It is probably fair to say that the jury has been out on Antony since Manchester United paid €100m to take him from Ajax last summer. The most insistent criticism of the winger has been that he is too predictable. Defenders know that he wants to come in from the right and curl for the far corner with his favoured left foot. It will not be out for much longer if he gets the trick to work like this and to settle matches like these.
United had battled back from a 1-0 half-time deficit against Barcelona, the runaway La Liga leaders, Fred lashing home to cancel out Robert Lewandowski’s penalty, and a meeting that always crackles was in search of its latest goalscoring hero. United have had a few over the years, taking in Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes and Paul Scholes. Now Antony, on as a half-time substitute, added his name to the list.
