Jose Mourinho told us all that the world would stop for this game, one of the biggest games of the last decade, and certainly the biggest of the Champions League so far this season. With so much build up and hype, the game had a lot to live up to, especially given how poised the tie was after the first leg. Would there be the drama we all expected? Could we expect to see the quality football we all know both teams are capable of? And would the battle between Sir Alex and Jose Mourinho be all we expected? In the end, some fans may think it all came down to one major game-breaking decision from the Turkish referee, but the game turned on far more than Nani's red card. Here are the five key moments that I believe defined the biggest game so far of 2013.
5. Fergie's Decision To Not Play Rooney
I'm sure I was not the only one baffled to not see Wayne Rooney's name on the Manchester United team sheet before the game. In my opinion, he was one of the unsung heroes of the draw at the Bernabeu two weeks previously, putting in a massive defensive shift and, while we didn't hear too much of him in the attacking third, he tirelessly helped Rafael out when it came to dealing with Cristiano Ronaldo throughout the game. Without him on the pitch, United were missing a big presence. That decision may yet have wider repercussions too: Rooney could take his omission one of two ways: he could let it fire him up and dominate the season from here on in, or he could take it as a kick in the teeth and he may now think that Sir Alex does not believe he is as important to the team as he once was, as some papers are suggesting. It could even be a signal that Rooney is on his way out of Old Trafford when the summer transfer window opens.