Champions League: Barca down United; Ajax hold Juve

Champions League: Barca down United at Old Trafford; Ajax hold Juve

Images from the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg matches played on Wednesday

Barcelona's heads the ball that deflects off Manchester United's Luke Shaw (not in picture) for an own goal by Shaw during their match at Old Trafford in Manchester

IMAGE: Barcelona's heads at goal that deflects off Manchester United's Luke Shaw for an own goal by the latter during their match at Old Trafford in Manchester. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

FC Barcelona took a one-goal advantage in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final after beating Manchester United in an away clash at Old Trafford in Manchester on Wednesday.

Luke Shaw deflected the ball into the net amidst a goal-mouth melee scoring an own goal to hand Barca a lead in the 12th minute itself.

 

United pressed for an equaliser, especially in the last 15 minutes of the first half and kept up the pressure in the 2nd without much success.

Barca's Gerard Pique was exceptional in defence, holding fort at the back and not allowing any of United's attempts to materialise.

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during their match against Ajax at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam 

IMAGE: Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during their match against Ajax at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images

In the other match on the night, Ronaldo came good scoring off a superb diving header, in the 44th minute of the first half, to take Juventus into the break with a 1-0 lead in Amsterdam.

However, their joy was short-lived as Ajax's David Neres drilled in a right footed shot into the bottom right corner to cancel out Ronaldo's goal.

Ajax stepped up their game in the second half but could not find the winner.