Manchester United come from behind to stun Barcelona in another Europa League thriller
Manchester United came from a goal down at a fired-up Old Trafford to beat Barcelona 2-1 (4-3 on aggregate) to progress to the last 16 of the Europa League.
The tie was finely poised going into the second leg after last week’s 2-2 draw at Camp Nou but the visitors took the lead from the penalty spot inside the first 20 minutes.
United had been cagey in the first half but, inspired by some electric substitutions, netted twice in a pulsating second-half display to claim a massive victory over the Spanish league leaders and progress to the next round.
Erik ten Hag’s side made a bright start to the contest and had a great opportunity to take the lead when Bruno Fernandes was played in one-v-one by Casemiro, but he delayed his shot a tad too long, narrowing the angle, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved well with his feet.
Fernandes was then involved at the other end of the pitch, grabbing Alejandro Balde’s arm just inside the box; it looked soft, but the referee pointed to the spot and Robert Lewandowski put away the penalty despite David de Gea getting fingertips to the ball and pushing it onto the post.
United had played with swagger and verve at Camp Nou but were a little flatter on home soil, with a poor kick from De Gea very nearly gifting Barca a second goal shortly before half-time.
Ten Hag changed things up at the break, bringing on summer signing Antony in place of Wout Weghorst; the giant Dutchman had again played in his disruptive, number 10 role but his departure saw Fernandes move into the centre.
That switch paid immediate dividends, with the Portuguese playmaker collecting the ball in a pocket of space on the edge of the box and feeding Fred, who took a great first touch and then fired the ball past Ter Stegen at his near post.
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