Ronaldo misses penalty; Barcelona salvages draw

EXPENSIVE MISS: Cristiano Ronbaldo's miss could haunt Manchester United in the second leg.

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Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard started Eto'o in front of a five-man midfield to stall United's attacking trio of Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo.

Barcelona was without suspended captain Carles Puyol, and striker Thierry Henry joined teenage forwards Bojan Krkic and Giovani Dos Santos on the bench.

Ronaldo's free kick from outside the area deflected out for the corner. That led to the play Milito handled for the penalty.

Eto'o moved Barcelona into Man United's area for the first time in the eighth minute but Tevez hustled back to kick the ball away after initially losing it.

Deco, playing for the first time in two months, had trouble adjusting early and could only watch in the 11th when Iniesta's centering pass from the left rolled clear behind him.

Barcelona, determined to avoid a second consecutive season without a trophy, had most of the possession in the first half.

Ronaldo was United's one consistent threat and could have had another penalty in the 29th but referee Massimo Busacca waved to play on.

The Portugal winger had intercepted Iniesta's cross-field pass to move into the area but was knocked to the ground.

Krkic, the Champions League's only scorer born in the 1990s, came on for Messi in the 62nd.

Man United continued to frustrate Barcelona and the hosts couldn't find any space at the edge of the area for their slick passes to materialize. At the other end, the Red Devils looked helpless in possession, and Carrick sent a long ball out of play in the 70th.