Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.

We’ll have the full teams momentarily, but the big news for United is that Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans start in the centre of defence, while Nemanja Vidic hasn’t even made the matchday squad.

Here are tonight’s teams:

Real Madrid: Lopez; Arbeloa, Ramos, Varane, Coentrao; Khedira, Alonso; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema.

Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Jones, Carrick; Welbeck, Kagawa, Rooney; Van Persie.

We’ll also have the substitutes for you shortly.

Real Madrid Substitutes: Adan, Pepe, Kaka, Carvalho, Essien, Modric, Higuain.

Manchester United Substitutes: Lindegaard, Anderson, Valencia, Smalling, Hernandez, Giggs, Cleverley.

Just in case United fans need any reminding of how good Cristiano Ronaldo is, here’s a concise video compilation.

YouTube credit: Jack McRobert

Written confirmation of those teams (h/t @HamiltonRTE):

So what do you reckon the outcome of tonight’s game will be?

Liam Brady has suggested teams in Spain have no fight and tend to lose heart when they go behind.

Surely a bit of a sweeping statement, no?

Meanwhile, John Giles is saying Michael Carrick is “no more than a good player”.

We’re almost ready to go here.

Both the teams are out and the pre-match shenanigans are almost done.

We’re underway…

Already a decent opening for Real Madrid, following a good passing move, but Khedira drags his shot just wide.

Meanwhile, Kagawa is correctly adjudged offside after being cleverly played through by Rooney.

I’m not sure how that stayed out!

Rio Ferdinand can only half clear the ball, and Coentrao’s shot from the edge of the box hits the inside of the post and then bounces away to safety.

It’s been a good start from the hosts.

Ronaldo looks in the mood, ominously for United.

He’s already gotten the better of Rafael twice now.

“Rooney’s playing?” is overheard in TheScore.ie office when the striker has a rare touch of the ball.

Another corner for Madrid.

They’ve dominated the opening 15 minutes and have been camped in the United half more often than not.

This tweet highlights the relative inexperience of United tonight.

GOAL FOR UNITED!

Man United 1-0 Real Madrid: It’s a lovely glancing header from Danny Welbeck from a Wayne Rooney corner (19 mins).

Sergio Ramos perhaps could have marked him more tightly, and Real Madrid won’t know how they’re behind in this game, but United aren’t complaining.

It’s Danny Welbeck’s first away goal in the Champions League.

United fans will agree that it was certainly worth the wait.

It’ll be interesting to see how Madrid react now. Rumours of dressing unrest could be put to bed if they show the character to comeback from this early setback.

GOAL FOR MADRID!

Real Madrid 1-1 Man United: A pinpoint cross from Di Maria finds Cristiano Ronaldo, who heads home masterfully into the corner of the net, giving De Gea no chance (29 mins).

You can’t say it wasn’t deserved, given how the hosts have started the game.

Incredible stuff!

Great ball from Van Persie finds Welbeck, and his touch is deflected narrowly wide by the goalkeeper’s leg.

It’s been a thrilling start – this match is certainly living up to the pre-game hype.

Here’s a look at that Welbeck goal:

YouTube credit: TheOurmatches

De Gea makes a decent save after a powerful shot by Di Maria following a rapid Madrid counter-attack.

It was an exquisite through ball from Xabi Alonso in the build-up.

Rafael has been booked following a sloppy challenge on Ozil. The full-back is really struggling at the moment.

Meanwhile, Di Maria’s threatening run is ended when Jones nudges him over in the box.

There are cries for a penalty from the crowd, but the referee waves play on.

Here’s a look at Ronaldo’s superb header:

YouTube credit: 2manchesterunited

Ronaldo has almost scored a second with another header.

However, Evans gets a strong enough challenge in to ensure he diverts the ball well away from goal.

HALF-TIME: REAL MADRID 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED

A good pic of Welbeck’s excellent first-half header.

So, an exciting game of football so far.

Madrid have had the better of the first-half play, though they look dodgy at the back, and their keeper Lopez seems especially to be a liability.

And United have consequently taken advantage of the opposition’s shortcomings, though at the other end, they have often looked suspect themselves.

Madrid have dominated possession and territory and Rafael, in particular, is having a torrid time against the likes of Ozil and Ronaldo.

I should mention that it’s 1-1 between Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Dortmund.

Robert Lewandowski and Darijo Srna have got the goals in that game.

The second half is underway…

The second half has begun in a similar manner to the first.

Real Madrid have dominated possession and Di Maria has just hit a powerful shot narrowly wide.

The pace appears to have slowed somewhat, though that’s not to say it’s become boring since the break.

Both sides have had half-chances, though the game’s not quite as open as it was before.

Jose Mourinho has seen enough. Higuain has replaced Benzema.

Meanwhile, a great cross from Khedira finds an unmarked Coentrao, whose effort is saved by the legs of De Gea.

United are looking decidedly more solid in this half.

Real Madrid are frequently probing, but the visitors continually seem able to get bodies in the way of their attack.

In addition, “the ageless Ryan Giggs” as George Hamilton calls him, has replaced Kagawa.

Real Madrid have been well on top in terms of possession in this half.

While United have been good defensively, the concern is that they’ll tire themselves out from continually chasing the ball.

A goal from Costa has put Shakhtar 2-1 up against Dortmund.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo has come close with another effort which goes narrowly wide.

United almost expose Madrid’s defensive weakness again, with Van Persie almost scoring twice within the space of a minute.

His first shot is tipped onto the post, while his second is mis-hit and consequently cleared off the line by Alonso.

Amidst all that, Valencia has come on for Welbeck, while Modric has come on for Di Maria.

Good save from De Gea following a strong shot by Khedira.

United are hanging on a little now.

Modric’s introduction seems to have made a difference, as he’s threaded a number of intelligent passes around the midfield already.

But as I type, a mistake from Alonso presents Giggs with a chance, but he dwells on the ball and is subsequently tackled.

It’s a curiously defensive-minded substitution, with Pepe replacing Alonso.

Perhaps he’s protectiung him on account of his groin strain, but it’s a surprise to see a defender replace him.

In addition, Anderson has replaced Wayne Rooney.

Shortly thereafter, Ronaldo’s dipping free kick lands on the roof of the net.

Just three minutes, plus injury time, remains…

Dangerous cross from Modric, and Ronaldo just about fails to make contact with the ball, as United scramble it clear.

That’s probably their last chance to win it.

Van Persie comes close to winning it, but Lopez tips the striker’s shot away for a corner.

Somewhat controversially, the ref blows up before they get a chance to take it.

FULL-TIME: REAL MADRID 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED

So that’s game over, and it’s now nicely set up for another mouth-watering second leg.

Madrid were excellent in the first half, controlling the game and creating a number of chances, though United looked dangerous on the break too.

In the second half, the visitors’ defence improved, while Real ran out of steam.

All in all, the result was a fair reflection of how the game panned out, with United’s excellent work-rate proving enough for them to secure a decent result.

Eamon Dunphy, in typically controversial form, says we’ve learned that “neither side is going to win the Champions League”.

He adds that one of his sources says Ferguson thinks “Rooney, as a person, lacks confidence”.

He says Rooney hasn’t become the player he was expected to become.

The two old rivals greet one another after the final whistle.

(Adam Davy/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Right, that’s your lot from me. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Stay tuned for more reaction.