It wasn't the mauling many Manchester United fans had feared.
And while Barcelona are in pole position after a clean sheet and precious away goal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's have kept the tie alive ahead of next week's return leg in the Nou Camp.
Barca were far from their majestic best, but never needed to get out of second gear against United, who never looked like scoring and failed to produce a shot on target in a Champions League game for the first time since 2005.
Lionel Messi was quiet by his imperious standards, although it was his early delivery that led to the winning goal, yet despite a disciplined display from United, they were always second best.
United deserve credit for limiting such exalted opponents to a solitary goal but, while Ole is at the wheel, it felt for large parts of the evening, in particular going forward, that the handbrake was on.
Solskjaer's intention was clear from the outset – to contain Barca's marauding front three of Messi, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, and ensure the tie was not over by the halfway stage.
Although far from Solskjaer's strongest side, nine of the side here started United's epic 3-1 win away to Paris St Germain, which sealed their place in the last eight against all the odds.
One of the heroes of that night in Paris, Scott McTominay, was United's stand-out player here, snapping into tackles, breaking up the play and passing with composure and discipline throughout.
It was McTominay who yielded the game's first chance, when he was upended by Sergio Busquets, Marcus Rashford flashing the resulting free-kick wide of the target, which was to be a familiar theme.
Paul Pogba almost looked to have put Rashford through on goal moments later, but Marc Andre Ter Stegen anticipated the danger and was off his line to clear the ball ahead of the United forward.
Yet they proved isolated chances for the home side as, predictably, Barca began to dominate possession and dumped United on what Sir Alex Ferguson famously called their dizzying “passing carousel”.
Against that backdrop, Barca took the lead in the 12 minute through Luis Suarez, Messi the provider for the former Liverpool striker to score with a header that took a significant deflection off Luke Shaw to go in.
It was initially ruled out for offside, but that decision was soon remedied after consultation with VAR confirmed Suarez was onside, with Shaw getting the dubious honour of an own goal.
Suarez celebrated the goal with a double fist-pump towards the Stretford End, who took every chance to boo him, along with those of fellow former Anfield star Philippe Coutinho.
Chris Smalling invited ridicule when he said “bring it on” ahead of his duel with Messi, but proved true to his word, leaving Barca's star man with a cut to the nose after a robust challenge.
David De Gea blocked a goal-bound shot from Coutinho with his left foot, while Diogo Dalot inexplicably headed a Rashford cross back across goal, rather than aiming for the target.
United were in the ascendancy after the break, probing but never asking serious questions of Barca, and there was never enough conviction or swagger about the Reds in the final third.
Despite United's impressive spell after the break, Suarez should have doubled Barca's lead and effectively sealed the tie in the 64 minute, but lashed his angled shot wide.
Rashford wasted another dead-ball opportunity, sending a free-kick high over the bar with 20 minutes left, as United continued to show endeavour, but no guile or cutting edge.
Substitute Anthony Martial burst though on goal in the 83 minute, but former United defender Gerard Pique raced across to thwart him as he prepared to pull the trigger and shoot.
It summed up United's night, one on which they were ultimately thwarted by more experienced opponents and their own shortcomings.
But after United's miracle in Paris, Barca will know they can take nothing for granted in the Nou Camp next Tuesday.
youdekmoz
355
People don't realise how strong Barca actually is. They are always under rated. Man united had parked the bus completely, they didn't want to lose in half way stage as said in this article. Clearly the entire team was heavily focused on Messi and Suarez and STILL messi and Suarez were the ones who caused toe only goal. As for the rest of Barca team, incredible defending not allowing man united to take one shot on target. And Barca were barely attacking like they normally do. Now dembele will recover, messi will avenge his broken nose. And Barca will be at top gear at camp nou. If you want to win against Barca, you have to do something when they are playing away because no team in the world can really stop them at camp nou (most of the time)
Vipacdknot
155
for me solksjaer is tactically a baby. when you compare him to mourinoh van gaal pochetino klopp conte and the other great coaches. how can you replace lukaku whe rashford is shifting upfront. why don't you leave all the attackers and replace a midfielder fred by lindegard. for me solksjaer is not a big team manager. he is good only for molde. he just want to keep all his star players at any cost as if man Utd will crumble when players like rashford pogba and De gea will leave. he does not have plan b for recruiting new players. man Utd is a complete mess with solksjaer. mourinoh told everyone that mc tominay is better than pogba. now see. solksjaer plse return to molde coz you won't be able to manage the stars at man Utd.
sayantanpatra
145
That is DRAKE curse..... 😁😁😆
shariffeyyulegunshot
133
The truth is that Man it's fans be like after Barca defeat
Murugan
130
Yesterday Be like 😂😂
Ani_the_king
116
Smalling has taken classes from Ramos.."How to stop messi Without means of football"?
Murugan
109
Man.Utd Fans Heart Beat 😂😂
Spartacus_Aye419
97
Sometimes we always Blame the Coaches, and that was why Jose Mourinho was always on the receiving end of it from Manchester United fans. You see, this Solksjaer is a Football Cheat too, he Parks the Bus but his Parking Philosophy wins him matches more than Mourinho just like Van Gaal said. Now, look at how his tactics were Poor against Barcelona plus how wasteful Lukaku and Rashford were in front of Goal. Rashford was particularly awful all night, and I remembered he was the one who wanted Pay Rise from £180.000 a Week to £300.000. Everybody that was blaming Mourinho then would see now that Pogba isn't fit enough to be Manchester United player, he's just a showoff guy and likes attention.
Haly_Qu
91
Messi see Suarez and other mates in the game
Jattfanmessida
65
After Smalling shameful tackle Messi didn't played much forward because he knew that they were not playing football they were there to hurt,Thank God we minimise injuries that affect our attack..Players like Smalling polluted this beautiful game..I wonder why not he had given Red
We will revenge on you but not like you by playing beautiful football at Nou Camp,We are waiting
Divyansh26
61
Smaldini really stopped Messi but in the wrong way .....🙍..... If you can't beat them,beat them thrash philosophy from him 🙅🙅.....
eliloy
57
history never repeats itself twice. Barca made a 4-0 comeback against psg but failed 3-0 comeback against juve in the next round. We can't just say man united will win every away game. Keep calm and more is yet to come.
Chima92
47
OGS deserves better players to play 4 him. They had better give him the money to get his players this summer. the current Man Utd Squad r jst a total waste. the Squad really needs some serious trimming cos the message Ole is trying to pass down to these players r not quite being received by them. its really a shame. i still believe in OGS!