Manchester United 2, Barcelona 1 (United win Europa League Playoff Round 4-3 on aggregate)
Manchester United came from behind to win another famous European tie at Old Trafford against Barcelona with goals from Fred and Antony.
Robert Lewandowski scored a first half penalty but United hit back with goals by Fred and Antony in the second half and Raphael Varane’s goal line clearance in injury time ensured the Reds went through as fans asked one-time target Frankie De Jong what the score was at full time.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 2, Barcelona 1 (United win Europa League Playoff Round 4-3 on aggregate)
David De Gea: 6. Got his left hand to Robert Lewandowski’s penalty but could not keep it out. Great save to deny Jules Kounde’s header in the second half.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 6. Popped up unexpectedly on the left wing in an attacking sense.
Raphael Varane: 7. Up to the challenge of Robert Lewandowski and calm at the back. Goal line clearance in added time make sure of victory.
Lisandro Martinez: 6. Proper battle with Sergi Roberto and Franck Kessie but gave the ball away just before half time and it could have been 2-0 to Barca if not for quick thinking by Casemiro.
Luke Shaw: 6. Surged forward early on but pinned back later as Barcelona took control. Kept the ball in and kept the move alive that ended in the winning goal.
Casemiro: 7. Ran midfield comfortably and had to cover for some bizarre errors at the back too.
Fred: 7. Landed a cross onto the roof of the net in the first half, but then struck the equaliser after 47 minutes after Frenkie De Jong switched off.
Bruno Fernandes: 6. Clean through and had a shot saved by Marc-Andre Ter Stage after initially giving it away. Gave away soft penalty before redeeming himself by setting up Fred for the equaliser. Booked for booting the ball at Frankie De Jong while he was on the ground.
Wout Weghorst: 5. Showed plenty of willing from a front running role but ineffective. Sacrificed after barren first half.
Jadon Sancho: 6. An off night but redeemed when he won the loose ball and fed the ball to Bruno Fernandes who laid on the equaliser to Fred before he went off.
Marcus Rashford: 7. Started on the left in another tweak. Was going through but was stopped by Sergio Busquets early on, and Ronald Araujo looked after him after that.
Antony (on for Wout Weghorst, 46): 7. Looked sharp after replacing Wout Weghorst at half time. Scored the winner
Diogo Dalot (on for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 67): 6. Shored up the defence.
Alejandro Garnacho (on for Jadon Sancho, 67): 6. Made his mark on the game with an eye-catching hair cut and played his part in Antony’s winner.
Scott McTominay (on for Marcus Rashford, 88): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester United 2, Barcelona 1 (United win Europa League Playoff Round 4-3 on aggregate)
Man Utd 0, Barcelona 1: 18. Robert Lewandowski hit home a penalty into the top right corner despite David De Gea getting a hand to it. Alejandro Balde was adjudged to have been hauled down by Bruno Fernandes – a harsh decision.
Man Utd 1, Barcelona 1: 47. Fred struck the equaliser after getting a square ball from Fernandes following a move started when Jadon Sancho won a loose ball in midfield.
Man Utd 2. Barcelona 1: 73. Antony struck the loose ball sweetly to put United into the lead after Luke Shaw kept the ball and in Bruno Fernandes’ cutback initially saw shots by Alejandro Garnacho and Fred blocked.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 2, Barcelona 1 (United win Europa League Playoff Round 4-3 on aggregate)
Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka (Dalot 67), Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Fred, Fernandes, Weghorst (Antony 46), Sancho (Garnacho 67), Rashford (McTominay 88)
Man Utd Subs not used: Heaton, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Sabitzer, Pellistri, Elanga, Mainoo
Bookings: Fernandes 60 (unsporting conduct); Garnacho 77 (foul on Jules Kounde); Casemiro (foul on Robert Lewandowski, 86)
Goals: Fred 47; Antony 73
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Kounde, Araujo (Alonso 82), Christensen, Balde, De Jong, Busquets, Kessie, Raphinha (Ansu Fati 75), Roberto (Ferran Torres 70), Lewandowski
Barcelona Subs not used: Sotorres, Tenas, Alba, Garcia, Casado, Torre
Bookings: Roberto 60 (unsporting conduct), Lewandowski 72 (foul on Casemiro); Busquets 84 (foul on Alejandro Garnacho)
Goal: Lewandowski pen 18
Referee: Clement Turpin
Attendance: 73,021