Manchester United will meet Barcelona for a place in the Champions League final after Carlos Tevez’s goal 20 minutes from time saw off Roma and gave the Premier League side a new record of 11 Champions League home victories in a row.

Many thought before this match that it was already job done for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side who had triumphed 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium last week. The manager certainly felt that way as he sent out a team bereft of their two major attacking forces, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

For the first 25 minutes the home side were in irresistible form, creating chances seemingly at will and intent on giving Roma the same sort of hiding they inflicted at the same stage of the competition last year when they triumphed 7-1.

But the breakthrough refused to come. Wes Brown was wasteful with two opportunities having been left unmarked at corners and Owen Hargreaves and Ryan Giggs were denied by excellent saves from Doni, the goalkeeper.

On the half-hour, though, Roma were handed an extraordinary lifeline by Tom Henning Ovrebo, the referee, who ruled that Brown had felled Mancini in the area. Daniele De Rossi spurned the chance, though, ballooning his penalty over the crossbar.

Chances came and went at both ends, but ultimately Tevez calmed any remaining United nerves by finding the target in the second half.

The Argentinian got on the end of an inch-perfect Owen Hargreaves cross from the right, directing a diving header past Doni into the corner of the net to clinch a 3-0 aggregate victory. Park Ji Sung might have added a second in the final minute but for another outstanding save from Doni.

It was almost the perfect night for Ferguson, able to keep his key players rested for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal. The only blemish was a slight injury concern to Rio Ferdinand. The England central defender, who limped off against Middlesbrough at the weekend, started the game and despite having three stitches inserted in a foot injury at half-time, was able to complete the match.

RESULTS

Manchester United 1 (Tevez 70)

Roma 0

(Manchester United win 3-0 on aggregate)

Barcelona 1 (Toure 43)

Schalke 0

(Barcelona win 2-0 on aggregate)