Man Utd 3 Celtic 0

HELLO and welcome to www.celticfc.net for tonight’s UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Gary Caldwell, who had been struggling with an ankle injury, will play through the pain barrier against Sir Alex Ferguson’s European champions, possibly in a holding midfield role. Glenn Loovens and Stephen McManus also start.
With Georgios Samaras, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Chris Killen and Marc Crosas all missing through injury, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan’s options were severely limited for this Group E match.
However, the Hoops boss has named an attacking line-up, which includes the duo of Shunsuke Nakamura and Aiden McGeady, who are expected to play off Scott McDonald in attack.

TONIGHT’S TEAMS:

CELTIC: Boruc; Wilson, Loovens, McManus, Naylor; McGeady, Brown, Caldwell, Robson, Nakamura; McDonald
Subs: Brown, Hartley, Maloney, Donati, Hinkel, O’Dea, Sheridan

MAN UTD: Van der Sar; Neville, Vidic, Evans, O’Shea; Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Ronaldo; Berbatov
Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Giggs, Park, Rafael, Gibson, Tevez

Over 4000 Celtic supporters are housed in the East Stand inside Old Trafford as the 7.45pm kick-off approaches. Celtic will be wearing their yellow and green away kit for tonight's match.

The [layers emerge from the tunnel with Celtic captained by Stephen McManus

Celtic kick off. Celtic have started with Caldwell anchoring the midfield. Robson has started on the left, with McGeady on the right.

Berbatov wins a free-kick almost at the corner flag. Nani whips it in, but Celtic clear

United attack through Nani on the left. He whips in a cross but Naylor deals with the danger.

McGeady breaks up a United attack and skins Anderson before attempting to release McDonald. United sweep up

Ronaldo leaves Naylor trailing but McManus heads his cross to safety.

United probe at the Celtic defence with a patient move. Ronaldo picks up possession at the corner of the box and sends a drive yards over the bar

United continue to press and Neville's driven cross is once again cleared by McManus

McDonald wins a foul on the left. Naylor's free-kick soars towards the back post. United deal with the danger

Nakamura and McGeady exchange passes to send Brown chasing a through ball. O'Shea cuts out the danger

United take a short corner. Ronaldo's cross is met by McManus.

Best chance of the match for Celtic. Brown finds McGeady at the edge of the box. He jinks past O'Shea and forces Van der Sar into a fine save

Rooney picks out Neville in acres of space on the right wing. His cross is too high for Ronaldo

United pick up possesion on the edge of their own box and race to the other end. McManus concedes a corner from Rooney's cross.

Nani skips past Naylor and picks out Rooney at the back post. His overhead kick is blocked by Mark Wilson

Another great chance for Celtic. Nakamura splits the United defence and Naylor's cross is met by Caldwell on the edge of the box. His volley is tipped over by Van der Sar. The corner comes to nothing

Brown is penalised for a tackle on Ronaldo some 35 yards out. The winger takes the free-kick and Naylor blocks. Caldwell completes the clearance

Neville looks for Berbatov at the back post. Wilson bravely heads clear and takes a boot in the stomach for his efforts

Naylor's whipped cross is gathered by Van der Sar at the front post

McGeady skips across three challenges but his low shot is smothered by the United defence

Robson wins a foul 25 yards out on the right wing. It's not Nakamura territory and the Japanese winger instead floats in a cross. United clear

Anderson steals possession from McGeady and Berbatov's blocked shot finds Ronaldo. He drives wide from 18 yards

Anderson steals possession from McGeady and Berbatov's blocked shot finds Ronaldo. He drives wide from 18 yards

Robson wins a throw deep in the United half. McDonald takes possession, twists and fires wide from a tight angle

Anderson curls an effort over the bar from 25 yards

Celtic attack down the left wing, but Robson is penalised for a foul on Anderson

Ronaldo sends another dangerous cross into the box. McManus clears again

Celtic build from the back and McGeady looks for Naylor. His pass is over-hit

Rooney tries his luck with a rasping 25-yard drive. Boruc saves

Nani takes up possession on the left wing, cuts inside and bends a shot two yards wide

Brown looks for Nakamura inside the box. Van der Sar gathers

Rooney's cross striker McManus on the elbow as Celtic defend well.

Nakamura's curling free kick from the left wing is sent towards his own goal by O'Shea. Van der Sar saves

Wilson concedes a corner. United take it short and the move ends with Fletcher finding space at the back post. He fires over the bar

HALF-TIME: Man Utd 1 Celtic 0 - Dimitar Berbatov's goal is the difference between the sides at the break. Celtic have had to defend for long spells but did force Van der Sar into two good saves through Caldwell and McGeady

Man Utd kick off second half.

Robson looks for Robson with a long free-kick. United clear

Rooney has the ball in the net, but this time the offside flag does go up - wrongly

Nakamura and McGeady combine on the right. Caldwell takes up possesion but his pass can't find Brown

Rooney blazes over from the edge of the box after Boruc can only parry a through pass

Naylor's cross is high and wide after Celtic work the ball into a good position on the left wing

Double sub for Celtic. Hartley and Maloney on for Robson and Nakamura

United attack down the right. Nani cuts inside and sees a shot blocked by McManus

Ronaldo teases Caldwell into a foul on the left wing. The Portuguese winger takes the free-kick short to Tevez, whose low shot is deflected wide

Caldwell, Hartley and Maloney all combineto create space. Van der Sar plucks a good cross out of the air

Caldwell, Hartley and Maloney all combineto create space. Van der Sar plucks a good cross out of the air

Rooney spins in the box and fires a cross into the danger area. McManus clears under pressure

Rooney lets fly from the edge of the box. Boruc tips the effort over the bar

Ronaldo's ambitious free-kick is blocked by McDonald

Wilson almost finds McDonald with a chip into the box. McGeady then looks for Hartley but United survive

Celtic sub - Sheridan on for McDonald

Sheridan can't get to Naylor's driven cross

McManus blocks Nani's shot as United look for a fourth

Loovens is booked for a late tackle on Tevez. United have replaced Ronaldo with Park

Sheridan intercepts a pass but Vidic stands up and the attack comes to nothing

Wilson sends a high cross into the box. Van der Sar gathers under no pressure

Hartley almost bursts into the box to meet Brown's pass, but Evans hacks clear

There are three added minutes

FULL-TIME: Man Utd 3 Celtic 0 - Goals from Dimitar Berbatov (2) and Wayne Rooney give the European champions an ultimately comfortable win. Celtic, depleted by injury, put up a good fight for long spells but were beaten on the night by a top-class side. In the other Group E game, Villarreal beat Aalborg 6-3.