Manchester United against Chelsea

WHAT A BALL! Rooney picks an incredible pass out to try and slide Scholes in behind the Chelsea defence, but Cech comes out of his goal quickly to claim.

FOUR MINUTES OF INJURY TIME!

SWP fires a cross over to Gudjohnsen. He controls the ball, beats Ferdinand on the outside and tries to fire over a low cross, but Ferdinand blocks.

The crowd are on the edge of their seats.

United enjoy a spell on the ball in the Chelsea half, frustrating the visitors. They are desperate to get hold of the ball and get up the other end.

Mourinho looks very calm and casual as he sits on a wall close to the Chelsea dug-out. I wonder what he'll have to say about the defeat? Stick with Soccernet.com for all the after-match quotes.

...United head clear, and Makelele slices a woeful shot high and wide. The home fans breathe again.

...He drives a low shot, but it's straight at the wall and the ball deflects out for a corner...

FREE-KICK: Ronaldo is adjudged to have brought down Gudjohnsen, 25 yards out. Lampard stands over the ball...

Chelsea, for all their pressure in this half, haven't had any really clear-cut chances; they have had shots blocked and plenty of scrappy possession in the United area, but nothing too dangerous.

All the decisions seem to be going United's way now, after most of the half they were favouring the visitors.

CLOSE! Fletcher chips a ball in to the area. It's headed clear to Rooney on the edge of the box, but his side-foot shot is blocked by Gallas.

SUB: Van Nistelrooy off, Park on. A defensive change from Ferguson, and United will now play with a five-man midfield. VN looked really tired as he trudged off.

...But United cope with the danger well, and Van der Sar is able to claim SWP's chipped pass with some ease.

Brilliant play on the counter attack from Duff as he controls a high ball and flicks a perfect pass out to Gudjohnsen. Brown does well to get back and put a tackle in inside the area. Corner...

United seem to have weathered the worst of the Chelsea storm; their attacks are becoming a little less frequent and don't appear to be carrying quite the same threat.

SUB: Cole on, Del Horno off. Chelsea make their third change as Mourinho goes for broke. Cole brings a piece of paper on to the pitch and hands it to Terry; presumably some reorganisational instructions.

Fletcher gives away a free-kick, 40 yards out, on the right flank. Duff curls the ball in to the middle, but Brown puts his foot through it and clears.

Rooney is being forced back in to a defensive role at the moment as Chelsea press high up the field.

Chelsea are just 15 minutes away from suffering their first Premiership defeat in 40 matches; the last time they lost was away to Manchester City, a little over a year ago.

SUB: Cole off, SWP on. Another attacking change from the Chelsea manager, bringing on former Manchester City winger Wright-Phillips to add some pace to his attacks.

GREAT TACKLE! First Cole and then Lampard are allowed time to turn inside the penalty area, though Smith flies in to put in a crucial tackle.

Chelsea prepare to make another change, as SWP is summoned from his warm-ups and told to strip off.

United finally have a spell on the ball; it's worked out to Fletcher, who drives a shot over the top of Cech's bar from 25 yards.

It seems only a matter of time before Chelsea get this equaliser; wave after wave of attacks are crashing against the United defensive wall.

Ferguson is out of the dug-out trying to organise his side, but the Chelsea attacks are relentless at the moment.

OOOH! Chelsea are running United ragged at the moment. Gudjohnsen does brilliantly in the build-up, Duff clips a ball in to the middle, but Del Horno's volley flies a foot or so over the bar.

Chelsea win a corner. Van der Sar comes through a crowd and punches half-clear, though the ball lands at Cole's feet. He strikes a shot goalwards, but it's blocked by the crowd.

WHAT A SAVE! Van der Sar throws himself at the ball after Lampard had jumped on to a loose ball in the six-yard box. A crucial stop.

Now Fletcher is booked for voicing his disapproval at the linesman after the official spotted him pushing over Terry. The yellow cards are flying in at the moment.

Ferreira is booked for pulling back and then tripping Ronaldo as the Portuguse winger attempted to break free down the left wing.

United half-clear the corner, but the ball is coming back in to their area with alarming ease; they are under intense pressure.

Lampard fires the free-kick in to the area, and Ferdinand is forced to put the ball out for a corner.

Ronaldo is booked for kicking the ball away after another free-kick decision goes against the home team.

United are being put under a lot of pressure at the moment; Chelsea are throwing players forward and United are struggling to keep possession on the rare occasions they win it back.

The free-kick is lofted in to the United area; Terry wins the header and knocks it down to Del Horno, but his attempted shot is blocked by Smith.

Smith is booked for pulling back Gudjohnsen as the Icelandic striker attempted to break past him in midfield.

This has been an excellent response from the Champions; they have really taken the game to United in this second half, and look well capable of getting an equaliser.

OVER! Del Horno whips a low ball in to the middle. Cole steals in front of his marker, controls the ball but then blasts a left-foot shot over the bar.

Great skill and strength from Van Nistelrooy as he holds off three Chelsea defenders and finds a team-mate, relieving the pressure on his side.

Drogba is booked for complaining too loudly at being pushed in the back as he challenged for a header.

Drogba takes the free-kick, but he shows no composure whatsoever as he blasts the set-piece high over the bar.

Smith fouls Gudjohnsen, 35 yards out. Free-kick, and Smith is surely only one foul away from a booking.

The game has really opened up in the second half; both sides are leaving gaps at the back and these are two excellent counter-attacking sides.

OOH! JUST WIDE! Chelsea mount a good move as they break at pace. Duff feeds Gudjohnsen, who returns the ball to him inside the area. Duff swings wildly and misses it completely, but Drogba, on his backside, prods a left-foot shot that dribbles inches wide of the post.

SUB: Essien off, Gudjohnsen on. Perhaps a slight change in system from the visitors, with Gudjohnsen pushing up to support Drogba.

Chelsea prepare to make a change; Gudjohnsen is preparing to come on.

GREAT CHANCE! Rooney clips a good ball in towards Fletcher, who cushions a pass back to Van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman is ten yards out, but his first-time shot goes high over the bar.

United break at pace down the right, but Gallas shows great pace to get back and put the ball out for a throw.

Cole, Essien and Ferreira combine well down the right wing. The full-back sends over a good cross, Drogba tumbles in the area, but there are no real penalty shouts.

Mourinho looks quite calm in the Chelsea dug-out; he said before the game that defeat here still wouldn't be the end of the world; his side would still hold a 10-point lead over United.

MISTAKE! A Brown error leads to a Chelsea corner. It is half-cleared towards Lampard, who strikes goalwards. Silvestre sticks out a leg and the visitors win a second successive corner.

The United midfield are pressing their opponents really hard, and the visitors aren't really able to get the ball in to dangerous areas at the moment.

No changes were made at half-time, but this game has been played at a very high tempo; players might begin to tire as this half goes on.

BLOCKED! Duff does well to cut out to the left wing and pull a ball back to Cole, but his left-foot shot is blocked inside the penalty area.

The corner is taken quickly, short to Rooney, but Chelsea clear at the back post.

Van Nistelrooy wins his side the first corner of the second half when he plays the ball off the legs of Gallas.

United kick off the second period.

Chelsea were out a full two mintues before United. Jose's words must have been short and sharp.

HALF-TIME: Fletcher gives United the advantage at the interval. Can the home side hold on to end Chelsea's incredible unbeaten run? Stay here to find out...

..the ball is rolled to Lampard, but three United players are all over him as he strikes his shot, which he drags well wide of the near post.

FREE-KICK: Scholes foul on Cole gives Lampard the chance to test Van der Sar from 30 yards...

Smith and Terry challenge for a bouncing ball; both leave their studs in, but it is Chelsea that win the decision.

The visitors have plenty of attacking options on the bench; Carlton Cole, Gudjohnsen and SWP can all change a game.

Chelsea have struggled to get going in this first half; if they are to get an equaliser, Mourinho is going to have to change something.

SHOT! Drogba smashes a shot in to the side-netting from a tight angle. He would have been better served trying to hold the ball up and find a colleague.

BLOCKED! Smith's thunderous volley hits Makelele on the edge of the six-yard box. It was a really well-struck effort from the midfielder.

Cole has a word or two to say to referee Poll after a free-kick decision goes against him on the edge of the centre-circle.

The United fans are roaring their side on, and jeering every mistake by the men in Blue; it really is a sensational atmosphere.

Again, a deep cross to the far post causes United a problem or two; this time it's Ferreira's long ball, met by Duff, although Silvestre clears up.

SO CLOSE! Lampard swings over a deep free-kick to the far post. Terry wins the header and loops it across goal, but it's just too far for Drogba and the ball runs out.

Today marks Fletcher's 50th Premiership appearance; what a way to celebrate the fact - a goal that could end a 40-game unbeaten run.

Del Horno's pass deflects off Fletcher and ends at the feet of Drogba inside the penalty are, but his touch is awful and the ball runs out for a goal-kick.

I wouldn't expect Chelsea to panic after going a goal down; they are always capable of scoring. But they will need to improve if they are to get back in to the game.

Roy Keane is spotted in the crowd; he looks very steely, and not in the least bit smug.

The crowd are on their feet and in ecstacy after Fletcher's header. Chelsea have a real test in front of them now.

GOAL! Old Trafford explodes as Ronaldo finally delivers; he clips a great cross to the back post, where Fletcher meets it and lofts a header over Cech.

Again, Ronaldo's end product lets him down as he breaks down the left and tries to find Rooney in the middle.

...Lampard chips the ball in to the middle, but Ferdinand meets it and United clear.

Cole does well to control Makelele's pass in to his feet; he lobs a high pass to the back post, where Drogba heads back across goal. United clear, but Chelsea keep the pressure on and eventually win a corner...

Brown takes an age over a throw, deep in his own half. GET ON WITH IT, SON!

Ronaldo shows a trick or two as he goes down the right wing, but his low cross is met at the near post by Terry and the ball is put out for a throw.

NEARLY! Silvestre sends a great ball over the top of the Chelsea defence, but Rooney's touch lets him down as he tries to control inside the penalty area, and the ball runs out of play.

CRUNCH! Another tough tackle from Smith as he wins the ball from Cole in the centre-circle; he's shown a lot of desire in the opening half-hour.

Ronaldo and Rooney go for the same ball as they looked to start a United attack; a moment of confusion as neither picks up possession, and Chelsea dart in to steal back the ball.

WIDE! Duff sends over a cross which Essien meets at the near post, though he gets too much on the header and plants it well wide of the goal.

Great tackle from Smith as he slides in and nicks the ball from Drogba as the strong forward headed towards the United box.

Ronaldo and Lampard tussle on the right-flank, even though the whistle had long-since gone for a United free-kick.

Terry wins a crunching header with Fletcher on the half-way line as they contested Van der Sar's clearance.

It's been a strong start by the home side; they are beginning to dominate in midfield and getting the ball forward to Rooney and Van Nistelrooy with more regularity.

SHOT! Rooney collects the ball on the corner of the area, but he fires his right-foot shot a few yards over Cech's crossbar.

OOH! Rooney does brilliantly to get to the by-line and pick out Scholes on the edge of the penalty are with a low pass; the former England star meets the ball first-time, but his vicious shot flies inches past Cech's post.

ALMOST! Scholes notices Van Nistelrooy in acres of space on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area as the Blue defence pushed out; the flag stays down, but the ball skips through to Cech.

United have had a little more of the possession in these early minutes, though it is the visitors that have had the two best chances.

...CHANCE! Lampard curls the ball in, Del Horno loses Fletcher at the back post, but he is forced to slide to reach the ball and can only put the ball a yard wide of Van der Sar's post.

Scholes brings down Cole as the Chelsea man tried to pass him down the right wing. Free-kick, out on the right flank...

Ronaldo collapses to the ground as he tries to run past Essien; he looks to the referee, who shakes his head.

"There's only one Keano!" the United fans sing. Not true; what about Robbie, the Spurs striker?

This time Ronaldo curls a high ball in to the crowded box, but Cech is able to claim easily.

CORNER! Ronaldo wins his side's second corner when his attempted cross is deflected behind. Ronaldo sends it in, and Essien is forced to put his header behind for a second corner.

Wes Brown is sporting a very peculiar hair-style this afternoon; a sort of ginger afro.

CRUNCH! Smith slides in on Del Horno and is lucky to escape a booking from referee Poll after clipping the Spanish full-back's ankles.

There are a few passes going astray in midfield in these early stages; it is so congested in there that players are finding it difficult to find their targets.

United win a corner, but a combination of Ferreira and Drogba clear the danger.

OOOH! Lampard fires a superb pass over the top of the United defence; Drogba controls the ball brilliantly, but his attempted clip lands in the hands of Van der Sar.

SLOPPY! Ronaldo gets past his marker on the flank, but his left-foot cross is too deep and flies behind for a goal-kick. He should have done much better there.

Drogba shows some good strength down the right, but there is no-one in the area for him to aim his cross to, and Ferdinand mops up.

Ronaldo wins the first free-kick of the afternoon when he is brought down in midfield by Makelele.

Fletcher tries to slide a pass in to the feet of Van Nistelrooy on the edge of the area, but Ferreira reads the ball and intercepts.

A slip from Ferreira allows Ronaldo the chance to break down the left wing, but the full-back shows great pace to get back and put a tackle in before Ronaldo could really threaten.

SHOT! Ronaldo has the first shot of the afternoon, a right-foot effort from 25 yards that flies high and wide.

Both sides seem to be playing with a 4-3-3 formation, which will mean that the midfield will be very narrow and tightly-contested.

There is, as you might expect, a superb atmosphere inside the ground. It's a sell-out, and the United fans are really getting behind their side.

Fletcher hoofs a high ball out to the left wing, towards where Ronaldo waits, but Ferreira heads out of play.

Chelsea kick off this massive match. They play in a strip of all-blue, with the hosts in their traditional red shirts and white shorts.

"This is the one", a classic Stone Roses track belts out of the speaker system as the players line up in the tunnel.

Team news: Scholes returns from his mid-week suspension for United, while Jose Mourinho makes three changes, recalling Asier del Horno after injury and also Damien Duff and Didier Drogba.

Chelsea bring a 40-match unbeaten Premiership run in to the game, hoping to wreck Sir Alex Ferguson's 19th anniversary as Manchester United boss.

Hi and welcome to Soccernet's coverage of Champions Chelsea's clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. I'm Alex, and I'm excited.

United seem to have weathered the worst of the Chelsea storm; their attacks are becoming a little less frequent and don't appear to be carrying quite the same threat.

SUB: Cole on, Del Horno off. Chelsea make their third change as Mourinho goes for broke. Cole brings a piece of paper on to the pitch and hands it to Terry; presumably some reorganisational instructions.

Fletcher gives away a free-kick, 40 yards out, on the right flank. Duff curls the ball in to the middle, but Brown puts his foot through it and clears.

Rooney is being forced back in to a defensive role at the moment as Chelsea press high up the field.

Chelsea are just 15 minutes away from suffering their first Premiership defeat in 40 matches; the last time they lost was away to Manchester City, a little over a year ago.

SUB: Cole off, SWP on. Another attacking change from the Chelsea manager, bringing on former Manchester City winger Wright-Phillips to add some pace to his attacks.

GREAT TACKLE! First Cole and then Lampard are allowed time to turn inside the penalty area, though Smith flies in to put in a crucial tackle.

Chelsea prepare to make another change, as SWP is summoned from his warm-ups and told to strip off.

United finally have a spell on the ball; it's worked out to Fletcher, who drives a shot over the top of Cech's bar from 25 yards.

It seems only a matter of time before Chelsea get this equaliser; wave after wave of attacks are crashing against the United defensive wall.

Ferguson is out of the dug-out trying to organise his side, but the Chelsea attacks are relentless at the moment.

OOOH! Chelsea are running United ragged at the moment. Gudjohnsen does brilliantly in the build-up, Duff clips a ball in to the middle, but Del Horno's volley flies a foot or so over the bar.

Chelsea win a corner. Van der Sar comes through a crowd and punches half-clear, though the ball lands at Cole's feet. He strikes a shot goalwards, but it's blocked by the crowd.

WHAT A SAVE! Van der Sar throws himself at the ball after Lampard had jumped on to a loose ball in the six-yard box. A crucial stop.

Now Fletcher is booked for voicing his disapproval at the linesman after the official spotted him pushing over Terry. The yellow cards are flying in at the moment.

Ferreira is booked for pulling back and then tripping Ronaldo as the Portuguse winger attempted to break free down the left wing.

United half-clear the corner, but the ball is coming back in to their area with alarming ease; they are under intense pressure.

Lampard fires the free-kick in to the area, and Ferdinand is forced to put the ball out for a corner.

Ronaldo is booked for kicking the ball away after another free-kick decision goes against the home team.

United are being put under a lot of pressure at the moment; Chelsea are throwing players forward and United are struggling to keep possession on the rare occasions they win it back.

The free-kick is lofted in to the United area; Terry wins the header and knocks it down to Del Horno, but his attempted shot is blocked by Smith.

Smith is booked for pulling back Gudjohnsen as the Icelandic striker attempted to break past him in midfield.

This has been an excellent response from the Champions; they have really taken the game to United in this second half, and look well capable of getting an equaliser.

OVER! Del Horno whips a low ball in to the middle. Cole steals in front of his marker, controls the ball but then blasts a left-foot shot over the bar.

Great skill and strength from Van Nistelrooy as he holds off three Chelsea defenders and finds a team-mate, relieving the pressure on his side.

Drogba is booked for complaining too loudly at being pushed in the back as he challenged for a header.

Drogba takes the free-kick, but he shows no composure whatsoever as he blasts the set-piece high over the bar.

Smith fouls Gudjohnsen, 35 yards out. Free-kick, and Smith is surely only one foul away from a booking.

The game has really opened up in the second half; both sides are leaving gaps at the back and these are two excellent counter-attacking sides.

OOH! JUST WIDE! Chelsea mount a good move as they break at pace. Duff feeds Gudjohnsen, who returns the ball to him inside the area. Duff swings wildly and misses it completely, but Drogba, on his backside, prods a left-foot shot that dribbles inches wide of the post.

SUB: Essien off, Gudjohnsen on. Perhaps a slight change in system from the visitors, with Gudjohnsen pushing up to support Drogba.

Chelsea prepare to make a change; Gudjohnsen is preparing to come on.

GREAT CHANCE! Rooney clips a good ball in towards Fletcher, who cushions a pass back to Van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman is ten yards out, but his first-time shot goes high over the bar.

United break at pace down the right, but Gallas shows great pace to get back and put the ball out for a throw.

Cole, Essien and Ferreira combine well down the right wing. The full-back sends over a good cross, Drogba tumbles in the area, but there are no real penalty shouts.

Mourinho looks quite calm in the Chelsea dug-out; he said before the game that defeat here still wouldn't be the end of the world; his side would still hold a 10-point lead over United.

MISTAKE! A Brown error leads to a Chelsea corner. It is half-cleared towards Lampard, who strikes goalwards. Silvestre sticks out a leg and the visitors win a second successive corner.

The United midfield are pressing their opponents really hard, and the visitors aren't really able to get the ball in to dangerous areas at the moment.

No changes were made at half-time, but this game has been played at a very high tempo; players might begin to tire as this half goes on.

BLOCKED! Duff does well to cut out to the left wing and pull a ball back to Cole, but his left-foot shot is blocked inside the penalty area.

The corner is taken quickly, short to Rooney, but Chelsea clear at the back post.

Van Nistelrooy wins his side the first corner of the second half when he plays the ball off the legs of Gallas.

United kick off the second period.

Chelsea were out a full two mintues before United. Jose's words must have been short and sharp.

HALF-TIME: Fletcher gives United the advantage at the interval. Can the home side hold on to end Chelsea's incredible unbeaten run? Stay here to find out...

..the ball is rolled to Lampard, but three United players are all over him as he strikes his shot, which he drags well wide of the near post.

FREE-KICK: Scholes foul on Cole gives Lampard the chance to test Van der Sar from 30 yards...

Smith and Terry challenge for a bouncing ball; both leave their studs in, but it is Chelsea that win the decision.

The visitors have plenty of attacking options on the bench; Carlton Cole, Gudjohnsen and SWP can all change a game.

Chelsea have struggled to get going in this first half; if they are to get an equaliser, Mourinho is going to have to change something.

SHOT! Drogba smashes a shot in to the side-netting from a tight angle. He would have been better served trying to hold the ball up and find a colleague.

BLOCKED! Smith's thunderous volley hits Makelele on the edge of the six-yard box. It was a really well-struck effort from the midfielder.

Cole has a word or two to say to referee Poll after a free-kick decision goes against him on the edge of the centre-circle.

The United fans are roaring their side on, and jeering every mistake by the men in Blue; it really is a sensational atmosphere.

Again, a deep cross to the far post causes United a problem or two; this time it's Ferreira's long ball, met by Duff, although Silvestre clears up.

SO CLOSE! Lampard swings over a deep free-kick to the far post. Terry wins the header and loops it across goal, but it's just too far for Drogba and the ball runs out.

Today marks Fletcher's 50th Premiership appearance; what a way to celebrate the fact - a goal that could end a 40-game unbeaten run.

Del Horno's pass deflects off Fletcher and ends at the feet of Drogba inside the penalty are, but his touch is awful and the ball runs out for a goal-kick.

I wouldn't expect Chelsea to panic after going a goal down; they are always capable of scoring. But they will need to improve if they are to get back in to the game.

Roy Keane is spotted in the crowd; he looks very steely, and not in the least bit smug.

The crowd are on their feet and in ecstacy after Fletcher's header. Chelsea have a real test in front of them now.

GOAL! Old Trafford explodes as Ronaldo finally delivers; he clips a great cross to the back post, where Fletcher meets it and lofts a header over Cech.

Again, Ronaldo's end product lets him down as he breaks down the left and tries to find Rooney in the middle.

...Lampard chips the ball in to the middle, but Ferdinand meets it and United clear.

Cole does well to control Makelele's pass in to his feet; he lobs a high pass to the back post, where Drogba heads back across goal. United clear, but Chelsea keep the pressure on and eventually win a corner...

Brown takes an age over a throw, deep in his own half. GET ON WITH IT, SON!

Ronaldo shows a trick or two as he goes down the right wing, but his low cross is met at the near post by Terry and the ball is put out for a throw.

NEARLY! Silvestre sends a great ball over the top of the Chelsea defence, but Rooney's touch lets him down as he tries to control inside the penalty area, and the ball runs out of play.

CRUNCH! Another tough tackle from Smith as he wins the ball from Cole in the centre-circle; he's shown a lot of desire in the opening half-hour.

Ronaldo and Rooney go for the same ball as they looked to start a United attack; a moment of confusion as neither picks up possession, and Chelsea dart in to steal back the ball.

WIDE! Duff sends over a cross which Essien meets at the near post, though he gets too much on the header and plants it well wide of the goal.

Great tackle from Smith as he slides in and nicks the ball from Drogba as the strong forward headed towards the United box.

Ronaldo and Lampard tussle on the right-flank, even though the whistle had long-since gone for a United free-kick.

Terry wins a crunching header with Fletcher on the half-way line as they contested Van der Sar's clearance.

It's been a strong start by the home side; they are beginning to dominate in midfield and getting the ball forward to Rooney and Van Nistelrooy with more regularity.

SHOT! Rooney collects the ball on the corner of the area, but he fires his right-foot shot a few yards over Cech's crossbar.

OOH! Rooney does brilliantly to get to the by-line and pick out Scholes on the edge of the penalty are with a low pass; the former England star meets the ball first-time, but his vicious shot flies inches past Cech's post.

ALMOST! Scholes notices Van Nistelrooy in acres of space on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area as the Blue defence pushed out; the flag stays down, but the ball skips through to Cech.

United have had a little more of the possession in these early minutes, though it is the visitors that have had the two best chances.

...CHANCE! Lampard curls the ball in, Del Horno loses Fletcher at the back post, but he is forced to slide to reach the ball and can only put the ball a yard wide of Van der Sar's post.

Scholes brings down Cole as the Chelsea man tried to pass him down the right wing. Free-kick, out on the right flank...

Ronaldo collapses to the ground as he tries to run past Essien; he looks to the referee, who shakes his head.

"There's only one Keano!" the United fans sing. Not true; what about Robbie, the Spurs striker?

This time Ronaldo curls a high ball in to the crowded box, but Cech is able to claim easily.

CORNER! Ronaldo wins his side's second corner when his attempted cross is deflected behind. Ronaldo sends it in, and Essien is forced to put his header behind for a second corner.

Wes Brown is sporting a very peculiar hair-style this afternoon; a sort of ginger afro.

CRUNCH! Smith slides in on Del Horno and is lucky to escape a booking from referee Poll after clipping the Spanish full-back's ankles.

There are a few passes going astray in midfield in these early stages; it is so congested in there that players are finding it difficult to find their targets.

United win a corner, but a combination of Ferreira and Drogba clear the danger.

OOOH! Lampard fires a superb pass over the top of the United defence; Drogba controls the ball brilliantly, but his attempted clip lands in the hands of Van der Sar.

SLOPPY! Ronaldo gets past his marker on the flank, but his left-foot cross is too deep and flies behind for a goal-kick. He should have done much better there.

Drogba shows some good strength down the right, but there is no-one in the area for him to aim his cross to, and Ferdinand mops up.

Ronaldo wins the first free-kick of the afternoon when he is brought down in midfield by Makelele.

Fletcher tries to slide a pass in to the feet of Van Nistelrooy on the edge of the area, but Ferreira reads the ball and intercepts.

A slip from Ferreira allows Ronaldo the chance to break down the left wing, but the full-back shows great pace to get back and put a tackle in before Ronaldo could really threaten.

SHOT! Ronaldo has the first shot of the afternoon, a right-foot effort from 25 yards that flies high and wide.

Both sides seem to be playing with a 4-3-3 formation, which will mean that the midfield will be very narrow and tightly-contested.

There is, as you might expect, a superb atmosphere inside the ground. It's a sell-out, and the United fans are really getting behind their side.

Fletcher hoofs a high ball out to the left wing, towards where Ronaldo waits, but Ferreira heads out of play.

Chelsea kick off this massive match. They play in a strip of all-blue, with the hosts in their traditional red shirts and white shorts.

"This is the one", a classic Stone Roses track belts out of the speaker system as the players line up in the tunnel.

Team news: Scholes returns from his mid-week suspension for United, while Jose Mourinho makes three changes, recalling Asier del Horno after injury and also Damien Duff and Didier Drogba.

Chelsea bring a 40-match unbeaten Premiership run in to the game, hoping to wreck Sir Alex Ferguson's 19th anniversary as Manchester United boss.

Hi and welcome to Soccernet's coverage of Champions Chelsea's clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. I'm Alex, and I'm excited.