It was the final everyone wanted and a match worthy of any showpiece occasion. Under any other circumstances, it would go down as a famous win for Manchester United. That, though, was of little consolation to Sir Alex Ferguson and his players as Real Madrid once again ended their Champions League dreams. United trailed 3-1 from a disappointing first leg in the Bernabeu and were looking for a 2 goal victory to progress.
The fact that the 2003 final was to be staged at Old Trafford added extra significance to the encounter and thusly the stage was set for another magical European night at United's famous stadium. The "Galacticos" of Real Madrid, the 2003 champions of Europe, arrived with players like Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos to face the likes of van Nistelrooy, Giggs, Keane and Beckham.
Except that Sir Alex Ferguson sprung a major selection surprise and left Beckham out and preferred to recall Juan Sebastian Veron after seven weeks out with injury. Meanwhile his Real counterpart, Vicente del Bosque gave a shock call-up to Steve McManaman.
The recalled Veron, had a stage to suit his talents and was more influential on his first appearance for seven weeks; however, a Real midfield with Steve McManaman and Guti playing important, if understated roles, were not out-fought. Predictions that Real's defending could prove their undoing had some substance; United's, though, was similarly suspect, though Real's sumptuous skills were a mitigating factor for a young defence; John O'Shea, who nutmegged Luis Figo, at least had something else to show for his evening.
Van Nistelrooy gave the Reds early hope with a stinging drive that was well saved by Iker Casillas. Yet the early optimism was quenched by the moment Old Trafford dreaded above all, after only 12 minutes when Ronaldo scored Real's crucial away goal. A trademark strike he, peeling off his marker, Ferdinand, to meet Guti's pass and finish with a first-time strike. But, as with Real's opener in the Bernabeu, Fabien Barthez's positioning was suspect.
United were stunned and spent most of the first half attempting to regain their composure and fashion a lifeline. Figo, his tormentor in the first leg, twice almost embarrassed Barthez again, one miscue requiring the keeper to back-pedal furiously and a curling cross glancing off the post, pre-empted by a classic Cruyff turn.
Time for United to stand up and be counted: initially, only the excellent Van Nistelrooy and the fearless O'Shea, did, the latter providing an example for Ryan Giggs as he ran at Michel Salgado with exuberance and enthusiasm. But Giggs and the opposite winger, Solskjaer, were more prominent as United adopted a shoot-on-sight policy, the Welshman firing just past the post from 20 yards and the Norwegian drawing a fine parry from Iker Casillas.
And they combined for the equaliser, Giggs coming infield to slide a pass to Solskajer who, unselfishly, set up Van Nistelrooy for a tap-in. Easy finish though it was, such was Van Nistelrooy's display that comparisons with Ronaldo were not unmerited. Only Casillas denied him a second goal in four minutes after a Solskjaer shot had been parried; only the post denied him a second goal of the game later, a long-range thunderbolt fractionally askew. 1-1 at half time.
Luis Figo posted the warning signals early in the second half by striking the bar, but it was a brief reprieve as Ronaldo was on target again after 50 minutes. Zidane's slide-rule pass and Roberto Carlos' unselfish cross gave Ronaldo his second and completed a wonderful flowing passing move. However driven on by Van Nistelrooy's unquenchable desire, United were level within a minute. The Dutchman found Juan Sebastian Veron and aimed to meet the Argentinian's cross-shot when Ivan Helguera provided the finish instead, with a backheel; this is, after all, Real Madrid.
It was frantic and fantastic, Casillas making invaluable saves from a Solskjaer shot and Veron volley's. But Ronaldo was not to be denied and any lingering United ambitions ended after 58 minutes when the Brazilian marksman flashed a stunning 25-yard drive past Barthez to complete a memorable trio. He was then taken off to a standing ovation from everyone inside Old Trafford.
Beckham was introduced on 63 minutes in place of the tiring Veron, and he made his point to the manager on 71 minutes with a brilliant trademark free-kick that left Casillas rooted to the spot. The scoreline was now 3-3. On 84 minutes, fine work by Solskjaer saw United break quickly and a surging solo run by Van Nistelrooy took him into the box. His shot was saved but rebounded goalward due to Hierro's poor touch. Beckham spared a second Real defender an own goal and doubled his tally by scrambling the ball over the line - the winner on the night.
But it was not enough to stop Real who won the tie 6-5 on aggregate. Even in defeat, Real won plaudits for their laudable refusal to change their gameplan for even the toughest away games. That Figo was replaced by a defender in United's frantic finish was a moral victory for the Reds still fell two goals short of an aggregate triumph and the visitors were always tantalisingly out of reach.
Yet, Real would ultimately be disappointed themselves in the competiton, eventually losing in the semi-final to Juventus 4-3 on aggregate. Ronaldo had single-handedly wrecked Manchester United's Champions League dreams with his virtuoso display but it was perhaps the last great performance from the Brazillian who subsequently lost form due to fitness problems.
The match was also an overwhelming indicator that David Beckham's career at Old Trafford was coming to an end. The fact he started such a big game on the bench signalled the end was nigh and he would eventually become a Real Madrid Galactico himself in June 2003.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men had won a match liberally sprinkled with sparkling attacking football but Real ultimately went through as United's defensive deficiencies were cruelly exposed. Ferguson was upbeat despite the elimination "What a game - it was a football night," he said. "We missed some chances but produced some fantastic football - I'm proud of the players".
Ronaldo was impressed by the Old Trafford crowd who applauded him off the pitch.
"Last night was like a tribute to me at Old Trafford. The Bernabeu fans have been booing and jeering but now I have to hold on to the memory of Manchester while ignoring the whistles when I play in Madrid."
