AMAZINGLY, Sir Alex Ferguson is the only Manchester United manager to lose a European match at home.
Yes, you read that right. This remarkable stat may give Red Devils fans a little more comfort heading into the crunch Europa League clash with Feyenoord.
The Red Devils had welcomed 56 opponents since their first European tie at home — a 10-0 victory over Anderlecht at Maine Road.
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And United‘s home record in Europe remained unblemished for an incredible 40 years, with David Moyes and Louis van Gaal subsequently staying unbeaten at Old Trafford.
Here are all 12 of Ferguson‘s home losses.
Champions League 1996-97
Fenerbahce 0-1, group stage
THE first.
The Class of 92 stumbled to the lowly Turks following a 78th minute winner by Elvir Bolic in their first Champions League campaign together.
It was even more shocking given how comfortably United had earlier won in Istanbul.
Juventus 0-1, group stage
THE very next game — and United’s chances of progression took a massive hit.
Alessandro Del Piero’s first half penalty settled the contest.
United’s kids were learning the hard way how much a step up in class European football was.
Borussia Dortmund 0-1, semi-finals
A SLENDER 1-0 defeat in Germany still gave United real hope of making their first
European Cup final in 30 years.
However, Fergie’s boys could find no answer to Lars Ricken’s strike on eight minutes.
A third home defeat of the campaign meant elimination.
Champions League 1999-00
Real Madrid 2-3, quarter-final
UNITED were Champions League holders — but were humbled by Vicente del Bosque’s men.
A Roy Keane own goal and a Raul double put the Red Devils on course for hammering.
However, late strikes from David Beckham and Paul Scholes made the score more respectable, without preventing elimination.
Champions League 2000-01
Bayern Munich 0-1, quarter-final
GERMAN GIANTS gained some revenge for their final heartbreak two years earlier.
Paul Sergio netted the only goal four minutes from time.
Bayern won the return 3-1 — and United were again eliminated.
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Champions League 2001-02
Deportivo 2-3, group stage
IT SEEMED a routine victory when Ruud van Nistelrooy opened the scoring on seven minutes.
Deportivo then hit back with two goals in two minutes to give United a scare — but normality was resumed when the Dutchman equalised a minute later.
Only it wasn’t. A Fabien Barthez howler allowed Diego Tristan to net a second-half winner.
Champions League 2004-05
Milan 0-1, last-16
ANOTHER goalkeeping howler — this time from Roy Carroll.
The Northern Irishman spilled Clarence Seedorf’s shot into the path of Hernan Crespo, who scored the only goal of the game.
The former Chelsea man also scored the only goal in the return to complete the overall victory.
Champions League 2009-10
Besiktas 0-1, group stage
EVEN group stage elimination four seasons earlier hadn’t yielded a home loss.
And two back-to-back journeys to the final had seen the club embark on a 23-match unbeaten run at Old Trafford.
But that came crashing down as Christian Tello scored the only goal of the game for Besiktas.
Europa League 2011-12
Ajax 1-2, round of 32
UNITED were condemned to Europe’s secondary competition after finishing third in a relatively easy group — but didn’t lose at home.
However, they failed to win at Old Trafford in the Europa League.
Javier Hernandez’s early opener was cancelled out by Aras Ozbiliz, before Toby Alderweireld netted a winner on the night on 87 minutes.
A 2-0 victory in Amsterdam meant Red Devils went through in the first-ever meeting between the two giants.
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Athletic Bilbao 2-3, last-16
ELIMINATION came, somewhat surprisingly, at the hands of Athletic Bilbao.
The Spaniards were rampant at Old Trafford — as Fernando Llorente and co wiped
out Wayne Rooney’s opener.
With the score at 1-3, the current United skipper netted a stoppage time penalty to at least maintain some record.
A 2-1 loss in the Basque country saw United go out.
Champions League 2012-13
Cluj 0-1, group stage
THE worst team to win at Old Trafford.
United had already secured top spot in their group when the Romanians visited in the final game.
Luis Alberto’s second-half goal settled the match.
Real Madrid 1-2, last-16
THE most bitter defeat to digest.
After a 1-1 draw in Madrid, United were 1-0 up and cruising following Sergio Ramos’ own goal.
But a controversial red card for Nani changed the game — and Jose Mourinho’s tactics won the match.
Fergie’s final European match ended in disappointment.
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