4. Go For The Jugular
If United travel to Madrid and walk out into the Santiago Bernabeu struck down by awe, they have already lost half the battle. Though the Red Devils are playing the most successful team in Champions League history at one of the greatest football stadiums in the world, they cannot afford Real too much respect. The first leg of any Champions League ties are usually cagey ones; with the home side desperate not to concede what could be a killer away goal and the away side content to take a draw back home with them, you very rarely see high-scoring encounters at this stage. However, for the reasons stated on the last page, United's best form of defence here is attack. They have the players capable of beating this Madrid side, and if they can welcome Madrid at Old Trafford for the return leg with an away goal to their name, they will have a very good chance of progressing.
Joseph Dempsey
Contributor
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
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