Manchester United take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League this week . The two sides first met back in 1957 when Real won 5 - 3 on aggregate . Of the 11 players which lined up against Real , six perished in the accident on February 6 when the plane carrying players , staff , journalists and supporters crashed in a blizzard while trying to take off at the third attempt from Munich airport . United manager Matt Busby tried to clean the Old Trafford pitch to make it a mud bath . Real lodged a protest and threatened to pull out of the contest .
Manchester United take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League this week . The two sides first met back in 1957 when Real won 5 - 3 on aggregate . United manager Matt Busby tried to clean the Old Trafford pitch to make it a mud bath . Real lodged a protest and threatened to pull out of the contest .