Champions League

Vidic and Rooney miss United semi against Barcelona

18:20 BST, Tue 29 Apr 2008
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Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic listens to questions during a news conference at his team's hotel in Barcelona April 22, 2008. Manchester United will face Barcelona in the first leg, of their Champions League semi-final soccer match at the Nou Camp stadium on Wednesday.     REUTERS/Dylan Martinez    (SPAIN)

By Mike Collett

LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was forced to leave out defender Nemanja Vidic and striker Wayne Rooney for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Vidic suffered a facial injury in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea while Rooney hurt his hip and neither has recovered in time to play.

Vidic also missed last week's first leg because of a stomach illness. The only change Ferguson made to last week's starting line-up in the Nou Camp was starting Nani in place of Rooney.

Barcelona meanwhile, welcomed back captain Carles Puyol who missed the first leg through suspension, although the banned Rafael Marquez misses out. That was the only change forced on coach Frank Rijkaard from last week's 0-0 draw in Spain.

A victory for United would ensure the first all-English Champions League final against Liverpool or Chelsea in Moscow on May 21. Barca will qualify without the need for penalties if they win the match or force a scoring draw.

Although they are on the verge of the final neither team is in exceptional form. United have gone three matches without a victory while Barcelona have won only one of their last nine domestic league games.

United have won their last 11 Champions League matches at Old Trafford.

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