Live Blog: Manchester United v Barcelona

19:29 - Here we go – it’s Man United v Barca for all the spoils. Steve Rider opens up with a traditional upbeat opening line before going into a disappointing montage.

19:31 – No Rooney and no Tevez, United to go 4-4-2. Barca yet again leave out Henry, surely he’s on his way to the Premiership.

19:33 – The first ad break – not bad ITV going a whole four minutes before bringing in the money. I know the Beeb don’t give long build ups either but they need to learn from Sky. Richard Keys, Graeme Souness and Ray Wilkins for the first leg last week really gave us a flavour of the atmosphere and a terrific build-up to the match.

19:37 – Four minutes of ads, I wonder if they’ll be more before the game starts?

19:38 – Sir Alex gives a really dull and uninteresting interview with Gabriel Clarke. Is it me or does he always seem better with Geoff Shreeves?

19:41 – Your web developer who put this site together and is a United fan when asked for a prediction gives us a ‘Have no clue’ before stating he thinks United can do it at home. It’s that kind of insight that we pay him for.

19:42 – More ads.

19:43 – With No Rooney or Vidic I have wavered. I think Barca can and will score. I think this one might go to Barca on the away goals rule. How quick until I look stupid?

19:44 – And we are back, six minutes of adverts in the first fifteen of the show. No mention of an ITV competition yet though…

19:44 – David Pleat? Yugh

19:45 – And we are off.

19:46 – Big penalty shout for Barca, ref gives a free kick. Pleat says it was outside the box, I think penalty. Scholes got lucky.

19:48 – How does David Pleat keep his job? Please e-mail me via the ‘contact us’ link at the bottom of the page if you know how. Your web developer says no penalty – no great shock there. Still disappointed we’ve not seen another replay.

19:49 - My good friend and fellow Neil, who is not a United hater (unlike me according to him) has e-mailed me from New York and has predicted a 2-1 win to the Reds.

19:54 – Barca have settled the better.

19:56 – My New York friend has found a way to watch despite it not even being four in the afternoon. Doesn’t mean a lot to most but we’ve watched practically every big game ‘together’ via laptops and blackberries for the past seven years.

19:59 - GOAL: Paul Scholes from fully 25 yards after a sloppy clearance by Zambrotta. Cracking shot into the top right hand corner of the net – simply unstoppable.

20:00 – Expletives from the web developer – you can assume he’s happy.

20:01 – ‘World Class Goal’ says the New York dweller – who can argue?

20:02 – Wicked free kick from Ronaldo fizzed across the six-yard box. No-one could turn it home.

20:04 – Lovely run and shot from Messi, good save by EVDS, looks better upon replay.

20:06 – Nice run n pass by Ronaldo. Park side foots it at goal only to see the ball go inches wide.

20:07 - Re 20:04: ‘My Gran would’ve held the shot’ says Neil in New York – His love for EVDS knows no bounds…

20:10 – ‘You’ve got to be brave or daft to be a goalkeeper – preferably both’ – Clive Tyldesley shows us why he is the clear #1 at ITV.

20:13 – Real scramble in the box. I missed it as I was looking up on Google how to spell Clive Tyldesley. For the record I was only one letter out with my original guess.

20:16 – Real chance for Barca as Messi is clean through down the centre. However Iniesta can’t find him.

20:19 – Barca are starting to find their feet again. Nice move ended with Deco firing over from twenty yards.

20:21 – This is more like it - Barca with a lovely patient build-up before Deco fires wide. They can and will score tonight.

20:25 – Nani should’ve made it 2-0. Terrific cross by Park and Nani glances wide when it really was easier to score.

20:28 – Milito has a free header six yards out to level it up but fails. It was another good chance for the Catalan giants.

20:31 – Half Time and 1-0 to the home side. This game is still well and truly up for grabs.

20:45 – After the Half Time analysis I’m no nearer to knowing whether it was a penalty or not. ITV decided not to show a replay. Yet another uncomfortable looking interview with Sir Alex by Gabriel Clarke.

20:46 – Peeeeeeeep – and we’re off (again)

20:52 – Ji Sung Park is a wonderful player – underrated by most.

20:55 - We’ve had two yellows in the past two minutes - Zambrotta for a foul and Deco for being a twat.

20:56 – Terrific defending by Abidal as he cuts out a cross with two United players waiting behind him to put this game to bed.

20:58 – Nice save from a Tevez effort by Valdes – United are moving in for the kill.

21:00 – Henry is being readied by Barca – shall I call it right here, right now – He’ll score.

21:01 – Beautiful work by Messi sets up a chance but then Nani runs half the length of the field before firing high and wide and not very handsome. Henry is on for Iniesta.

21:04 – Yellow card for Carrick for taking down Messi in full flow.

21:05 – From the free kick Deco hits a shot that is deflected just wide.

21:07 – Clive gives us a little story about his neighbours who are Barca fans – I love it.

21:09 – Ronaldo booked for hauling down a defender – it was kind of harsh.

21:11 – Yaya Toure goes into the book and will not play in the final should Barca get there.

21:12 – United fans start chanting ‘Who are ya?’ at Thierry Henry – I’m sure they would know all about him by now but clearly United fans don’t have great memories. Bojan on for Eto’o.

21:17 – Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher are coming on for Nani and Paul Scholes. We are into the last quarter of an hour.

21:19 – There was the chance and it did fall to Henry. Free header from a corner which was directed straight down EVDS’s throat.

21:22 – Ronaldo fires wide – he has been disappointing tonight yet again in a big game.

21:23 – Finally mention of an ITV Competition – I can sleep soundly tonight!

21:24 – Whilst I do rate Clive Tyldesley as a commentator – his love for Carlos Tevez is starting to worry me.

21:26 – It is defence versus attack now – all Barca.

21:29 – Eidur Gudjohnsen on for Yaya Toure – last throw of the dice.

21:31 – Injury time and Messi goes flying in the box. David Pleat yells ‘No Pen’ but I’ve seen them given.

21:34 – Evra off for Silvestre – head injury. Still a good couple of minutes left on the clock.

21:36 – Sir Alex looks at his watch – play continues.

21:37 – Free kick to Barca – it’s now or never.

21:37 – It’s never.

21:37 – It is an all English final whatever happens. Barcelona played neat incisive stuff but were never able to open the door despite knocking at it all night. I don’t recall them even having a guilt edged chance just several half chances. You’d probably say Manchester United deserve it but it was never the classic tie that most pundits predicted.

21:40 – That is it from me for tonight – next up Chelsea v Liverpool tomorrow night in the second semi.