| Francesco Totti's absence was sorely felt as a desperately unlucky Roma went down 2-0 at home to Manchester United in the quarter-final first leg.
After disposing of Real Madrid, the Giallorossi turned their attention to revenge for last season's 7-1 quarter-final drubbing at Old Trafford. Francesco Totti and Juan were big injury blows, while Simone Perrotta was suspended, so Alberto Aquilani started in a more advanced role behind lone striker Mirko Vucinic. United's Edwin Van der Sar and Michael Carrick passed late fitness tests, but Ji-Sung Park was a surprise starter in place of Ryan Giggs.
Amantino Mancini took advantage of an early Rio Ferdinand error, but the other United defenders were able to clear their lines under pressure, then Vucinic's through ball was too long for Rodrigo Taddei.
Mancini's shot was charged down for a corner and from the resulting Pizarro set piece Christian Panucci nodded over.
Cristiano Ronaldo attempted an audacious free kick from 30 metres that whistled well wide. Marco Cassetti volleyed a Pizarro pass into the centre, but Vucinic couldn't quite get there.
Vucinic had a good chance on 28 minutes and although he lost his footing on the edge of the box, he still managed to swing a shot not far over the crossbar.
Nemanja Vidic fell awkwardly and hurt his knee, making way for John O'Shea, but Patrice Evra had to turn a Max Tonetto cross off the head of Vucinic.
However, United took the lead with their first chance. Wayne Rooney threaded through for Paul Scholes, whose cross found Ronaldo's powerful header as he came screaming in from the back. He clashed heads with a Roma player mid-air and couldn't celebrate the goal, but he was able to continue.
Vucinic had a great chance to draw Roma level when he gathered Aquilani's pass at the byline and a cross/shot rolled across the face of goal with nobody at the back post to tap in. Anderson gave away a series of free kicks and was booked in first half stoppages, quickly followed by Pizarro for a late challenge on Ronaldo.
After the restart De Rossi went charging into the box, but was tackled cleanly just as he was lining up the shot. Tonetto came in from the left to smack a strike just off target teed up by Vucinic.
Tonetto was again dangerous moments later, a cross-shot looping towards the underside of the bar before Van der Sar fingertipped it over.
Panucci should have drawn level, but incredibly volleyed over with his left foot from six yards unmarked from Mancini's flicked on header, as Roma were pouring forward in waves.
Aquilani's shot was charged down and Ludovic Giuly replaced the ineffective Taddei. The former Barcelona starlet created an immediate chance by rolling across for Aquilani, just intercepted at the last moment by Van der Sar.
The former Juventus goalkeeper required a fantastic reaction save to deny Vucinic's flicked header from a corner kick on 62 minutes, as Roma continued to build the pressure after eight corners without a single reply.
However, once again Roma wasted their chances and United took their precious few opportunities. Alexander Doni was tested for the first time in the game and failed, fumbling a Park header into the path of Rooney from six yards and the England player was quickest to react.
The Giallorossi's confidence was shattered after this goal against the run of play and Doni did well to fingertip a Ronaldo daisy-cutter on to the base of the upright.
Carrick drilled wide from the D on Rooney's assist, and Carrick's long pass to Ronaldo was blasted well off target by Rooney. Ronaldo volleyed a cross from substitute Carlos Tevez over in the final minute, but Roma had given up a long time before then.
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