Besiktas against Manchester United

Great ball from Nihat as Nobre had drifted in between Vidic and Evans, but he can't connect with a pacey cross.

Pathetic shot from Anderson at the end of a mazy run.

Park's first touch is a poor pass for Owen, who could have been through on goal with the right ball...

More changes, Valencia comes off and Park comes on. For Besiktas Nihat is on for Holosko.

Holosko gets round the back but after getting into the penalty area Evra had a chance to get back and he blocks the shot. Corner.

Besiktas committing more men forward but they still haven't created a chance of note, just as I say that Foster spills a cross but has time to recover the situation.

Owen shows how little pace he has left when chasing for a Scholes ball. Ferrari gets there easily.

What a shame for Besiktas. They had just started to look threatening themselves. Now Yusuf misses out on a crossing chance because he has no left foot.

Owen spreads it wide to Nani who cuts round Kas and whacks in a shot but as it comes back out Scholes nods into the empty net.

GOAL! Scholes!

Yusuf crosses well for Nobre but he can only put his header wide. It was a decent chance but he never looked convincing.

The fans are now all pogo-ing on the spot, then waving their arms and generally making a right old racket. Special atmosphere.

More danger from Valencia as he whips in a near post cross but the 'keeper came out to meet it.

Nani cuts inside but can only dribble a weak shot at Arikan. The Turkish fans are going nuts. It looks brilliant.

Valencia crosses and Owen fluffs a header from point blank range, but he was offside anyway.

Valencia gets round the back and flashes a shot narrowly wide of the post. There's a goal coming here, I can just smell it.

Tabata is off and Tello comes on. A Brazilian replaced by a Chilean.

A very late flag denies Michael Owen, who had nipped round the keeper. He went too wide to score but by then the flag had gone up.

Rooney had a bit of a slanging match with some Turkish fans behind the dugout too after being subbed. Calm down Wayne, calm down.

Not if his first touch is anything to go by, he miscontrols a simple ball into Yusuf's pass. Oh dear.

So, Owen gets his first Champions League action for five years. Can he still cut it?

Rooney is clearly being saved for Saturday's derby with Man City but he still doesn't like it. He slammed his boots on the floor when he sat down on the bench.

That's Carrick's last involvement, he's off and Berbatov is on. Owen is on too and Rooney is coming off, he isn't happy either.

Neat work from Carrick but again Rooney is offside. His shot deflected just over the bar anyway.

Nani slips a ball inside for Evra but Sivok is across with an excellent interception.

Nani does well to hassle Kas and win first a throw in then a corner.

Change for Besiktas. Yusuf Simsek is coming on for Serdar.

Great tackle by Ernst as Rooney controlled and prepared to launcg a counter attack. Holosko then wins a corner.

If Besiktas had a bit more composure up top they'd be ahead by now. First they waste a four on four scenario, then they fumble about with it until Holosko hits a tame shot at Foster.

Good, crisp passing from United as Carrick and Anderson combine to release Evra who wins a corner.

That was an awful, late challenge on Evans as he went to clear the ball. Yellow card for Nobre. Quite rightly.

Owen and Berbatov are warming up. Might Sir Alex go 4-4-2?

Holosko wastes a decent chance down the right as he runs at Neville. The defender takes the ball off him with ease.

Holosko has a bash from 30 yards but the supporters behind Foster's net are in more danger than the goal itself.

Chelsea are one up through Nicolas Anelka. Great finish from a tight angle after his first shot had been saved.

A slice of panic in the Besiktas area as Nani swings in a devillish ball. The 'keeper palms it up in the air, then Carrick can't bring it down and ends up thigh-ing the ball towards goal but Arikan gets back.

We begin again...

That's half time and the home side will be the happier of the two. Join us again in 15 minutes...

Serdar chooses to have a pop despite four of his team-mates getting up in support. It goes well wide and he really should have made more of that.

Finally a chink of light opens for United but Valencia's ball is a little too late and Rooney had strayed offside.

Scholes launches a brilliant ball to Valencia but the winger is flagged offside.

Evans turns Kas' cross behind for yet another corner but Foster claims well in the face of Sivok.

Nani whacks the free kick towards goal but about three yards over the bar. Sir Alex looks bemused on the bench, more than that actually, frustrated.

Nasty sliding challenge from Tabata on Evra. The defender had put his body in the way and Tabata flew in with his studs up. Evra hobbles off for treatment.

Decent break from United ends in a cross that Scholes misses with his left foot, then Nani can't get a shooting chance for himself.

Ernst meets the corner but can only get a flick on it but Vidic nods wide as it flashes into his path.

Valencia wins another corner for United and Uzulmez clutches his leg..

United break down the other end and win a corner of their own after Arikan's poor clearance.

Holosko wins Besiktas a corner off Evans but again it is wasted. Valencia comes away with it...

Rooney can't climb enough to get on the end of Carrick's lofted ball into the box.

At last we have some goals, Milan are leading Marseille thanks to Inzhagi and Ronaldo has stuck a free kick in the net for Madrid to lead FC Zurich.

Anderson charges into Dag and gives away a free kick. The crowd howl their disapproval at the challenge.

Besiktas eventually get three corners in a row but United defend them all pretty well. You feel the home side have to make the most of set piece opportunities...

Serder Ozkan smashes a shot that flicks off Vidic and sails narrowly over the bar. Corner.

Great cut inside from Rooney who crosses but Valencia is a little ahead of it and can't fashion a header to get it back on target.

Nice link up between Nani and Evra but Michael Carrick loses his bearings slightly and flicks a few yards wide of the target.

Valencia gets to the byline and crosses and though Hakan Arikan spills it, Kas nods it back into his arms from five yards away. Very cool defending.

Still no goals anywhere in the Champions League tonight....

A melee in the box greets the corner and United clear but Nani can't get them away on the break.

Uzulmez has won a corner for the home side as they start to get a foothold in the match.

Serdar Oskan swings in a ball but although there was five white shirts in the box none of them could meet his cross.

Looking at the replay of that Valencia header the final touch came off Ernst. Arikan saved but the ball was spearing wide anyway.

Valencia dived to the near post to meet Rooney's corner and Arikan got a touch to palm it away, then when the ball comes back in Rooney can't get purchase on his header.

Evra marauds down the left wing and wins a corner off Kas.

The game is being played as if United were at home with Besiktas sitting in and playing solely on the break. No great surprise there then.

Carrick has a decent blast from 30 yards and Hakan Arikan makes a flying catch.

Scholes floats a ball in for Rooney but Ferrari nods clear.

Nani and Valencia are both getting some decent ball on the flanks, neither has done anything useful with it yet.

Besiktas are very up for this, they are harrying around like madmen and snapping in the tackle.

Sivok hacks down Rooney and gets the game's first yellow card.

Don't adjust your screen, Paul Scholes in great tackle shock. Rooney drags his shot wide after the Ginger ninja won the ball back though.

Vidic turns smartly in his own bar to clear from Tabata.

Rooney puts himself about early on but then Scholes misplaces a pass and Besiktas have a goal kick.

We're off...

There was a little bit of argy bargy in the ground earlier but it seemed confined to the home end and only seemed to involve a few excitable kids. One did pick up a nsty hand injury though.

Having said that, the form United showed at Spurs on Saturday means they won't have much trepidation about facing anyone at present.

This is by no means an easy group for United, like some seem to think it is. Yes, you'd expect them to win all their home games but all their away games will be tricky. No trip to Turkey or Russia is easy, while the German champions Wolfsburg have plenty about them too.

Besiktas: Arikan, Kas, Sivok, Nobre, Tabata, Ekrem Dag, Uzulmez, Ozkan, Holosko, Ferrari and Ernst.

The Man Utd team is in: Foster, Neville, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Anderson, Carrick, Nani, Scholes, Valencia and Rooney.

As ever, the Turkish fans have been in the ground for hours already, whipping up a right old atmosphere. I strolled past Besiktas' stadium a few months back when I was in Istanbul. Very impressive it is too. I mean, where else can you look out of your team's stadium and see two continents straddling a river?

Good evening one and all and welcome to live coverage of Manchester United's tricky trip to Turkey, to face Besiktas.

Join us at 1945 BST, for commentary on Man Utd's trip to Turkey to face Besiktas in the Champions League.

Valencia gets round the back and flashes a shot narrowly wide of the post. There's a goal coming here, I can just smell it.

Tabata is off and Tello comes on. A Brazilian replaced by a Chilean.

A very late flag denies Michael Owen, who had nipped round the keeper. He went too wide to score but by then the flag had gone up.

Rooney had a bit of a slanging match with some Turkish fans behind the dugout too after being subbed. Calm down Wayne, calm down.

Not if his first touch is anything to go by, he miscontrols a simple ball into Yusuf's pass. Oh dear.

So, Owen gets his first Champions League action for five years. Can he still cut it?

Rooney is clearly being saved for Saturday's derby with Man City but he still doesn't like it. He slammed his boots on the floor when he sat down on the bench.

That's Carrick's last involvement, he's off and Berbatov is on. Owen is on too and Rooney is coming off, he isn't happy either.

Neat work from Carrick but again Rooney is offside. His shot deflected just over the bar anyway.

Nani slips a ball inside for Evra but Sivok is across with an excellent interception.

Nani does well to hassle Kas and win first a throw in then a corner.

Change for Besiktas. Yusuf Simsek is coming on for Serdar.

Great tackle by Ernst as Rooney controlled and prepared to launcg a counter attack. Holosko then wins a corner.

If Besiktas had a bit more composure up top they'd be ahead by now. First they waste a four on four scenario, then they fumble about with it until Holosko hits a tame shot at Foster.

Good, crisp passing from United as Carrick and Anderson combine to release Evra who wins a corner.

That was an awful, late challenge on Evans as he went to clear the ball. Yellow card for Nobre. Quite rightly.

Owen and Berbatov are warming up. Might Sir Alex go 4-4-2?

Holosko wastes a decent chance down the right as he runs at Neville. The defender takes the ball off him with ease.

Holosko has a bash from 30 yards but the supporters behind Foster's net are in more danger than the goal itself.

Chelsea are one up through Nicolas Anelka. Great finish from a tight angle after his first shot had been saved.

A slice of panic in the Besiktas area as Nani swings in a devillish ball. The 'keeper palms it up in the air, then Carrick can't bring it down and ends up thigh-ing the ball towards goal but Arikan gets back.

We begin again...

That's half time and the home side will be the happier of the two. Join us again in 15 minutes...

Serdar chooses to have a pop despite four of his team-mates getting up in support. It goes well wide and he really should have made more of that.

Finally a chink of light opens for United but Valencia's ball is a little too late and Rooney had strayed offside.

Scholes launches a brilliant ball to Valencia but the winger is flagged offside.

Evans turns Kas' cross behind for yet another corner but Foster claims well in the face of Sivok.

Nani whacks the free kick towards goal but about three yards over the bar. Sir Alex looks bemused on the bench, more than that actually, frustrated.

Nasty sliding challenge from Tabata on Evra. The defender had put his body in the way and Tabata flew in with his studs up. Evra hobbles off for treatment.

Decent break from United ends in a cross that Scholes misses with his left foot, then Nani can't get a shooting chance for himself.

Ernst meets the corner but can only get a flick on it but Vidic nods wide as it flashes into his path.

Valencia wins another corner for United and Uzulmez clutches his leg..

United break down the other end and win a corner of their own after Arikan's poor clearance.

Holosko wins Besiktas a corner off Evans but again it is wasted. Valencia comes away with it...

Rooney can't climb enough to get on the end of Carrick's lofted ball into the box.

At last we have some goals, Milan are leading Marseille thanks to Inzhagi and Ronaldo has stuck a free kick in the net for Madrid to lead FC Zurich.

Anderson charges into Dag and gives away a free kick. The crowd howl their disapproval at the challenge.

Besiktas eventually get three corners in a row but United defend them all pretty well. You feel the home side have to make the most of set piece opportunities...

Serder Ozkan smashes a shot that flicks off Vidic and sails narrowly over the bar. Corner.

Great cut inside from Rooney who crosses but Valencia is a little ahead of it and can't fashion a header to get it back on target.

Nice link up between Nani and Evra but Michael Carrick loses his bearings slightly and flicks a few yards wide of the target.

Valencia gets to the byline and crosses and though Hakan Arikan spills it, Kas nods it back into his arms from five yards away. Very cool defending.

Still no goals anywhere in the Champions League tonight....

A melee in the box greets the corner and United clear but Nani can't get them away on the break.

Uzulmez has won a corner for the home side as they start to get a foothold in the match.

Serdar Oskan swings in a ball but although there was five white shirts in the box none of them could meet his cross.

Looking at the replay of that Valencia header the final touch came off Ernst. Arikan saved but the ball was spearing wide anyway.

Valencia dived to the near post to meet Rooney's corner and Arikan got a touch to palm it away, then when the ball comes back in Rooney can't get purchase on his header.

Evra marauds down the left wing and wins a corner off Kas.

The game is being played as if United were at home with Besiktas sitting in and playing solely on the break. No great surprise there then.

Carrick has a decent blast from 30 yards and Hakan Arikan makes a flying catch.

Scholes floats a ball in for Rooney but Ferrari nods clear.

Nani and Valencia are both getting some decent ball on the flanks, neither has done anything useful with it yet.

Besiktas are very up for this, they are harrying around like madmen and snapping in the tackle.

Sivok hacks down Rooney and gets the game's first yellow card.

Don't adjust your screen, Paul Scholes in great tackle shock. Rooney drags his shot wide after the Ginger ninja won the ball back though.

Vidic turns smartly in his own bar to clear from Tabata.

Rooney puts himself about early on but then Scholes misplaces a pass and Besiktas have a goal kick.

We're off...

There was a little bit of argy bargy in the ground earlier but it seemed confined to the home end and only seemed to involve a few excitable kids. One did pick up a nsty hand injury though.

Having said that, the form United showed at Spurs on Saturday means they won't have much trepidation about facing anyone at present.

This is by no means an easy group for United, like some seem to think it is. Yes, you'd expect them to win all their home games but all their away games will be tricky. No trip to Turkey or Russia is easy, while the German champions Wolfsburg have plenty about them too.

Besiktas: Arikan, Kas, Sivok, Nobre, Tabata, Ekrem Dag, Uzulmez, Ozkan, Holosko, Ferrari and Ernst.

The Man Utd team is in: Foster, Neville, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Anderson, Carrick, Nani, Scholes, Valencia and Rooney.

As ever, the Turkish fans have been in the ground for hours already, whipping up a right old atmosphere. I strolled past Besiktas' stadium a few months back when I was in Istanbul. Very impressive it is too. I mean, where else can you look out of your team's stadium and see two continents straddling a river?

Good evening one and all and welcome to live coverage of Manchester United's tricky trip to Turkey, to face Besiktas.

Join us at 1945 BST, for commentary on Man Utd's trip to Turkey to face Besiktas in the Champions League.