Manchester United v Real Madrid: five things we learnt from the Champions League tie at Old Trafford However he carried out his instructions to a tee - and that included a disciplined spoiling job, as Ferguson had indicated he would be tasked with, when Xabi Alonso, the metronome at the heart of the Real team, was in possession. Welbeck immediately put the midfielder under pressure which meant that Alonso felt compelled to drop deeper in search of space, which made the striker's job easier. Welbeck has all the attributes to be a fine international striker - as the watching England manager Roy Hodgson knows - if he can add more goals. 3 Ronaldo is loved at United ... Mourinho not so much There was an astonishing ovation for Cristiano Ronaldo on his first return to Old Trafford since his £80 million move to Real Madrid in 2009 and it clearly touched him - as he pressed his hand over his heart in response. It also appeared to affect him - for a while at least. There was light-hearted booing with his first touches while Ryan Giggs's diligence and Rafael's willingness to track him down the United right flank meant he was soon switching across the pitch to try and see if Nani was less disciplined. And, of course, inevitably, Ronaldo scored. The reaction to Jose Mourinho was equally fascinating with the United crowd urging the Real coach to sit down whenever he ventured to the touchline - something he acknowledged with a down-turned palm of his hand, as he accepted the invitation to be the panto-villain. Some of the other chants, referring to his Chelsea past, were more unsavoury. It did not look like here was a man being anointed as Ferguson's successor. 4 Luka Modric is a class act The Croatian has been lost since his big-money move to Real Madrid last summer from Tottenham Hotspur and has been reduced to a bit-part player coming on from the bench. He did just that last night - but his arrival had a huge impact. Nani's sending off changed everything but it was Modric who got Real Madrid going. Suddenly their passing was far more incisive, they were pushing United back and retaining possession against the 10-men as they went for the jugular. And then of course Modric got the equalising goal with the kind of crisply-driven shot from outside the penalty area that he is capable of but which he executes all too rarely. He was heavily involved in Real's second goal as well as it was his sharp pass into the feet of Gonzalo Higuain that allowed the striker to cross for Ronaldo to slide in. Modric's impact was all the more galling because he was also wanted by United. 5 Old Trafford can create an atmosphere Too often the atmosphere inside this grand stadium, even on big European nights, can be, well, flat - compared to grounds like Anfield - as if the crowd are waiting for something to happen. Last night United stoked it up with the pre-match rituals and also the unfurling of a huge banner in tribute to those who died in the Munich air disaster. The occasion lived up to the billing and the crowd were 'at it" from the start - urging their team on and creating an even more hectic feel to the occasion. This was, and felt like, a big game and the amps went up even further with Nani's sending off. Ferguson was apoplectic at the decision, on the touchline urging the fans to get behind their team. They responded even if the dynamics of the game had changed and it was backs against the wall. It was a night of real - and Real - drama.