Manchester United 2-1 Barcelona: Fred and Antony fire Erik Ten Hag’s side into Europa League last 16

Antony scored his sixth goal for Manchester United to send his side through to the last 16 of the Europa League after a 2-1 victory against Barcelona (4-3 on aggregate) at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes had an early chance in the opening minutes after a pinpoint ball from Casemiro evaded Barcelona’s defence. The Portuguese midfielder got a shot off, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen managed to make himself big, and save it with his right leg.

In the 18th minute, Robert Lewandowski scored his first Europa League goal of the season after Fernandes pulled back Alejandro Balde’s arm in the box, conceding a penalty. David De Gea got a hand on Lewandowski’s shot from the spot, but the ball hit the post before going in.

It was an instant response from United after the break, with Fred scoring the equaliser in the 47th minute, after Fernandes’ pass was straight into the path of the Brazilian, who took a nice touch before the ball hit his shin and sped past Ter Stegen into the bottom corner.

Antony, who came on for Wout Weghorst at half-time, scored United’s winner in the 73rd minute. Luke Shaw managed to keep the ball in play with a backheel to Fernandes who brushed aside Raphinha to set up Alejandro Garnacho. The youngster’s shot was blocked, as was Fred’s follow-up, before it rolled out to Antony. He managed to curl an effort around Ter Stegen and into the left corner.

Up next, Manchester United will take on Newcastle in the EFL Cup final at Wembley, while Barcelona will turn their focus to La Liga, taking on Almeria.

TALKING POINT: TEN HAG’S SUBSTITUTIONS GET THE JOB DONE

Barcelona looked comfortable and confident in the first half, especially after Lewandowski’s goal, but Ten Hag managed to recognise what was holding his team back, and swiftly made changes. Weghorst wasn’t offering much up top, so it was an easy decision to take him off for Antony. The change meant that Rashford could play as a No. 9, and overall United were much more fluid in attack in the second half.

Xavi, on the other hand, failed to make proactive changes which were obviously needed as soon as Fred scored the equaliser. Waiting until the 70th minute to bring on your first sub in Ferran Torres, who hadn’t scored or assisted for Barcelona since November 1, was underwhelming to say the least, and the in-game management was what lost Barcelona the tie. With Pedri and Gavi not available, the Catalan club seemed to have no Plan B other than sticking with aging players like Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto, which has seemingly become a pattern every season when they crash out of Europe.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: FRED

It certainly was a team effort from United, with Casemiro, Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez all in consideration for player of the match. But Fred certainly deserves an extra mention due to his fine goal, as well as his dedication and commitment in midfield. With five tackles, one interception, two clearances, and two key passes, the Brazilian put it all on the line to help his team advance to the next round.

PLAYER RATINGS

MANCHESTER UNITED: David de Gea 6, Luke Shaw 6, Lisandro Martinez 7, Raphael Varane 7, Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6, Fred 8, Casemiro 8, Jadon Sancho 6, Wout Weghorst 5, Bruno Fernandes 6, Marcus Rashford 6.

SUBS: Antony 7, Alejandro Garnacho 7. Diego Dalot 6, Scott McTominay N/A

BARCELONA: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 7, Alejandro Balde 6, Andreas Christensen 6, Ronald Araujo 6, Jules Kounde 5, Franck Kessie 6, Sergio Busquets 6, Frenkie de Jong 7, Sergi Roberto 6, Robert Lewandowski 6, Raphinha 6.

SUBS: Ferran Torres 6, Ansu Fati 6, Marcos Alonso 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

2′ – BIG CHANCE AND BIG SAVE: Lovely ball from Casemiro into Fernandes who is in with a brilliantly timed run, but Ter Stegen comes up with a big save with his right leg.

15′ – PENALTY FOR BARCELONA! FERNANDES BRINGS BALDE DOWN RIGHT IN THE CORNER OF THE BOX AND THE REF POINTS TO THE SPOT! Silence in OT at the decision. The United players are arguing but there is no clear and obvious error for VAR to overturn. Fernandes does grab the player’s arm, and pulls it. Lewandowski to take.

18′ – GOAL! MAN UNITED 0-1 BARCELONA (AGG. 2-3): LEWANDOWSKI HAS SCORED! DE GEA NEARLY SAVES IT, BUT THE SHOT IS TOO POWERFUL AND IT GOES IN. The Spaniard gets a hand on it, but the ball goes off the inside of the post.

45′ – HUGE MISTAKE BY DE GEA: UNITED GET AWAY WITH A HUGE ONE! He basically passes the ball out to Roberto who is in the box. The Barca player evades Martinez and shoots, but Casemiro basically falls to the ground to block shots from both him and then Kessie’s follow up. How crucial might those blocks be if United go on and win this?

47′ – GOAL! MAN UNITED 1-1 BARCELONA (AGG. 3-3): INSTANT RESPONSE FROM UNITED AS FRED PULLS THEM LEVEL! Some sloppy passing from Barca, and United win the ball back in the final third. It lands to Fred who takes a shot straight into the bottom right corner after a great first touch.

73′ – GOAL! MAN UNITED 2-1 BARCELONA (AGG. 4-3): UNITED HAVE COMPLETED THE COMEBACK! Fernandes gets the ball to Garnacho whose shot is blocked. Fred tries his luck and gets the same result, and the ball lands to Antony who aims right for the bottom corner at the far post, leaving no chance for Ter Stegen.

KEY STATS

• Manchester United have had 19 goals scored by substitutes in all competitions this season, the most of any big five European league side in 2022/23.
• This was the first time Barcelona have lost a game (in any competition) in which they led at half time since April 2021, having gone unbeaten in 37 successive matches in which they had led at the break.