Manchester United's 2-1 defeat at Roma last night was marred by crowd trouble as Italian police charged with batons into the 4,500 United fans from the minute the home team scored their first goal to take the lead just before half-time.

The problems flared after Roma and United fans exchanged missiles, prompting police to move in using their batons on United supporters. One fan was shown on television with blood pouring from his face and announcements were made over the public address system in Italian and English threatening to halt the game.

Before the match 300 United fans had faced off with Roma fans outside the stadium. Police quickly restored order but seven United supporters were injured, according to the Ansa news agency.

On the pitch, United had to play for just short of an hour with 10 men after Paul Scholes was sent off for two yellow cards. But it is the trouble involving fans that will dominate the post-match agenda. There is something about this arena that takes you back to Liverpool's European Cup triumph in 1984 and the sight of supporters surging back and forth as carabinieri waded in here last night also took you back to the mid-'80s.

This was deeply unpleasant to witness, the simple detail of the Olympic Stadium's seats not having backs meaning that supporters and police were cascading down. These could be described as terraces and it looked too open for comfort. Punters must have felt vulnerable even before the serious trouble broke out. Police will accuse fans and vice versa.

There had been some disturbing scenes against Lille in Lens in the previous round, United fans being crushed inside their end, the fencing creating bad echoes again of the 1980s. United were fined by Uefa for their part but it was a gesture, there was an acknowledgement the stadium played a significant role. That may well be the same response when the inevitable inquiry sits after this.

"The police got involved with a baton charge and all hell broke loose," a United fan inside the ground told BBC Radio Five Live. "You had seats being thrown at the police. Most of the missiles being thrown are bottles which are being sold inside the ground."

In the end the game just about won. But it was a close call and Uefa, Roma and United will not be happy about the trouble in the stands that marred a night that should have been memorable in Italy for Roma's victory and Totti's style and in England for United's defiance and Wayne Rooney's breakthrough goal on foreign soil for his club.

The build-up had been tense. Italy - and Rome in particular - did not take kindly to United's warning to their followers to watch themselves in Rome. There were scuffles outside and bottles could be seen before kick-off hurtling from the Roma section into United's and back again.

In the 10 minutes between Scholes's red card and Taddei's goal, the United sector erupted. Roma fans applauded an interval announcement that the game would be suspended if it continued and the start of the second half brought some calm. But there could be none on the pitch. I'm Spartacus, that was how it felt when Scholes was sent off having been shown a second yellow card for a foul on Rome's king, Totti.

Just eight minutes earlier Scholes had been given his first for a trip on Christian Wilhelmsson. United, meanwhile, took 30 minutes to win a corner. For Rooney there was also the sight of Totti's backside as the Italian broke away in that 34th minute. Rooney withdrew his foot, but 10 yards on, Scholes didn't. Rooney knew there would more defensive work for him and less chance of him breaking his European record.

But when United lined up for the second half, Rooney, Solskjaer and Cristiano Ronaldo were still quite advanced. That daring policy paid off when all three linked and suddenly Rooney was chesting down Solskjaer's cross unmarked at the far post. Rooney beat Doni with his right foot. Over in the visitors' section, United fans erupted again but there were no ugly surges this time. As far as those United fans were concerned it was Edwin van der Sar's subsequent parry that made them want to look away. ...