memorable. He went on a brilliant run and beat two players before shooting from a tight angle and the ball deflected of Al habsi into the net and Buttner had his first goal for Manchester United.  

United's old guard Giggs and Scholes delivered yet again and were substituted. Van Persie was brought on for Scholes and Nick Powell replaced Giggs for his first premier league match for the Red Devils. 5 minutes later Vidic was replaced by Evans making a comeback from injury. United were not done though. Hernandez held the ball up and passed it into the path of Powell, who side stepped a Wigan player and  unleashed a shot from outside the 18 yard box to score his first goal for Manchester United and announce himself to the Old Trafford faithful. 

United ran the clock down and in the end had three points from a very comfortable outing against a Wigan side who barely looked threatening.The afternoon was marred by anti Liverpool chants from a very small section of the crowd. With the Hillsborough report made public and the much anticipated Liverpool United clash coming Sunday, the chants would have left  the administrators a bit worried. 

                                             Man Of The Match: Paul Scholes

Next Fixture: UEFA Champions League Match day 1

Manchester United  vs Galatasaray 

When : 19-09-12

Where : Old Trafford

Sources:guardian.co.uk/football

football365.com

Match Day 3: Southampton vs Manchester United

When : 02-09-2012, Sunday

What : Southampton vs Manchester United 

Where : St. Mary's Stadium

Attendance: 31,609

Referee: Mike Dean

Result : Southampton 2 - 3 Manchester United

Scorers: Manchester United:  Robin Van Persie - 23rd Minute  (Assist : Valencia)

                                    Robin Van Persie - 87th Minute (Assist: Ferdinand)                                                                             Robin Van Persie - 90+2  Minutes (Assist: Nani)

Fulham: Lambert - 16th Minute (Assist: Puncheon)

         Schneiderlin -55th Minute (Assist: )

Southampton hosted Manchester United at the St. Mary's stadium. The hosts were yet to open their points tally this season and the prospects of doing that looked bleak with the Red Devils as the opposition. For Manchester United this was a special occasion. This was Sir Alex Ferguson's 1000th match in charge of the Red Devils. The greatest manager in the history of the game adding yet another feather to his cap. With Rooney out for a month, the Red Devils had to rely on Van Persie to lead the attack. David De Gea was replaced by Anders Lindergaard in goal. The good news for United was the return of the Ferdinand Vidic partnership in defense after a gap of 9 months. Rafael was on the right and Evra on the left of what looked like a strong defense for United. Carrick was back to his usual position in the center of midfield with Cleverly, Valencia and Wellback for company. Van Persie started up front with Kagawa playing behind him as a support striker.

Manchester United started off on a brighter note keeping the ball and passing it around. Those who expected Southampton to roll over were in for a shock. As the match progressed Southampton started influencing the game. United did not look sharp and had a lot of passes which were either short or over hit. Southampton pressed and the results showed off as Lambert headed a cross from Puncheon into the goal. Much to the joy of the home crowd Southampton lead United by a goal. They looked sharper and passed the ball around swiftly. But it did not take long for United to equalize. Valencia crossed into the box and Van Persie was there to smash the ball into the net and make it 1-1. United did not really look to take the game from there and they were pretty awful at times with the ball. Southampton though kept attacking and had the United defense troubled. The partnership of Vidic and Ferdinand was not really living up to its standards. 

Both teams were level at half time. Southampton came out looking sharper and hungrier and it was no surprise that they took the lead through another defensive mistake from United. When the ball was passed into the box, Evra slipped and that helped Schneiderlin put the ball into the goal with a free header. Southampton were leading the visitors by 2-1 and the home crowd were hoping to be part of one of their greatest victories ever. United had to react and SAF sent on Scholes and Nani for Cleverly and Kagawa and reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation. The arrival of Scholes gave United the much needed composure in midfield. Scholes had an immediate impact gliding a  ball through the defense which Van Persie failed to convert. United then had a golden chance when Van Persie won a penalty. But Van Persie failed to convert it going for a chip over the goal keeper which the keeper saved comfortably. With time running out United looked like they would drop points for the second game this season.

Hernandez was brought on to replace Wellback. All though United had the ball they were not able to penetrate the home team defense. Southampton looked to counter attack and score a third goal which would guarantee them a surprise win. It is not for nothing that United are known as the comeback Kings. With three minutes of normal time remaining United had a corner. Southampton failed to clear and when the ball came back into the box, Rio Ferdinand headed the ball only to see it bounce of the post. But Van Persie was there to tap the ball in and level the scores. Southampton looked dejected and down and United turned up the pressure. They had yet another corner in the 92nd minute and when Van Persie headed Nani's corner into the goal United had yet again comeback from the jaws of defeat to gain all 3 points. Van Persie had his first hat trick for the Red Devils and a man who looked like his missed penalty had cost 3 points, came back strongly to win it for the devils. Southampton played really well and it was cruel to see them not win any points. Manchester United continued there journey with yet another 3 points that saw them go to 5th in the points table. United will have to make sure the defense keeps things tight at the back and not give away any easy goals.

The Premier league will return two weeks later. The international fixtures are scheduled for this week.

Man Of The Match: Robin Van Persie

Next Fixture: 

Manchester United  vs Wigan Athletic

When : 15-09-12 

Where : Old Trafford