Evening all, welcome to our text updates of what should be an enthralling clash of titans. Aaaanyway, the team news has just been released so let's not waste any time...

BREAKING TEAM NEWS! Sir Alex Ferguson names an attacking Manchester United lineup while Cristiano Ronaldo does, as expected, line up against his former club.

MADRID XI: Diego Lopez; Arbeloa, Varane, Ramos, Coentrao; Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema

UNITED XI: De Gea; Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra; Jones, Kagawa, Carrick; Welbeck, Rooney; Van Persie

And the two substitute benches:

Madrid: Adan, Pepe, Carvalho, Kaka, Essien, Modric, Higuain
United: Lindegaard, Smalling, Valencia, Anderson, Giggs, Cleverley, Hernandez

Looking at the two sides it should be an extremely attacking encounter. Fergie opts for Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa in his XI. Expect Rooney to drop deeper to help out in midfield while Phil Jones could do a man-marking job on Ronaldo. Jones virtually marked Everton's in-form midfielder Marouane Fellaini out of the game on Sunday. Can he do the same with the world's second-best player tonight?

You'll also notice that there is no Nemanja Vidic for United. The Serbian isn't in the squad altogether. That makes it a huge night for Jonny Evans at centre-back.

Jose Mourinho is unable to call upon Iker Casillas, who is out with injury, so 31-year-old Diego Lopez starts in goal. One surprising omission is that of centre-back Pepe. Young Frenchman Rafael Varane starts in his place alongside Sergio Ramos in defence. The rest of Mourinho's lineup is as expected but there is a host of talent available on the bench. Kaka, Michael Essien, Luka Modric and Gonzalo Higuain will all be desperate to show what they're made of if Mourinho's first XI don't do well enough.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has played for both clubs, tells Sky Sports News that he expected Ferguson to play with more widemen. He also thinks that all of the pressure is on Madrid.

Neither Ashley Young or Nani have even made the bench for tonight's game. If Fergie feels that he needs some pace on the wing then he can bring on Antonio Valencia.

I think that Rooney and Welbeck will be the two wider players of the four further forward. Expect Kagawa to be the man 'in the hole' behind star forward Van Persie.

Ferguson has told Sky Sports News in an interview that Van Persie has been without question their best player this season. He jokes that a 5-0 United win will be a good result tonight.

The Glaswegian veteran was in a very chirpy mood for that interview, also revealing that it was his turn to bring the wine for Jose but in fact left it on the plane!

Just as the 'Gangnam Style' song blares out over the Bernabeu the Madrid players sprint out to warm up and receive a huge ovation from the fans already inside. United were out there at least 10 minutes ago.

As mentioned above, this is the first time since April 2003 that the two sides have met. That was also in the Champions League and Real won 6-5 on aggregate, with Ronaldo grabbing an Old Trafford hat-trick in the second leg. The picture above of the great Zinedine Zidane is from that game.

Our very own Liam Apicella has looked at five memorable matches between the pair and you can read all about the history of this match, with video, by clicking here.

Liam and Matt Law have also previewed five key battles in tonight's game. They've looked at the on-the-pitch faceoffs but it's also a huge battle between the two managers. Will Fergie's attacking lineup have surprised Mourinho?

Independent journalist Sam Wallace has an interesting take on the Rafael-Ronaldo battle tonight. He tweets: "Ronaldo among those Real Madrid players wearing trackie top & snood to warm-up. Rafael wearing a t-shirt. First blood to Rafael."

This match is perhaps creating the biggest buzz on Twitter for a while. Everyone's talking about it. Most are going for a Madrid win while some feel that a scoreless night for United will make it extremely difficult for them to progress. Away goals are of course vital once you reach this stage of the competition.

PREDICTION TIME! With just 15 minutes left until the off, it's time for my thoughts on the game. I'm going for a 2-2 draw, Ronaldo to score first with Van Persie and Rooney on the scoresheet for United. Mark my words.

The way that Carrick and Jones play is essential to the way the game pans out. He adds that he simply couldn't take a risk on Vidic tonight.

BREAKING! Potentially some big news off the pitch as Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri tells us: "Police charging Manchester United fans outside Bernabeu."

Here's Michael Owen on Twitter: "The whole world seems to fancy Madrid tonight. I'm not so sure. Can't wait!"

Here's more from Palmeri on the incident outside the stadium: "While I was walking through press gate, police radio said they were charging fans. Asked policeman a confirmation, he confirmed."

REFEREE WATCH: Tonight's man in charge is German Felix Brych.

Pre-match handshakes and Champions League anthems are all done. We're moments away!

KICKOFF! Madrid get us underway.

BOOKING! Van Persie picks up the first booking for a hand across the face on Ramos. Pretty harsh from Mr Brych to book the Dutchman and if that's the precedent for the rest of the game we could see a lot of yellows.

First shot of the game comes from Madrid, who have started much better. Khedira ghosts into the area but drags his left-foot effort well wide.

OFF THE POST! Ronaldo does a stepover or 6 to beat Rafael down the left and Evans can only toe poke his cross out to Coentrao. The left-back hits it first time with his weaker right foot and it's curling towards the far corner until De Gea gets the slightest of fingertips on it to divert it against the inside of the post. Wonderful save.

This time it's Di Maria who runs at the United defence and holds off the challenge of Evra before letting fly but slicing it wide of the post.

There should be so many goals in this game! Madrid are going to continue to push and push but with United's prowess up front, they're bound to have chances on the counter.

Rafael tries to let the ball run out of play but Ronaldo nicks it off the touchline and drives towards the area. He tries to cut it back for Benzema but gets it behind the Frenchman whose shot is blocked.

If Kagawa had taken that better then it would have been a clear opening for United. The ball sort of squirmed his way but his touch was very heavy and Lopez was able to collect.

United take the lead in the Bernabeu! The Red Devils win a corner and Rooney swings it over for Welbeck who flicks into the far corner. Di Maria was originally on that post but for some reason moved across to the middle of the goal. Dreadful defending.

Di Maria has another go from range and De Gea has to push it around the post.

JUST WIDE! Ronaldo wins himself a free kick but fluffs his lines from the delivery, hitting it straight at Van Persie in the wall. However, the ball breaks straight back for him and he fires a left-foot volley just wide of De Gea's right-hand post.

He had to score didn't he?! Di Maria swings over an arcing cross from the left and Ronaldo gets up way before Evra and directs his header just inside the post. No chance for De Gea.

United look to respond as Van Persie collects from Varane's misjudgement. He turns back inside the Frenchman but scuffs his shot and Lopez collects.

CHANCE! United won't come closer to an equaliser! Van Persie curls in a beautiful cross for Welbeck but he can only get a toe to it ahead of Lopez and the ball hits the back of the goalkeeper below him before dribbling past the post for a corner.

The corner comes in and Lopez isn't decisive, punching it only to Kagawa. The Japanese sees his shot blocked but Rooney collects and feints once before pulling his shot wide.

United have looked most dangerous from set pieces but Rooney and Van Persie's latest deliveries were not good.

UPDATE: Just a note that in the other last-16 tie between Shakhtar and Dortmund the home side have gone ahead thanks to Darijo Srna. 1-0 to Donetsk.

CHANCE! Alonso pings an inch-perfect over the top for Ozil but he has to take it on his weaker right foot and can only volley at De Gea.

CHANCE! That's really poor from Ozil. Evra slipped to allow the German plenty of space on the left and he has an unchallenged shot but decides to try and cut it back for Ronaldo and United clear.

YELLOW! Rafael is in the book for hauling down Ozil on the byline. The Brazilian had let Ozil get around him and that's the second time he's been outmuscled tonight.

Madrid want a penalty as Di Maria steals the ball from Ronaldo and drives past a few United players before being shouldered off the ball in the area by Jones. Correct decision from Brych to do nothing there, Di Maria showed no strength.

SHOT! Ronaldo is given a pocket of space 25 yards from goal and unleashes a rocket of a shot with his left that flies over the crossbar. De Gea is angry with his players for allowing the Portuguese such an open look at goal.

United have a corner on the stroke of half-time...

Rooney's delivery is overhit again but this time Van Persie is there to nod it back to Rafael. The Brazilian is immediately charged down and skies his volley well over. Two minutes have been added on, by the way.

CHANCE! Coentrao floats in a cross and once again Ronaldo is first up but he shoulders the ball way wide.

It's been as good as we were expecting and still anybody's guess as to who will win this game.

United took the lead through Danny Welbeck's header from a corner but have since been pegged back by former Red Cristiano Ronaldo's perfect header. It's been full of just about everything.

Ronaldo hardly celebrated when he scored and whether that's a sign of respect or just the number seven being cool, who knows? I'm presuming it's the former although he has done similarly low-key celebrations in big games like El Clasico.

UPDATE: In the other last-16 match tonight it's now 1-1 between Shakhtar and Dortmund. Darijo Srna put the hosts ahead with a delicious free kick but Robert Lewandowski has since equalised for the Bundesliga side. Click here to read our half-time report on that one.

There was one moment in that half when the United fans were goading Mourinho with chants of "Sit down Mourinho!" The special one responded how only he could by simply waving at them in a dismissive way. Love it!

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty is in no doubt about the talent of Mr Ronaldo. He tweets: "Cristiano Ronaldo has perfected the art of hanging in the air for headers. The complete attacking footballer."

So both matches in Europe tonight are finely poised at 1-1, who will come out on top? At the Bernabeu I'm sticking with my 2-2 prediction ;)

Both sides are back out and we're just about to start the second half.

KICKOFF: United get the second half underway.

United begin the half very well as Van Persie's sweet cross is well defended by Coentrao will Welbeck just about to head home. Rooney goes and collects the loose ball and his cross is missed by Lopez but Kagawa can't quite to the loose ball.

SHOT! Ronaldo collects the ball with his back to goal and spins for a yard of space. His shot is hard enough but De Gea won't be beaten by that, stopping comfortably.

Mourinho, strangely wearing a snood, is angry with Jones for hacking down Ronaldo in the middle. No booking for the United number four.

SHOT! Di Maria isn't afraid to shoot and his latest effort is a fierce one that De Gea does extremely well to hold on to.

CLOSE! Di Maria is the most dangerous man out there at the moment. He takes it on again from outside the area but this time his volley flies past the post.

Ooh, controversial! Madrid are desperately short at the back and Carrick plays the ball in behind for an onrushing Evra. The Frenchman gets his body in front of Varane and has his heels clearly clipped by the Frenchman. Referee Frych isn't interested though and gives nothing. For me that was a clear foul and if given then Varane maybe would have seen red for being the last man.

Hairy moment for United as Ferdinand dilly-dallies on the ball but in the end does well to escape the attentions of Ronaldo and Benzema. Kagawa then doesn't see Benzema coming from behind and Ronaldo breaks away. He's shepherded away from goal though and eventually Di Maria's shot is blocked.

Lovely feet from Van Persie to get out of a tight spot near his own area. He then breaks clear and tries to find Welbeck but doesn't quite get the pass right and Varane and Ramos see out the danger.

MADRID SUB: Mourinho makes a change up front as Gonzalo Higuain takes the place of Benzema.

SAVE! Khedira's cross flashes across goal but Coentrao is at the back post to slide in. His shot is bouncing inside the near post until De Gea decides peculiarly to clear it away with his feet, not hands.

Welbeck receives the ball and just has Varane to beat in front of him. He steps over and rolls it onto his left but the Madrid number two has been very quick tonight and won't be beaten there, getting back to slide it out for a corner.

UNITED SUB: Kagawa hasn't looked at home in such a big game tonight and his game is over as the veteran Ryan Giggs comes on. Even the Madrid fans give the Welshman a round of applause. Nice.

Lightning pace from Di Maria to get past Rooney but his cross is read by Ferdinand and out for a corner.

Di Maria's delivery is well defended by Jones before United clear and Welbeck does very well to win a time-sapping free kick.

Higuain fires in a cross low into the box and Ferdinand does well to keep up with Ronaldo and clear it away for a corner.

OFF THE BAR! United have plenty of bodies going forward and Rooney lays in Van Persie. He lashes at goal with his right and Lopez does well to push it up and onto the crossbar.

WHAT A CHANCE! You would put your house on Van Persie scoring here! A ball is looped back over the top and Madrid think the Dutchman is offside but he's not and he chests it down and just has Lopez to beat from the penalty spot. He completely miskicks though and the ball bobbles over the keeper and Alonso gets back to clear from under the bar.

And now Madrid come forward and some sustained pressure ends with Khedira's rising half-volley clearing the crossbar.

UNITED SUB: Welbeck's energetic night is up as Valencia comes on.

MADRID SUB: Mourinho also makes a change as the shot-happy Di Maria is replaced by Luka Modric.

Higuain manages to squeeze a shot goalwards under pressure from several United shirts on the edge of the box that De Gea scrabbles across goal to save.

WELL HELD! Madrid are pressing hard and some patient buildup on the edge of the box ends with Khedira having a go. He hits it well and De Gea does really well to hold the shot, especially as it took a slight deflection off Carrick.

CHANCE! What a chance for Giggs. Evra's cross is only half-cleared and all Giggs has to do is have a shot but he tries to feint and fox the defender but is eventually crowded out. Poor decision from the experienced winger.

Giggs has somewhat atoned for that error by just tackling Ozil on the edge of the box and then earning a free kick to waste more time.

MADRID SUB: Pepe comes on to replace Xabi Alonso for a bit more energy in the middle of the park.

UNITED SUB: Fergie counters this by taking off Rooney for Anderson.

CLOSE! Modric wins Los Blancos a free kick a good 30 yards out and this one is much better from Ronaldo. It's dipping, it's swerving and De Gea doesn't even bother going for it but luckily for him it lands on the roof of the net.

YELLOW! Valencia is booked for a slight elbow on Ramos. The Spaniard went down far too easily and Brych bought it.

THREE minutes are added on.

CHANCE! Anderson takes an awful touch on the edge of the area to allow Modric to take the ball. He drives to the left and digs out a good cross that looks destined to be poked home but United through a combination of Jones and Evans just about manage to stop Ronaldo getting a shot in.

Superb hold-up play from Van Persie to win a free kick and some more time for United.

SAVE! The Red Devils almost nick it! Carrick loops over a pass for Van Persie and he chests it down before volleying towards the far corner and Lopez does well to palm it away for a corner.

United aren't happy as Mr Frych blew his whistle when they were just about to take the corner. It was awfully efficient from the German as he blew just as the clock struck 93 minutes.

Either way it was a great game of football and United will definitely be the happier of the two as they've got their away goal and now only need to win back at Old Trafford.

Believe it or not, our match report is already up on site and you can read it by clicking here.

There was a total of 41 attempts on goal, with Madrid shooting 28 times and United 13. The visitors got much more of theirs on target though, hitting nine of their 13 at Lopez while Madrid could only get half of theirs to force De Gea into action.

The other match tonight ended in a 2-2 draw as Mats Hummels headed a late equaliser for Dortmund. Click here to read the match report on that one.

Anyhoo, that's just about it from our updates. Thanks for joining Sports Mole this evening. Be sure to stick around on site for reaction, analysis and much more. Good night!