Roma ruined

Rooney and Ronaldo celebrate

Manchester United look favourites to advance into the semi-finals of the Champions League after a Ronaldo and Rooney inspired performance put them 2-0 ahead after a first-leg win at Roma.

The omens look good for United to advance; they will no doubt recall last season’s 7-1 of Roma in the Old Trafford leg of their Champions League clash.

But there was a job to be done on the night and it was Cristiano Ronaldo who put United ahead, bravely powering a header home after leaping high to meet Paul Scholes’ cross six minutes before half-time.

Wayne Rooney gave United a great buffer for the return leg next Wednesday, scrambling the ball into the net after Roma keeper Doni failed to deal with Park Ji Sung’s header into the danger zone on 66 minutes.

Despite a solid performance which also saw Ronaldo carve open the Roma defence and hit the post with a long range effort in the second-half, United rode their luck at times.

At 1-0, Roma Captain Christian Panucci missed an easy volley from close range and Edwin van der Sar saved brilliantly from Mirko Vucinic's 61st-minute header.

The only fly in the ointment was an injury to United centre-back Nemanja Vidic who landed awkwardly injuring his knee and now awaits and anxious wait for scan results.

Despite that blip, Sir Alex Ferguson was happy with the result.

‘We can't take anything for granted, but we definitely feel like we can reach the semi-finals,’ said Ferguson.

‘It was a marvellous result. We showed discipline and composure on the ball.’

Roma will have to pull one hell of a performance out the bag to stop United in such fine fettle, influential Captain Francesco Totti will return for the Old Trafford leg and Fergie is well aware of the Italian’s attributes

‘We know Totti's abilities,’ Ferguson said. 'He's an inspirational figure for Roma, but we hope Old Trafford on a European night will be ready for us.’

If Manchester United can negotiate Roma they look likely to face Barcelona who take a 1-0 lead against Schalke to the Nou Camp.

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