Stale Mate at the Camp Nou

They set it up as the game that should've been the final. Two of Europe's finest footballing sides faced off last night in the second Champions League semi-final. What were we treated to?

Another game of dross - just like the first semi the night before.

With beautiful players like Leonardo Messi, Deco, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch, you'd expect a game full of wonderful, attacking, free-flowing football.

With just two minutes on the clock, United had already missed a golden opportunity to open to the scoring. Gabriel Milito needlessly left his arms in the air from a corner and when the ball struck them, the referee had no hesitation to blow his whistle and run towards the penalty spot.

Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't exactly showered with cheers as he put the ball on the spot - a Portuguese darling in Spain was never really going to be welcomed any differently I suppose. The United #7 strode up to the ball, the Barca keeper went early, he went the wrong way, but as he turned his head to see the ball flying past him, he also saw it flying past his net and rebound back off the support.

Ronaldo couldn't believe it, the wolf whistles of derision had been replaced by jeers from the passionate Catalans. Barcelona had been let off the hook in a big way and it was to prove to be a more than frustrating night for the United player.

Barca got into their flow and started to dominate the ball without finding that killer pass. Thierry Henry was left on the bench because of a supposed stomach complaint, which was disappointing for the watching public. The build-up play of the home side was first rate but they were unable to find that killer pass.

Edwin Van Der Sar was not forced into a save of any quality and it was United who had the next real chance of the match. A defensive error sent Ronaldo through, Rafael Marquez got his body in the way and the Portuguese winger went flying. It was a penalty but the ease that Ronaldo went down and his strop afterwards when the referee chose not to give it was petulant at best.

The second half was just as dire. Samuel Eto'o could've won his side a penalty but chose to stay on his feet and the chance was missed. Henry came on with a quarter of an hour left and forced the United keeper into his only real save of note.

As the whistle blew for full time, most pundits would give the English side the advantage going into the second leg. However I am of the belief that 0-0 in the first leg is not a bad result for the home side, if they score at Old Trafford next Tuesday night then United have to score twice.

This one still has all to play for, just like the Chelsea v Liverpool tie. Let's just hope that the games are worthy of a Champions League semi-final this time around.