EL D Europa League Play-off 1st Leg

Barcelona 2:2 Manchester United

Post-match discussion


Thu, 16 February 2023

Just watched one of the most delusional after match interviews from Mr Alonso. He reckons Barcelona "controlled" the game and they were "comfortable" during it meanwhile Man United had just two chances and scored two goals.
 
Most enjoyable match I can remember for years. Gutted to not get a win, but now having had a couple of hours reflection I don't even care if Barca beat us next week. Tonight was the first time I can remember since Fergie (and arguably for about 20 years) that we went toe-to-toe with a European giant and at the very least matched them - and on another day might have scored 4 or 5 goals. Beautiful.
Don’t get me wrong I loved tonight but Barca are steam rollering a wank league . “European giant” well yeah as long as you include us in that definition.
1 goal conceded at home all year? We could and should have had 5 or 6 this evening.
They are a million miles away from the pep years…..
We should be getting the cigars out next week but as it played out will be a brilliant game to watch!
 
Most enjoyable match I can remember for years. Gutted to not get a win, but now having had a couple of hours reflection I don't even care if Barca beat us next week. Tonight was the first time I can remember since Fergie (and arguably for about 20 years) that we went toe-to-toe with a European giant and at the very least matched them - and on another day might have scored 4 or 5 goals. Beautiful.

And they are probably 6 to 9 months ahead of us in redevelopment of the team.
 
At 2-1 I genuinely felt we could finish the tie in the first leg, there was more goals to be had.

Giving the ball away for the 2-2 was killer.

Pretty confident we beat them at Old Trafford providing we don't have more injuries.
 
So are Dembele and Busquets fit for next week?
 
What a confidence boost it would be for the lads and the club that we went to the nou camp and got the better of barca. Something we failed to do even with some of the great teams in the past.

I just hope there isn’t a slow start or lull this weekend in the prem. Usually it happens after such a big tie. ETH might have to rotate a bit.

Also the ref is a bent cnut. I’ve never seen so many poor decisions against us over the course of a season. What’s the fecking point of VAR If these cheating cnuts won’t use it?
 
So Gavi misses and maybe Pedri....

And we get Licha and Sabitzer back? I like our chances at home! WE GO!
 
So Gavi misses and maybe Pedri....

And we get Licha and Sabitzer back? I like our chances at home! WE GO!
Fred was everywhere today, I thought he had a good game, not sure if Sabitzer will just walk into the team and take his position.

was also impressed with malacia, good battle for him and shaw at left back
 
That game had more quality than all of the CL knockout games. I hope it’s an indication that these two clubs are on the way back. The Chelsea - Man City CL final was a low point. Need proper clubs at the top table of European football.
 
So excited that we went toe to toe with the best team in spain (8 pts ahead). Can't remember when that happened last time even during Sir Alex era.
 
Fred was everywhere today, I thought he had a good game, not sure if Sabitzer will just walk into the team and take his position.

was also impressed with malacia, good battle for him and shaw at left back
He did, think they both play, with Sabitzer in for Weghorst...

De Gea

Dalot Varane Martinez Shaw

Casemiro
Sabitzer Fred

Bruno Rashford Sancho​
 
Officiating was beyond a joke - they got absolutely everything and there were glaring inconsistencies throughout. You expect it against Spanish sides, no one more than against Barca but it’s still infuriating.

Really is like playing against 12 and still almost ruins a game as good as tonight for me. It’s been like that for as long as I can remember and always will be.
 
Excellent performance shame about the 2 goals but we could have spanked them, if we play with the same intensity and take our chances at Old Trafford i would expect us to go through.
This is what I'm worried about. We've made only one sub, we have a game at the weekend and our core will probably play full 90 of EPL intensity, and then again next Thursday we've got no legs and energy on the bench. Pray for Case and Fred
 
Officiating was beyond a joke - they got absolutely everything and there were glaring inconsistencies throughout. You expect it against Spanish sides, no one more than against Barca but it’s still infuriating.

Really is like playing against 12 and still almost ruins a game as good as tonight for me. It’s been like that for as long as I can remember and always will be.
This is why I despise Farca. If the argument is home advantage and home crowd influence, I expect us to get the rub of the green next week but I really don't see it.

Let's not forget we're here largely because another idiot ref gave a ridiculous penalty to another Spanish team on our home turf and to top it off carded Martinez who missed this game.

All round, I was very happy with the performance but thought we could have killed them at 1-2 to 3, even 1-4 and then we could have had our slippers on at OT.
 
This is why I despise Farca. If the argument is home advantage and home crowd influence, I expect us to get the rub of the green next week but I really don't see it.

Let's not forget we're here largely because another idiot ref gave a ridiculous penalty to another Spanish team on our home turf and to top it off carded Martinez who missed this game.

All round, I was very happy with the performance but thought we could have killed them at 1-2 to 3, even 1-4 and then we could have had our slippers on at OT.
Spanish sides get all the decisions in Europe. Knockout games are fine margins and they seem to understand that more than the English sides.

It will be the same next week, I’ve seen no end of ref shockers against Barca, Madrid, atletico last season etc. I think it’s a big reason their sides consistently get to the last 4 of the CL/EL.

It makes sense too - if you get the lions share of decisions, you hardly have to play well to win - a couple of moments in which you score and you’re almost certainly not going to get beat.
 
I fancy us to do it next week at Old Trafford. We should have come out of Barcelona with a sizeable lead in reality off the amount of chances we made tonight.

Next week we'll have licha and sabitzer back and potentially Antony with a bit of luck.
 
What a confidence boost it would be for the lads and the club that we went to the nou camp and got the better of barca. Something we failed to do even with some of the great teams in the past.

I just hope there isn’t a slow start or lull this weekend in the prem. Usually it happens after such a big tie. ETH might have to rotate a bit.

Also the ref is a bent cnut. I’ve never seen so many poor decisions against us over the course of a season. What’s the fecking point of VAR If these cheating cnuts won’t use it?

I highly suspect we will drop points this weekend. It's hard to play with this type of intensity in an away European game and come back to win the PL game. Esp with our thin squad.
 
I highly suspect we will drop points this weekend. It's hard to play with this type of intensity in an away European game and come back to win the PL game. Esp with our thin squad.

Hopefully not mate. Otherwise maybe a masterclass in ETH substitutions will be needed.

At least we have some fresh legs in sabitzer and we might get Scott back. Leicester are in good form too
 
I thought we played as a whole and I think we have a good chance of advancing to the next round.

Gavi I thought did okay for Barcelona and Pedri was quite poor and misplaced a number of passes.
 
Gavi and Pedri both out..

Anything can happen in the 2nd leg, but based on today, they were no better than us.. at home.. and we were missing some key players.

And even at full strength, we arent at the levels we should be at.. There is plenty of room for improvement.

This is the great Barca rebuild? It just puts the quality of La Liga in question.
 
Well done Manchester Utd. (I always support British teams in Europe if my team arn't playing) I think 2 away goals should see you through, even though it was a draw. I am impressed with your new manager I think he is the best one you have had in ten years.
Thanks. I agree, we’ve hit gold dust with this guy.
 


We deserved that game and we're going to smash them next week.
 
Not the best result, but very good result with Barcelona gonna lose couple more key players for the return leg.

Xavi messed up starting Alba. He's a weakness defensively in their current system, and he's not longer able to hold that left flank. Barcelona almost has no left wing in their game until the change. By then we caused enough damage, and there was not much time for Barcelona to snatch a win when they got more control of the game, more variety in their attacks.
 
The best united team for at least 10 years. Going toe-to-toe with the best midfield around. Forgot what these big matches felt like.

Strange game to pick a motm.
Casemiro imperious throughout, made the mistake for the 2nd and almost scored an OG.
Varane won many duels, but the defence was never fully settled.
Rashford scored an amazing important goal but selfishly messed up some counters near the end.
Bruno creative and not a liability, but no telling contribution.
Fred awful 1st half, maybe at fault for the goal, but an assist and nice pressing in the 2nd.
 
What a fantastic performance. But we really should have won that. Had them on the ropes when it was 2-1 and were passing it around then for fun.

ETH is amazing. With an actually number 9 we win that 4-2.
 
This is what I'm worried about. We've made only one sub, we have a game at the weekend and our core will probably play full 90 of EPL intensity, and then again next Thursday we've got no legs and energy on the bench. Pray for Case and Fred

This is exactly what ETH will do. We will field our best 11, run 10km and high intensity for 90min. Then all burn out on 27th. Newcastle can probably beat us on Extra Time.

But you know what, most fans would be happy finishing the season above Liverpool, and knocking out Barca. Who needs trophy.
 
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Best game we have played this season. Really gives hope we can get a title this year.

Hopefully we can beat them at home.

Casemiro is so bloody good damn we are lucky we got him from Real.

Fred had a really good game too.
 
Manchester United is so fun to watch. I rarely said that since SAF left.
 
Excellent match. We're a good watch again (at last). But - we have to start winning games like that. Two bad goals conceded. Some sloppy passes and fouls in dangerous areas. Though the ref was doing pretty well to resist the home crowd pressure until blatant red card miss.
 
What a fecking cracker of a match....

I had a video call immediately after the final whistle. I am quite sure my client thought I was doing coke, I was buzzing so hard! Still am right now, 5 hours later.

I love watching this United team play ten Hag ball.
 
So proud of the team! How far we have come since brentford away my god. Erik really gunning for the Quadruple lite in his first season the madman!
 
Excellent game, luck to come out with a draw...we should of won.....we gave them their second goal with just all out lazy defending. Should be a cracker next Thursday.
 

Man of the Match

Marcus Rashford image Marcus Rashford 72% of 300 votes

Runners-up

Player Ratings

6.6 Total Average Rating

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 277 ratings.

Score Predictions

55,94,84
  • Man Utd win
  • Barcelona win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 27% Barcelona 1:1 Man Utd
  • 16% Barcelona 2:1 Man Utd
  • 12% Barcelona 1:2 Man Utd
  • 12% Barcelona 2:0 Man Utd
  • 6% Barcelona 0:1 Man Utd
  • 5% Barcelona 1:0 Man Utd
  • 4% Barcelona 0:0 Man Utd
  • 4% Barcelona 2:2 Man Utd
  • 4% Barcelona 3:1 Man Utd
  • 3% Barcelona 3:0 Man Utd
  • 3% Barcelona 0:2 Man Utd
  • 1% Barcelona 1:3 Man Utd
  • 1% Barcelona 0:3 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 4:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 1:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 5:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 0:9 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 5:1 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 9:1 Man Utd
Compiled from 233 predictions.
Show more results Score Predictions League Table

Match Stats

  1. Barcelona
  2. Man Utd
Possession
61% 39%
Shots
18 18
Shots on Target
8 5
Corners
8 5
Fouls
10 12

Referee

Maurizio Mariani