Manchester United came from behind to see off Barcelona and book their place in the Europa League round of 16 at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
2022/2023 UEFA Europa League
2-1
Match Report
Robert Lewandowski's early penalty had left Erik ten Hag's team with work to do but his half-time change turned the game with second-half goals from Fred and substitute Antony enough to take United through to the round of 16 at the expense of Xavi's Barca.
It was a comeback that had not looked likely at the interval but instead made it a night to remember, a huge moment for Antony and for Ten Hag's improving team. They go into Sunday's Carabao Cup final still chasing glory in four different competitions.
How Man Utd turned the tie around
The atmosphere had been raucous before kick-off, that sense of the potential for an occasion to savour up against fellow European heavyweights. But for all the excitement, for all the noise inside Old Trafford, it was Barcelona who landed the first blow.
Bruno had the opening chance of the game, finding himself free on the right but only able to fire his shot into the feet of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in the Barcelona goal. But that was a minor failing compared to the costly error that was to follow at the other end.
Alejandro Balde was running away from goal in the corner of the penalty box when the United captain tugged at his arm. It was foolish and though David de Gea got a touch to Lewandowski's penalty he could only palm the ball into the top corner of the net.
Marcus Rashford, coming into this having scored 16 goals in 17 games since the World Cup, looked threatening and Old Trafford was abuzz whenever he had the ball. But once in front Barcelona gained a measure of control through Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong.
The 2-2 draw in the Camp Nou one week ago had ebbed and it had flowed, the strengths and weaknesses of both teams on show. But there was a contrast for 45 minutes this time. Ter Stegen appeared calm. De Gea's kick almost gifted a second goal to Barcelona.
"We have improved a lot already as a team and the next stage is to beat teams like Barcelona," Raphael Varane had said before the game. The onus was on Erik ten Hag, fresh from his midweek lunch with Sir Alex Ferguson, to find a solution to the problem.
The United boss did so with the withdrawal of the ineffective Wout Weghorst, rejigging his forward line with the introduction of Antony. The reward was instant, Fernandes squaring for Fred and the Brazilian firing beyond Ter Stegen with his weaker right foot.
De Gea still had to save superbly to deny Jules Kounde at the other end but the momentum was with United and they took the lead in the tie soon after. Good work from Luke Shaw and Fernandes in the corner eventually led to Antony's composed finish on the angle.
Old Trafford erupted in joy, the moment they had been waiting for - the team they had been waiting for. Barca boss Xavi tried to turn the tie from the bench but he could not repeat the trick of Ten Hag. The Dutchman's revival of this famous club continues.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Bruno Fernandes' shot stopped
18' Penalty Goal! Man Utd 0-1 Barcelona (Lewandowski)
35' Fred's shot over the bar
40' Raphinha's long shot over the bar
47' GOAL! Man Utd 1-1 Barcelona (Fred)
49' Antony's shot wide out
60' Yellow Card! Bruno Fernandes booked
64' Kounde's header stopped
71' Yellow Card! Lewandowski booked
73' GOAL! Man Utd 2-1 Barcelona (Antony)
77' Yellow Card! Alejandro Garnacho booked
Line-ups
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Casemiro, Varane, Fred, Shaw, Weghorst, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Sancho, Wan-Bissaka, Martinez
Subs: Heaton, Lindelof, Sabitzer, Maguire, Dalot, McTominay, Tyrell Malacia, Facundo Pellistri, Anthony Elanga, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo
Barcelona XI: Lewandowski, Busquets, Ter Stegen, Roberto, Christensen, Kessie, De Jong, Raphinha, Kounde, Ronald Araújo, Álex Baldé
Subs: Alba, Alonso, Pena, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, Arnau Tenas, Fati, Marc Casadó, Pablo Torre