Half-time Update: Manchester United 0-1 Valencia

Manchester United went into the break 1-0 down against Valencia in a first-half filled with wasted chances.

Sir Alex Ferguson chose to start with a mixture of youth and experience in his team. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic started in defence, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov started in attack but Ben Amos was given a debut in goal and the Da Silva brothers filled the full-back slots.

United started well and winger Nani got into the play as early as the second minute. The Portuguese made a great cross field run and was inches away from playing a superb reverse pass in behind the defence for Berbatov.

Valencia did not start badly and enjoyed some good early passing moves. Dominguez went on a run from the middle of the pitch in the eighth minute and beat a number of players before Ferdinand dived in and stopped him poking the ball beyond Amos.

The first real chance of the first-half fell to United midfielder Anderson in the 15th minute. The former Porto player picked the ball up in the middle and quickly shifted the ball forward to Rooney. Rooney spotted Anderson’s run and played the ball back into his path but a weak shot didn’t trouble the goalkeeper.

Valencia looked a little rattled and Berbatov should have made more of the next chance just two minutes later. A poor pass from Banega in the Valencia midfield allowed Berbatov to race into the box. However, a poor pass back across goal saw the ball float aimlessly behind Park Ji-Sung.

Berbatov went through one on one with the goalkeeper again just after 20 minutes. A great little ball through the defence by Nani set Berbatov up and he really should have done better but a poor first touch allowed the goalkeeper to get a hand on the ball and palm it away.

United huffed and puffed but Valencia stayed stubborn. Rooney drifted out wide on the half an hour mark but a tame ball into the box was easily cleared. Another attack flooded forward and Rooney’s next pass was much better. Park raced in behind the defence and cracked a volley straight at Guaita in the Valencia goal.

Valencia broke in the 33rd minute and got their lead. Michael Carrick gave the ball away in the middle of the pitch, which allowed Dominguez to square for Hernandez who cracked the ball home to put the away side 1-0 up.

United should have been level through Rooney who curled the ball from 25 yards over the goalkeeper but onto the bar. The ball bounced out to Nani who could not score with the goal gaping.

United still look good to score a goal in this game and a 2-1 United win isn’t out of the question at a best price of 9/2. Berbatov looks the most likely United player to score at to score by the end of the match 5/1, Rooney is 9/2 for the same option. The draw is another good option at 2/1.