By David Hobbs
October 19 2004

Sparta Prague now go just over 20 years without claiming a victory over an English club following their 0-0 Champions League draw with Manchester United. This is United's 7th draw in 10 games and 2nd consecutive game where honours are even at 0-0. The Red Devils drop to 2nd in Group D.

United Claim Point in Prague

Sparta Prague now go just over 20 years without claiming a victory over an English club following their 0-0 Champions League draw with Manchester United.

This is United's 7th draw in 10 games and 2nd consecutive game where honours are even at 0-0.

Trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Kleberson and Alan Smith were all dropped to the substitutes bench whilst Roy Keane, Quinton Fortune and Rio Ferdinand didn't travel with the squad. Irishman Liam Miller was included in Sir Alex Ferguson's starting XI for the first time in Europe. Meanwhile, former Old Trafford star Karel Poborsky returned to the Sparta line-up after a few weeks out due to a back injury.

Just a few moments into the game, the Czechs had a penalty appeal turned down by Italian referee Massimo De Santis following Paul Scholes' collision with Zelenka. A freekick was correctly awarded outside the box but Sparta couldn't capitalise.

Winger Poborsky proved to his former United faithful that he can still cause potent threat, winning a corner after some fine trickery that bamboozled the Sparta defence. Ruud van Nistelrooy failed to connect to a Ryan Giggs cross/shot at the other end.

Remember a certain Paul Scholes volley from a David Beckham corner at Valley Parade, Bradford, a few years back? Well Ryan Giggs and Scholes himself tried to emulate the sheer magic of 6 years ago from the same situation, but this time Scholes volleyed wide. 

With just 1 minute left on the clock until the half-time interval, Homola handed United a wake-up call as the defender's header struck the crossbar.

The second-half saw United take control of the game, enjoying most of the possession.

However, there wasn't a proper chance in the second period until the stroke of the 70th minute. Sparta's Number 21, Jun, found himself clear on sight of goal but couldn't find a way past Roy Carroll. Wayne Rooney failed to make something out of acres of space soon afterwards.

Sir Alex Ferguson deemed it relevant to change his squad slightly with just under 10 minutes remaining, replacing Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs with Louis Saha and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo had a free-kick blocked by a strong Czech wall with 1 minute left to play.

The result leaves United 2nd in Champions League Group D, following Lyon's win against Fenerbahce. 

               Full Time - Sparta Prague 0 - 0 Manchester United

Sparta Prague: Blazek, Pergl, Kovac, Homola, Petras, Poborsky, Sivok, Zelenka, Urbanek, Jun, Vorisek. Subs: Bicik, Meduna, Michalik, Cech, Simak, Koubsky, Pacanda.

Manchester United: Carroll, Gary Neville, Brown, Silvestre, Heinze, Miller, Scholes, O'Shea, Giggs, Rooney, van Nistelrooy.
Subs: Ricardo, Phil Neville, Ronaldo, Saha, Smith, Kleberson, Djemba-Djemba.

Man Of The Match (by Chris O'Brien) Roy Carroll: The Northern Irish international was awesome between the sticks, and United have the Ulsterman to thank for picking up a valuable European Cup point away from home. A series of excellent saves did the 'keeper no harm with his case for a regular slot in the Red Devils line-up.