Manchester United vs Real Madrid — Uefa Super Cup: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo and George Best among protagonists past meetings between European giants
Clash will be 11th meeting between football's biggest economic powers as Jose Mourinho looks for first victory in Super Cup
JOSE MOURINHO could bring home a second European trophy in three months at Manchester United with a win in Skopje tonight.
And victory would incredible see the Special One win the Uefa Super Cup for the first time — having lost all three of his previous finals.
But it will be a tough ask with a formidable Real Madrid side standing in between the Red Devils and success.
Fired by Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals, Los Blancos became the first back-to-back winners in the Champions League era.
And they are red-hot favourites to make it three in a row.
United and Real Madrid are the two biggest economic powerhouses in the game — but have never before met in a final.
This will be the 11th meeting between the duo, with the Spanish side comfortably coming out on top overall in the previous ten encounters.
Here, we take a look back — starting with the Busby Babes’ clash with the great Real Madrid side during the 1950s.
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European Cup semi-finals, 1956-57
Real Madrid 3 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Real Madrid 2
This was the second-ever edition of the European Cup — and Los Blancos had romped to success a year earlier.
Matt Busby’s youthful side had won the first of two successive league titles in England and big things were expected.
However, the experience of the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Raymond Kopa and Francisco Gento eventually told.
A late Tommy Taylor goal had given United hope ahead of the second leg.
But, despite a desperate attempt to steer the tide in their favour by “flooding” the Old Trafford pitch, Real Madrid took a 2-0 lead before half-time, before the Red Devils showed steel to earn a draw on the night.
Less than a year later, the United side would be decimated after a tragic plane crashed in Munich claimed 23 lives.
European Cup semi-finals, 1967-68
Manchester United 1 Real Madrid 0
Real Madrid 3 Manchester United 3
Just ten years after the tragedy, Busby re-built a team capable of fighting for the biggest trophies on the continent.
United were on course to become the first English champions of Europe ahead as a solitary George Best goal gave them victory at Old Trafford — and it set up a tense return in front of 125,000 at the Bernabeu.
Goals from Pirri and Gento put Los Blancos ahead on aggregate before a Zocco own goal gave United the lead on away goals.
However, Amancio restored Real Madrid’s advantage just before half-time.
With 17 minutes remaining, Busby’s boys were facing heartbreak until David Sadler netted — and Bill Foulkes scored another five minutes later.
United went onto win the European Cup after beating Benfica 4-1 at Wembley.
Champions League quarter-finals, 1999-2000
Real Madrid 0 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 2 Real Madrid 3
This time, United were the European champions — and heavy favourites to progress.
Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole peppered the Real Madrid goal, but found an impenetrable force in an 18-year-old Iker Casillas.
They were expected to finish the job at Old Trafford, where any victory would have secured progression.
However, a Roy Keane own goal put Los Blancos ahead at half-time — and a sublime piece of skill from Fernando Redondo helped set up Raul, whose two goals gave his side a commanding lead.
David Beckham pulled one back from a free-kick before Paul Scholes added a late penalty, but it was too little too late.
Real Madrid would win a second title in three years after beating Bayern Munich in the last-four and Valencia in the final.
Champions League quarter-finals, 2002-03
Real Madrid 3 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 4 Real Madrid 3
Real Madrid’s Galacticos were European champions and produced a masterclass first-half display to race 3-0 ahead — with Luis Figo scoring the pick of the bunch.
However, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s second-half goal gave United hope.
And the return produced a Champions League classic.
Sir Alex Ferguson surprisingly dropped Beckham, who was rumoured to be leaving and watched Ronaldo tear his team apart.
Three times the Brazilian gave Real Madrid the lead, before departing to a standing ovation from the Old Trafford faithful.
Beckham was introduced late on and scored twice to give his side the win on the night — but it was another early Champions League exit for United.
Champions League last-16, 2012-13
Real Madrid 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Real Madrid 2
This game was billed as Cristiano Ronaldo’s homecoming — and Jose Mourinho’s audition as Ferguson’s replacement at United.
However, it was overshadowed by a refereeing decision.
Headers from Danny Welbeck and Ronaldo at the Bernabeu had put this tie on a knife-edge, with Robin van Persie missing a late chance.
Fergie seemed to get his tactics spot on at Old Trafford — despite the shock exclusion of Wayne Rooney — and saw his side take the lead through a Sergio Ramos own goal.
But everything changed following a harsh red card for Nani — and Mourinho reacted by throwing on Luka Modric while Ferguson protested the decision.
The Croat equalised with a thunderbolt, before Ronaldo slid home the visitors’ winner to dump out the irate Red Devils.
OVERALL
Real Madrid — four wins
Draw — four
Manchester United — two wins
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