Man Utd vs Real Madrid Live: Team News - Rooney Dropped, Nani Starts
Venue: Old Trafford K/o: 19:45 GMT The squads have officially been announced ahead of Manchester United's titanic clash with reigning Spanish champions Real Madrid prior to tonight's last-16 Champions League clash, and there is plenty to talk about. The big news is the omission of Wayne Rooney from Manchester United's starting XI. The England international, who has scored 14 times in all competitions this season, drops to the bench in favour of Robin van Persie, who will operate as a loan striker with Nani, Welbeck and Giggs in support from midfield. The latter makes his 1,000th senior appearance for club and country tonight, an interesting footnote to what is already a huge script. There is no Phil Jones, who misses out with injury. As expected, Real Madrid have started former Red Devil Cristiano Ronaldo up front alongside Gonzalo Higuain. That Jose Mourinho has opted for two strikers shows Real's attacking intent - they must score in order to progress to the quarter finals. Both have strong benches. Rooney joins the likes of weekend hat-trick hero Shinji Kagawa, Javier Hernandez and Ashley Young as substitutes, while Real Kaka, Benzema and former Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric waiting in the wings. The tie is evenly balanced at 1-1 thanks to goals from Danny Welbeck and Cristiano Ronaldo in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu last month, and as Jose Mourinho put it, the whole world will indeed stop and watch tonight.