The Match That Made Real Madrid Buy Cristiano Ronaldo

Up at that, Manchester United, a great challenge to put the players on the field for tomorrow. In pursuit of a 10th Premier League title, but what about the motivational powers of Martin O'Neill? He has a history of prizing outstanding performances from his players. Everett and now Giggs. Ronaldo finding Tevez. City and then against Portsmouth in the FA Cup here. Carrick. Here's Ronaldo popping up on the left for the first time to tease the new right-back, Rio Coca, who wins the first battle. They've not won any of the last 24 Barclays Premier League meetings. This is their worst ever sequence against any team. Rooney taken long for Ronaldo. There's a sense that he's up against an inexperienced last 11. 14 of their last 17. Here's one of the major reasons why. Cristiano Ronaldo to Wayne Rooney. Giggs through for Carrick. It'll come for Ronaldo. Trouble for Villa. Good save by Scott Carson. And that will do it. It was a wonderful save. He knows what he wants to do here. He wants to flick it up. He knows he's going to hit it first time. Relatively comfortable for the goalkeeper. Gets down well. Ronaldo. Diagonal. If he does, we'll try and work it through the middle. Six in the penalty area for Manchester United. And it comes for Ronaldo. Just watching this. Prepare to try anything. Okay, they get a bit of luck here. And maybe the surface plays a part because of the rain skidding off it. But it's wonderful ability. It's wonderful confidence. Something that most players wouldn't even try. Look at this piece of brilliance, really. It's the only thing you can say. A little bit of luck in terms of coming off the Villa player. Can't really do anything else with it but the back heel. He would probably try that at this moment. Brilliant. The player that the Villa manager, Martin O'Neill, describes as the best in the world right now. There's no doubt about it. Beyond Tommy Taylor into third place on his own in terms of the number of goals that he scored. Seemed plausible. Karik, who lost it in the first place. Another platform for the home team. Ronaldo. He's in the mood, all right. Under the walk. Sensible advantage played following Barry's handball. Here's Rooney. Beautifully conceived pass for Ronaldo. Too much weight on it. At the moment, some of the passing from the home side has been pretty sharp and incisive. There's Rooney partnership linking up between Giggs and Ronaldo. Two options for taking this free kick. Rooney, Ferdinand. A section of the stats suggest that two of those goals are in a friendly against Mart. It's not been too bad for them. What a good challenge by Gareth Barry. Couldn't catch him late. Right down the back of the calf. Not a good challenge really. Ronaldo being treated for that problem with the left leg. Still looking ruefully. Seems to be a Rooney. Scores. Ronaldo down the right hand side. They work it down the left. Then they switch it back across. He's tucked in because Giggs is in there. Tevez pulls on to the back string. It's a simple finish for Tevez. Wonderful cross in. A straightforward task, Gentayne, Tevez. Difficult. Darren Fletcher been out as well. Injured playing for Scotland I think. Ronaldo. Scorer of the first, creator of the second. Ronaldo. Rooney. Only at that point, an hour and a quarter before the game, of his role. We've got those hopes here. Ronaldo. Away by Harewood. Only as far as Rooney. Carrick to Tevez. Ripples around Old Trafford again. Scores. Backheel from Ronaldo. Ben Mesmerich from Manchester United in general and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo. His flag fluttering proudly on top of the stand at Old Trafford. Push by Barry on Ronaldo. The smiling assassin. Him and Carrick for that place. Scholes preferred to Anderson today. Rooney. Here's Paul Scholes. Here comes Ronaldo. Gets a touch but once again it's the midfield runners I spoke about in the first half not been tracked. This time it's Scholes getting in. Lovely little dig. Scores. Diggs. Now just 12 short of Bobby Charlton's club record number of appearances. Here's Rooney. This should be three. It's for Patrice Evra who's made the run there. That's who he's trying to pick out. Gets a bit of force and catches Martin Larsen on the hop because he's not expecting it to be through to Rooney. He's on his toes. Ronaldo's trying to pick out the left back. This time he doesn't panic. Certainly this one. Another little flick. Not for the intended target because he's trying to place that in the path of Patrice Evra. It works his way to make it 2-1. Should have stuck it away. Didn't. So many visitors come here and leave defeated but with tales of what might have been. Little consolation. Ronaldo. Didn't. Picks up the pieces. Ronaldo. On the pitch as he would be the player that very definitely they wouldn't want to lose to injury. Still it's a treat for the rest of us to watch. I know it doesn't feel that way. I'm sure the Villa players don't but when you turn up and you want to see people that can change games, get the bums off seats, he's certainly a player of that calibre. Rooney, Scholes, Anderson, Giggs, Tevez and Ronaldo on the pitch. Good luck Villa. Here's Hargreaves. Searching forward from right back. Three waiting. Tevez! Probably at the base this evening. This offers a certain imperfect as well just for sliding about. To O'Shea. Well that he is indeed a truther. Ronaldo. Scholes. Giggs. Tevez. It's played just behind Ronaldo but Rooney is the man over. Well I guess one of the middle barriers at the edge of the box. Can't afford to do that when you miss from there and not make a little ball in. Couldn't do anything with the goals. John O'Shea. Ronaldo. He's been in the mood for a minute one. Carlos Tevez. Ronaldo. How they've pursued most of the width of the pitch by Melbourne. Simple as that. Well let's look at some brill. Not prepared. He's not frightened to try. He's got the confidence. He's got the ability. At the moment he's a player that could go on and not only win this title for them but remains to be seen. Certainly two of them can pass it for fun. Ronaldo. Waving others forward. Notably Anderson. There are 90 seconds to go. The star turn has the ball in the quadrant. An embrace between the managers. A comprehensive win in the end.