Manchester United vs Barcelona (MUN vs BAR) UEFA Europa League 2023: Barca defense need to be wary of Marcus Rashford at peak of his prowess in Round of 16 game at Old Trafford
Days after locking horns in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 32 at Camp Nou, fallen giants Barcelona and Manchester United will renew hostilities once again. Their battleground this time: The legendary Old Trafford.
Last week, United were like a team possessed when they dragged out a 2-2 draw against the Catalan club even after going 0-1 down to former Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso’s pinpoint header. If it was the Manchester United of the past few seasons, they would roll over and concede a few times more without even having the composure or penetrating power to get back in the match. But this United under Erik Ten Hag is a different beast altogether.
Channeling the never-give-up spirit of the Red Devils of yore, United ripped through Barcelona’s defense and went 2-1 up in a jiffy, courtesy of a sizzling Marcus Rashford and an own goal from Barca defender Jules Kounde. They would ultimately concede from a Raphinha wonder goal but did not give an inch to their decorated opponents throughout the rest of the match.
A superb second half where Fred and Antony scored the goals, helps Manchester United progress to the Europa League round of 16. Barcelona have been knocked out. MUN 2-1 BAR | 4-3 on aggregate
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What a slidling tackle from Varane to save United! Ferran Torres was clean on goal and the shot went past DDG but Varane came sliding in and saved the ball from going in. INCREDIBLE. MUN 2-1 BAR | 4-3 on aggregate
5 minutes of time added on. McTominay comes on for Rashford. Meanwhile, Varane dishes out another brilliant tackle to stop Lewandonski near the edge of the box. MUN 2-1 BAR | 4-3 on aggregate
Busquets is booked and then Casemiro goes into the book after pulling down Lewandowski to the ground. MUN 2-1 BAR | 4-3 on aggregate
Marcos Alonso replaces Ronald Arauj. Meanwhile, let us have a word of praise for Lisandro Martinez has bossed lewandowski all evening, such a brilliant performance. MUN 2-1 BAR | 4-3 on aggregate
Araujo beats Rashford to the ball, sending the striker crashing to the ground inside the box. MUN 2-1 BAR | 4-3 on aggregate
Yellow card for Garnacho after a foul on Kounde. MUN 2-1 BAR | 4-3 on aggregate
GOAL! Fernandes with a brilliant touch and cuts it back for Garnacho, who takes a shot but it is blocked and then Fred has a go and another block. Then the ball falls to Antony, who curls it in. Sublime finish from the Brazilian. Old. Trafford. Is. Bouncing. MUN 2-1 BAR | 4-3 on aggregate
Casemiro is receiving treatment after Robert Lewandowski stamped on his foot. The Barça striker receives a yellow card. MUN 1-1 BAR | 3-3 on aggregate
Two changes for United. Dalot replaces Wan-Bissaka while Garnacho is on replacing Sancho.
Kounde with the header from close range and it was going but DDG with a flying acrobatic save. Big let-off for Manchester United. Corner for Barcelona! MUN 1-1 BAR | 3-3 on aggregate
De Jong went down after a challenge by AWB but Fernandes hit the ball straight at him and it seemed pretty deliberate. This has led to a fiesty exchange between players of both the teams and it could get ugly. Yellow card for Bruno and Roberto. MUN 1-1 BAR | 3-3 on aggregate
Barcelona look rattled as Christensen tries to clear it away but lands it into Rashford who can't get a powerful shot. MUN 1-1 BAR | 3-3 on aggregate
Wan-Bissaka not far away from setting Antony away again, he’s getting chances out on the right wing. MUN 1-1 BAR | 3-3 on aggregate
GOAL! FRED FOR UNITED! Fernandes finds the pass in for Fred, who gets one touch to control and enough to beat Ter Stegen. Perfect start to the 2nd Half. he roof has come off this place and the Stretford End is bouncing. Game On! MUN 1-1 BAR | 3-3 on aggregate
Barcelona get the second half underway. Antony comes on for Weghorst. United need to be FAR better with possession. MUN 0-1 BAR
It is advantage Barcelona at the break after the spot kick from Robert Lewandowski. MUN 0-1 BAR | Barca lead 3-2 on aggregate and 1-0 on the night.
At the closing moments of the first half, De Gea with a horror pass falls straight to Roberto, who shoots and the ball falls to Kessie and Casemiro throws himself in front of the shot. United are lucky not to concede. MUN 0-1 BAR
Poor touch from Weghorst near the Untied box and Kessie wins it but a pull back leads to a foul. Free kick for Barca and De Jong sends it in and a corner after Casemiro clears it away. MUN 0-1 BAR
Barcelona with a better spell and they make a run down the right and a cross to Raphina who take a shot and shoots it high and wide. MUN 0-1 BAR
United keep possession in the final third and the ball falls to Fred who wants to cross it in but his shot off the right foot almost beats Ter Stegen who is out of his line. Close shave! MUN 0-1 BAR
Busquets playing almost like a defender and disarming too much! United continue to attack but no shot on goal as Barca defend well. MUN 0-1 BAR
Referee Clement Turpin (from France) has had a word with Xavi and then he’s over to speak to Ten Hag. The Manchester United manager is furious after Martinez is penalised right in front of him and he is refusing to back down. MUN 0-1 BAR
Ronald Araujo goes down after which a chance for Fernandes to make amends but trying to connect with a difficult ball dropping over his shoulder on the volley his low effort is well saved by Ter Stegen. MUN 0-1 BAR
Shaw goes down but no foul. MUN 0-1 BAR
PENALTY FOR BARCELONA! Big moment in the game as Balde goes down near the edge of the box as Fernandes pulls him down with a slight tug. That looked soft. Lewandonski from the spot shoots and De Gea got a hand but it is in the net. GOAL! MUN 0-1 BAR | Barca lead 3-2 on aggregate and 1-0 on the night.
Rashford shows his brilliance with a beautiful touch to bring the ball down on the left flank and then glides in by beating the defender. This is what confidence does but a good tackle stops his move and its a corner. Can United make something out of it? No they can't. MUN 0-0 BAR
Free kick for United as Casemiro is brought down by Kessie. Fernandes puts it in but Barca clear it away, Wan-Bissaka wins it and does well on the left flank to wriggle out and sends a cross but it has too much on it and is out of play. The opening minutes have been lively. MUN 0-0 BAR
Rashford goes down near the edge of the box and is it a penalty? No ! Referee Clement Turpin says no and play continues. Scary moment there for Barca fans. MUN 0-0 BAR
Bright start from United as Casemiro finds Bruno on the right who moves forward quickly and takes a shot. Saved by Ter Stegen as Bruno rues his luck. What a chance at the start. MUN 0-0 BAR
The players are out! Manchester United in red and Barcelona in their away off-yellow strip. Referee: Clement Turpin (France) blows the whistle (PEEP-PEEP) and we are away. Let's Play
Manchester United will turn off the music inside Old Trafford 15 minutes before kick-off against Barcelona tonight, after a special request from supporters.
Juventus, Sporting Lisbon & Sevilla are through to the round of 16. Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen is into extra time.
Scorelines:
Nantes 0-3 Juventus (agg 1-4)
Monaco 2-3 Bayer Leverkusen (agg 5-5)
PSV 2-0 Sevilla (agg 2-3)
FC Midtjylland 0-4 Sporting CP (agg 1-5)
Manchester United have lost just two of their previous 11 European matches at Old Trafford: 0-1 vs. Atletico Madrid and 0-1 vs. Real Sociedad. Will Barca complete the Spanish hat-trick?
Manchester United’s current manager Erik ten Hag has said that legendary manager of the club Sir Alex Ferguson ‘wants to help’ revive the club to its glory days and that the two had a dinner during which they discussed football. “It’s massive. I always enjoy speaking with people who have a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience. He wants to share it, he wants to help and support. He feels Manchester United is his club and he feels so committed. He wants us to do well. It was a great night and I look forward to the next night with him!” ten Hag was quoted as saying by The Telegraph about the dinner meeting between the two. (READ MORE)
United defender Raphael Varane, who was part of United's faltering side last season, explained the changes that have been made this time around. "I think first of all it is the confidence," Varane said. "Secondly, it is discipline. Tactically we know exactly how we want to play, to manage the game. "With a little bit more experience and the mentality of competition we have already improved a lot, and that is maybe the difference."
United are unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions and are third in the Premier League standings on 49 points, five behind leaders Arsenal. They were the better side for large parts of the first leg and controlled the tempo but were denied by goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen who made several outstanding saves to keep the Spanish team in the tie.
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; De Jong, Busquets, Kessie; Sergi Roberto, Raphinha, Lewandowski.
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fred, Casemiro; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.
Xavi will be without the injured Pedri and Ousmane Dembele while Gavi is suspended.
United and Barca, two of the most successful sides in world football, put on quite the show in the first leg of their knockout stage playoff last week, despite playing in a competition neither are normally found in. The 2-2 draw was exhilarating, typifying how much both teams have improved under their respective managers.
While keeping his cards close to his chest, Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag insisted he has an "idea" that will help his team get the better of Barcelona in their blockbuster clash in the Europa League on Thursday. "What we do different you will see tomorrow on the pitch," Ten Hag told a news conference on Wednesday. "We have an idea. "We all want to play big games, big matches. When we were young, we dreamed of it. We are really enjoying it, we are really looking forward and enjoying it. We have to give our best.
"It will be a very difficult game, Manchester United are one of the best teams in Europe today and they're showing it every game," Xavi told a news conference. "(Manager Erik) Ten Hag is doing a great job. They are a team that show intensity, mentality, passion, rhythm... we will need to match them in every level, to show personality and be loyal to our style. Above all, we need the bring the mentality to compete in Europe. We can say that Manchester United have returned and they are playing their best football in many years. It is a good opportunity to show that Barca can also compete."
Man United and Barcelona will lock horns in the second leg of their Europa League knockout round tie at Old Trafford. Stay tuned for live updates. Drop your predictions...