Manchester United vs Barcelona LIVE result: Europa League reaction after Antony completes thrilling comeback
Manchester United 2-1 Barcelona (4-3 on aggregate): The hosts trailed at Old Trafford thanks to Robert Lewandowski’s penalty but goals from Fred and Antony turned the tie around once again
Manchester United produced a second-half comeback to defeat Barcelona FC and advance to the last-16 of the Europa League on a thrilling night at Old Trafford.
With the tie between two of European football’s heavyweights in the balance following a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp last week, Robert Lewandowski fired Barcelona into the lead after converting a controversial penalty - despite a hand from David de Gea.
But Erik ten Hag made a crucial change at half time - replacing Wout Weghorst with Antony - and United improved immediately, with Fred firing in the equaliser from a smart touch shortly after the break.
And it was Antony who struck on 73 minutes to turn the tie around for United, with the Brazilian finishing a first-time shot into the corner to take the roof off Old Trafford.
Follow all the reaction after Manchester United defeated Barcelona in the Europa League play-offs:
Rashford’s on fire
Marcus Rashford has averaged a goal every 76 minutes in the Europa League this season for Manchester United (four goals in total).
It’s the best ratio of any player to have played at least 300 minutes.
Manchester United have only lost two of their last 11 European games at Old Trafford with six wins and three draws in that run.
Although, both defeats came against Spanish opposition: 0-1 vs Atletico Madrid in March 2022 and 0-1 vs Real Sociedad in September 2022.
Xavi makes prediction as Sheikh Jassim bids to own Manchester United
Barcelona head coach Xavi says he knows prospective Manchester United owner Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani well and believes he would do a “good job” at Old Trafford.
Last Friday, the wealthy Qatari banker confirmed he had made an offer to buy the Premier League club as the Glazer family consider selling the club.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has also made a bid to buy United, who are preparing for Thursday’s crunch Europa League knockout play-off second leg against Barcelona.
Xavi ended his playing career in Qatar playing for Al Sadd between 2015 and 2019, then took his first steps in management at the Doha club before taking over at Barcelona two years ago.
Xavi makes prediction as Sheikh Jassim bids to own Manchester United
The wealthy Qatari banker has made an offer to buy the Premier League club
Man Utd vs Barcelona
Manchester United have only won one of their last 11 games against Barcelona in European competition (D5 L5), going winless in the last five (D1 L4).
Their only victory in this run came in April 2008 in a Champions League semi-final second leg, with Paul Scholes netting in a 1-0 win.
United not distracted by Carabao Cup final
This is a big week for Manchester United. Not only are they fighting to remain in the Europa League tonight but on Sunday they face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.
Manager Erik ten Hag says that the prospect of winning a trophy will not distract his team from the importance of this evening’s fixture.
"When you face such big teams as Barcelona you have to play your best, otherwise you don’t have a chance," said Ten Hag.
"We have the opportunity [to win a trophy on Sunday] but the first focus point is always the next game and we can’t win the (Europa League) trophy this week.
"We have to keep in the same mindset that every day we want to give a better version of ourselves."
Erik ten Hag igniting Manchester United rebuild with Sir Alex Ferguson similarity
Erik ten Hag has long shown a willingness to seek out the footballing greats. A clip surfaced recently of a rather more hirsute 13-year-old talking with precocious maturity to Johan Cruyff. It acquired an added pertinence when, more than three decades later, an older Ten Hag followed in Cruyff’s footsteps by becoming manager of Ajax.
Pictures emerged this week of Ten Hag dining at an Italian restaurant in Wilmslow with another decorated predecessor, Sir Alex Ferguson. As United host Barcelona, the other club Cruyff served as both iconic player and manager, it was a timely occasion for a chat.
The Scot may not have too many fond memories of a 4-0 defeat to Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ in the Nou Camp in 1994, though Barcelona’s ground staged the most dramatic denouement to any Champions League final ever; Teddy Sheringham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, “football, bloody hell” and all that in 1999.
Ten Hag’s United drew 2-2 in the Nou Camp last week. Beating the La Liga leaders in the second leg at Old Trafford would, the Dutchman said, require United’s best performance of the season. As Ferguson can testify, wins against Barcelona are not easily accomplished but they are something to savour.
He lost two Champions League finals to Pep Guardiola’s team. As an underdog, he won a Cup Winners’ Cup final against Cruyff’s Barca, Mark Hughes’ brace delivering victory in Rotterdam in 1991.
When his United lifted the Champions League, they encountered Barcelona en route, drawing 3-3 in two group-stage epics in 1998 and then, courtesy of Paul Scholes’ stunning long-range strike, winning a 2008 semi-final.
The similarity between Ten Hag and Sir Alex helping to ignite Man Utd rebuild
The Dutch tactician enjoyed dinner with his illustrious predecessor this week and hopes to eliminate Barcelona to further the Red Devils’ return to prominence
Man Utd vs Barcelona
Barcelona have faced Manchester United away from home in European competition on five previous occasions.
After failing to win any of the first four (D2 L2), they won 1-0 on their most recent such trip in April 2019 in a Champions League quarter-final first leg match.
Xavi on facing Manchester United
Xavi spoke about what he is expecting from tonight’s game claimed that Manchester United are one of the best teams in Europe at present.
“It’s a really tough game, Manchester United are one of the best teams in Europe and they are showing it.” said the Barcelona boss, "It’s the best Manchester United over the last few years and a great bit of work that Erik ten Hag has done.
"At the Nou Camp they showed a great passion and we have to match that. It’s a tough stadium to go to and we have to show the personality, play the way we can and be very intense during the game.
"The mentality is what we need to play a game like this. Manchester United are still up there with Manchester City and Arsenal [in the Premier League] so it’s a perfect stage to show Barcelona can compete with these teams."
Man Utd ready to take ‘next step’, says Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane says Erik ten Hag has brought confidence and discipline to a Manchester United side seeking to take the next step in their development by beating Barcelona.
The 2018 World Cup winner joined the Old Trafford giants in the summer of 2021 alongside Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo, but the campaign that followed was one to forget for all connected to the club.
United sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and floundered under caretaker boss Ralf Rangnick as they stumbled home sixth in the Premier League – a wretched situation that Ten Hag has rapidly turned around.
The former Ajax boss has improved the culture and quality at Old Trafford, meaning the club are still fighting on all four fronts as they prepare to host Barca in the Europa League knockout play-off on Thursday.
Man Utd ready to take ‘next step’, says Raphael Varane
The club are still fighting on all four fronts as they prepare to host Barcelona in the Europa League knockout play-off on Thursday
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