Champions League: Manchester United v Real Madrid – in pictures

On Tuesday afternoon at Old Trafford, with just a couple of hours before kick-off, the last bit of late-afternoon Manchester sunlight hits the top of the stadium
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The North Stand awaits thousands of fans …
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

who will wave these furiously
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The statue of Sir Alex Ferguson surveys all-comers outside the North Stand Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

A Ryan Giggs fan outside the ground. If the Welsh wonder plays tonight it'll be his 1000th career appearance Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

These Madrid fans will be cheering on a team resplendant in green rather than white because Real will take to the field in their third strip after United refused to compromise by wearing black shorts which would have allowed Real to play in their traditional all-white kit. This could backfire on United as the kit could be seen as a lucky kit as Madrid have won on the two occasions they have worn the change strip in the Champions League this season - at Manchester City and Ajax Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The statue of Best, Law and Charlton outside the main entrance. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Cristiano Ronaldo still has plenty of admirers in Manchester Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

And here is the man himself about to step on to the Old Trafford pitch for the first time in over 3 and a half years Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The big news of the night is that Wayne Rooney starts the game on the bench with Ryan "1000 games" Giggs in the starting XI Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The players line up - the teams are Manchester United: David de Gea; Rafael, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra; Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley; Nani, Danny Welbeck, Ryan Giggs; Robin van Persie Real Madrid: Diego Lopez; Alvaro Arbeloa, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira; Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo; Gonzalo Higuain Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Real Madrid start the brighter of the two sides and have the lion's share of possession and seem the more composed of the two sides. Ryan Giggs has been tasked with helping Rafael nullify the threat of Cristiano Ronaldo - it looks like he needs it Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

There's an early injury scare for the home side when Tom Cleverley is in a crumpled heap on the turf clutching his ankle after this challenge by Ronaldo. Evenutally he's up and hobbling around attempting to run it off Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

United eventually start to find their feet and midway through the half Vidic's thumping header rebounds back off the post and hits Danny Welbeck but the ball goes in to the grateful hands of Diego Lopez Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Cleverly blocks off Coentrao Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

De Gea saves from Higuain. It's 0-0 as the teams go in at half-time with both sides making a game of it, and the crowd inside Old Trafford and watching around the world on TV will be hoping for more of the same absorbing football in the second half Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Just 3 minutes into the second half and United take the lead courtesy of a Sergio Ramos own goal. A marvellous run from Rafael and a near-miss from Danny Welbeck results in the ball rolling out towards the right touchline, where Nani took possesion, spins and drills the ball across the face of goal where Welbeck gets a slight touch which turns the ball onto Sergio Ramos' outstretched leg and the ball ends up in the net. Advantage United, they lead 2-1 on aggregate Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Just seven minutes later the smile is wiped from Nani's face when he's sent off after contesting a high ball with Alvaro Arbeloa and catching the Real Madrid full-back in the midriff with a high boot Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Nani can't believe it ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Neither can his team-mates who remonstrate with the referee Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Sir Alex Ferguson lets the 4th official know exactly what he thinks of the referee's decision Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

It was such an astonishing decision that Nani even gets a commiseratory pat on the head from Jose Mourniho Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Nani's dismissal prompts Jose Mourinho to change his team around. He brings off Arbeloa and replaces him with Luka Modric. Sir Alex Ferguson gets busy too, imploring the Old Trafford faithful to ramp up the volume and create a wall of noise Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

It seems to be an inspired substitution as seven minutes later Luka Modric hits a fantastic thumping effort from about 25 yards that rattles the right upright and ricochets into the left hand side of the goal Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The visitors take the lead just two minutes later when Ronaldo slides in to poke home a Gonzalo Higuian cross from about two yards out at the far post. A slight raising of the arms is all the celebrating that Ronaldo does. Manchester United are down to 10 men and need to score two goals without reply to make it to the last eight of the Champions League Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Ryan Giggs twists Luka Modric inside out Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

With less then ten minutes to go a brilliant point-blank save by Diego Lopez from Michael Carrick gets the seal of approval from the Real Madrid manager Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

United carry on probing desperately searching for the goals to get them back in the tie. Here Raphael Varane holds of the threat of Robin Van Persie Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Despite going close in the final minutes, United couldn't find a way past Diego Lopez, who had an inspired game, the final whistle goes and United are out of the Champions League. As he heads towards the tunnel, former United player Cristiano Ronaldo puts his hand on his heart as he is applauded by the Stretford End. Final score: Manchester United 1-2 Real Madrid (aggregate 2-3) Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian