Ten Hag speaks!
Jamie Jackson on Manchester United's second-half standouts
Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!
Erik ten Hag speaks to BT, who ask him if this is his biggest win so far as United boss. “Oh yes, I think so, yeah … we have had some good wins over Liverpool and Arsenal … really good wins, but this, two legs, one tie, Barcelona the leader in La Liga, eight points clear of Real Madrid and we have seen Real Madrid this week … if you beat them, it’s a big win, yeah … the first half was flat … we had big chances … but we were 1-0 down and it was unnecessary … we know if you bring Antony and Garnacho you get speed … they don’t fear anyone, especially in front of the Stretford End … we have some great personalities, and if you have setbacks, they can move on … this is a good motivation for the season … it doesn’t matter for me [who United get in the draw] as I focus on Newcastle United, it’s the only thing that counts … we will respect every opponent, but if we have strong belief, we can do it.”
David Hytner was at Old Trafford tonight, and his report is in. Here it is!
The last 16
Seeded: Union Saint-Gilloise, Arsenal, Freiburg, Ferencvaros, Feyenoord, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Fenerbahce.
Unseeded: Manchester United, Juventus, Sporting, Union Berlin, Roma, Bayer Leverkusen, Sevilla … and one of either Rennes and Shakhtar Donetsk, who are playing extra time in France right now.
Some grand old clubs in there all right. The draw will be made tomorrow. Clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other, so no chance of Arsenal v Manchester United … yet.
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Bruno Fernandes talks to BT Sport. “The belief of the team is always there … the belief of the fans pushes us through difficult moments … we have made great comebacks … it’s a great result for us, but now we have a big match on Sunday … the penalty was soft, both of us were using our hands, but I don’t want to make comments … referees are always right and I can’t do anything about that … this season we have been really good … it is something different, you can feel it … we knew the fans were behind us and it was only a matter of time before we scored our second goal.”
Well that was a game of two halves. Barcelona were the better side in the first half; Manchester United were much the better side in the second. On balance, they deserve to win tonight. On balance, they deserve to go through over the two legs. Old Trafford celebrates as you’d imagine. What a noise! The players hug and high-five each other in glee, but Erik ten Hag, a man on a quiet mission to revive a comatose giant, simply stands in the middle of the pitch, cocking his head back slightly and closing his eyes to concentrate on the bedlam. That’s a big result for United … and a huge blow for Barcelona, who aren’t out of the financial woods yet, and could have done with the extra pennies that a deep run into this competition would have generated.
FULL TIME: Manchester United 2-1 Barcelona (agg 4-3)
Manchester United qualify for the last 16 of the 2022-23 Europa League!
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90 min +4: A ball rolled down the inside-right channel for Lewandowski, who enters the box and steers the ball past De Gea from a tight angle … only for Varane to hoick off the line, and the flag to go up for offside earlier in the move anyway. United so close to knocking out their old foes now!
90 min +3: Lewandowski whistles a diagonal pass down the right to release Torres into acres. There are three Barca players queuing up to head home at the far post, but the cross is too high and skims off the top of Fati’s head.
90 min +2: On the touchline, Erik ten Tag clenches both fists and screams at his players. One last heave.
90 min +1: The first of five added minutes goes by without any drama. Old Trafford is en fete.
90 min: De Jong powers his way down the middle past three challenges. He slips the ball left for Torres, who reaches the edge of the box and would release Lewandowski into the box with a sliderule pass down the channel, only for Varane to extend a leg and hook away. What defending!
88 min: McTominay comes on for Rashford, who fails to score for the first time in six matches. Like he’ll care if the whistle goes with United in the last 16.
86 min: Now it’s Casemiro’s turn to get professional, yanking back an in-flight Lewandowski. Into the book he goes. “The contrast in the finishes of United’s two Brazilian guys — blootered and finessed — proves that there is more than one way to skin a Catalan,” zings Justin Kavanagh.
84 min: Garnacho stays down in the classic clock-management style. To be fair, he might have taken a whack in the mouth too. “Antony’s goal was really made by Luke Shaw hustling to keep the ball in play,” reports Matthew Carpenter-Arevalo, doing your MBM hack’s job for him. Yep, a lovely backheel near the corner flag that allowed Portuguese Guy to do his thing and start the move. Xavi will be cursing English Guy!
83 min: Garnacho sensationally tears away from the three Barcelona players surrounding him out on the left. His reward is to be hauled back cynically by Busquets, who goes into the book.
82 min: Rashford goes down requiring treatment. While he receives that attention, Barca swap Araujo for Alonso. Then play restarts and Rashford comes back on.
80 min: Now Rashford storms into the box down the right before slashing his shot into the side netting. United are pushing for the third goal that would surely settle this tie.
79 min: Garnacho keeps a ball in play down the left. He had no right to do it. He tears off down the left and plays the ball infield for Rashford, before receiving it back. He romps into the box and crosses for Rashford, who can’t convert with Busquets making a last-ditch nuisance of himself. So close to sealing a place in the last 16!
77 min: Barcelona string a few passes together for the first time in a while, Garnacho sticks his studs on Kounde’s ankle. A yellow card, and yet another challenge a different referee might have judged more harshly.
75 min: Barca respond by sending on Fati for Raphinha. Even amid the hubbub, you could hear the boos sent in the direction of the departing former Leeds winger.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Barcelona (Antony 73); agg 4-3
Fernandes dribbles in from the left. He cuts the ball back for Garnacho, who whips a shot straight at Christensen, who blocks. Fred has a go. De Jong blocks. The ball breaks right to Antony, who curls an unstoppable shot across Ter Stegen and into the bottom left. Old Trafford takes off!
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72 min: Lewandowski studs Casemiro just above the ankle. It’s a yellow card. That looked ugly. He’s probably only escaped red because his boot slipped off the top of the ball just before making contact with the United midfielder. Thankfully Casemiro is OK to continue.
70 min: Barca swap out Roberto with Ferran Torres, formerly of their cross-city neighbours. Pantomime boos ring out.
69 min: Lewandowski pearls a glorious crossfield pass to Balde, hugging the left touchline. Balde nearly gets the better of Dalot, but the substitute full-back holds firm admirably, given he’s just this minute come on.
67 min: Dalot replaces Wan-Bissaka at right-back, ostensibly like for like, but an attack-minded change. Meanwhile Garnacho, a freshly peroxided blond bombshell, replaces Sancho.
65 min: … the ball drops to Kessie, 25 yards out. He thrashes low and hard, straight at De Gea, who claims. This is breathless fun, just like the first leg. Thanks, everyone!
64 min: A cross in from the Barca left. Kounde goes for the header, but shoulders the ball instead, towards the top right. It’s going in, but De Gea extends fully to tip over the bar. And from the resulting corner …
63 min: Antony skitters into space down the right but can’t deliver a cross, the result of switching the ball from his right to his favoured left foot. “I’m not watching the game but Fernandes definitely meant it,” quips Stephen Carr.
62 min: Raphinha has the opportunity of sending Kessie clear into the United box down the inside-right channel, but overhits the pass. Goal kick, but that philosophical back-and-forth seems to have finally sparked Barcelona into second-half life.
60 min: The referee thinks not, and only issues Fernandes with a yellow card, presumably for his part in the resulting melee … because if it was for the ball hoofed into De Jong’s startled coupon, it’d have surely been red. Busquets also receives yellow for his contribution to the brouhaha.
59 min: Wahey! It all kicks off. Barcelona swarm Fernandes after Wan-Bissaka skittles De Jong and Fernandes bashes the ball in the stricken Barca player’s face. Deliberate or not? The debate is on!
58 min: Rashford jets down the left and reaches the byline, only to look for someone in the middle who isn’t there.
57 min: The pace of the game briefly drops, which will allow Barcelona the chance to clear their heads. They’ve been swimming since the restart. “Madrid are a better team,” replies Jeff Sax, not letting it lie.
55 min: The free kick’s half cleared to Antony, who looks for the curler into the top left. There’s not enough force behind it, and it’s an easy pluck for Ter Stegen. “That Brazilian guy’s not too Xavi!” quips Liz White. “I’ll see myself out.”
54 min: Casemiro creams an outside-of-boot pass down the left and nearly releases Sancho. Then Lewandowski needlessly bashes Martinez to the floor out on the same wing. Barcelona look rattled. Shaw to swing the free kick into the mixer.
52 min: United are well on top suddenly. Rashford causes bother down the right before entering the box and slicing a shot wide right from a promising position. Meanwhile Dodger would like to take issue with half-time correspondent Jeff Sax: “It’s not really incredible that Real walloped Liverpool and Barca are ahead. Barca were controlling United who are looking far more organised and resilient than Liverpool’s hot mess.”
51 min: Old Trafford really is bouncing now. And to think United would almost certainly have gone 0-2 down were it not for Casemiro’s absurd double block just before the half-time whistle!
49 min: Barcelona were caught cold there. And they were nearly caught cold a second time, as Varane creams a long pass down the right. Antony has the beating of Christensen and tears into the box! But as he considers the option of Rashford in the middle, Christensen nips back in to bother him. Antony’s shot-cum-cross bobbles across the face of goal and out for a goal kick. What a chance to complete a quick-fire turnaround!
GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Barcelona (Fred 47); agg 3-3
… and the game is level! Sancho, moved out to the left, rolls the ball infield for Fernandes, who shuttles it across the face of the box to Fred, just by the right-hand edge of the D. Fred swings at it. The ball hits his shin, but flush, and flies into the bottom right, Ter Stegen unable to get across. What a start to the second half for the hosts!
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46 min: United are kicking towards the Stretford End now. A reminder that away goals are no longer in operation in Uefa competition. Should the game end level, we’ll be heading towards extra time and possibly penalties.
Barcelona get the second half underway. United, who were sent out early by Ten Hag and may well have been issued some beneficial advice with feeling, have replaced Weghorst with Antony.
Half-time reading.
Half-time postbag. “I’ll be very surprised if we see Wout Weghorst on the pitch at the start of the second half. The formation is good, the idea is good, but the player’s ability isn’t up to the standard required to annoy Barcelona” – Matthew Lysaght
“Incredible to think that Barcelona are ahead of Madrid in La Liga after what Madrid did to Liverpool” – Jeff Sax
“This is the first time I’ve seen a referee wearing red socks to avoid a colour clash. When was this directive announced?” – Simon Frank
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HALF TIME: Manchester United 0-1 Barcelona (agg 2-3)
An early chance for Bruno Fernandes aside, Barcelona have been much the better team. Erik ten Hag has some thinking to do.
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45 min: United are so fortunate not to be two goals down. De Gea shanks a pass upfield straight to Roberto, who for a second is one on one with the keeper. He shoots, only for his effort to be blocked by the sliding Casemiro. The ball breaks to Kessie … and Casemiro blocks that one too! My word. Casemiro has kept United in this tie through determination alone, right on the stroke of half-time!
44 min: Nothing comes of the corner, so Casemiro played the percentages well.
43 min: De Jong curls the free kick towards the far post. Casemiro rises and heads behind for a corner. There were no Barca players near him, he could possibly have left that. But with his back to the action, he wasn’t taking any chances.
42 min: A 90-second period in which United can’t get out of their box. Barca pass and probe. United hold their shape well enough not to give up a shooting opportunity, but then Weghorst fails to control when there’s a chance to clear, then bowls over Kessie who nips in. Free kick just to the left of the D.
40 min: Raphinha one-twos in from the right with Roberto, before sending a rising shot deep into the Stretford End.
39 min: Lewandowski latches onto a loose ball in the centre circle. If he sees Raphinha on the right, he’ll surely send him clear on goal. But he doesn’t. United get away with a huge one.
37 min: Rashford dribbles down the left touchline and cuts infield, preparing to shoot. He’s unceremoniously – but fairly – crunched and dispossessed by Araujo.
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35 min: Sancho drops deep and rolls a long pass down the right in the hope of releasing Fernandes into space. De Jong comes across to intercept and mop up without fuss. But it’s not long before he over-elaborates and ships possession. United drive forward through Wan-Bissaka, who thinks about a shot but thinks twice. He rolls right for Fred, who mishits a cross that floats over Ter Stegen’s head and briefly looks like sailing into the top left. Nope. Onto the top of the net it settles.
33 min: The pace of the game drops, and it all becomes a bit scrappy. Not sure who that benefits most. United possibly, giving the hosts time to gather themselves.
31 min: United are knocking it around nicely enough in the middle of the park. But nothing’s coming off in Barca’s final third. The visitors have looked fairly comfortable of late, one comically sliced Ter Stegen clearance apart.
29 min: Lewandowski heads a long ball down into Roberto’s path. The Barca forward is stopped in his tracks by … this isn’t even news any more … Martinez. He’s everywhere right now. Without him, United might be in a spot of scoreboard-related trouble.
27 min: Barca take the resulting free kick quickly and Kessie is nearly released into the United box down the left. Simple as that. Martinez comes across to perform his door-slamming act on the other wing this time. He is some battler.
26 min: Now Martinez gets stuck into Lewandowski’s ribs on the halfway line. A foul for Barcelona, and the home fans are getting irritated at what they consider overly fussy refereeing.
24 min: Raphinha makes good down the right and threatens to break into the box. Martinez makes a challenge that says NOPE in large capital letters and clears United’s lines. Barcelona are playing with confidence.
23 min: Martinez makes his way down the inside-left channel before swinging a long diagonal pass towards Fernandes, who aims a first-time volley towards the left-hand side of the net. He doesn’t quite connect and it’s easy for Ter Stegen. “Well, that was an interesting penalty kick by the Polish guy!” quips Mike MacKenzie, because somebody had to.
21 min: As Araujo gets some attention, Fernandes gets up in the referee’s grille. Is he discussing the penalty award? The non-award of a free kick for United? Both? It’s hard to tell. But it’s what he does. Then Araujo gets up. He’s fine to continue. Play restarts.
19 min: United attempt to hit back immediately, as Shaw barrels down the middle of the park at pace. He knocks the ball past Araujo and leaps into him. He wants a free kick on the edge of the D, but the referee waves play on … before stopping play so Araujo, crumped hard in the incident, needs a spot of treatment.
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Barcelona (Lewandowski 18 pen); agg 2-3
Weghorst takes an age to depart the box. Lewandowski, despite all of his experience, looks nervous. He makes a stuttering run-up before sending the penalty high and towards the top right. De Gea does exceptionally well to get a hand on it, but can’t quite make a sensational save, the ball coming off the inside of the post and in. Barca lead!
Updated
17 min: Balde went down extremely easily, but Fernandes had hold of his arm for way too long. VAR has a good look but isn’t going to overturn it.
Penalty for Barcelona!
15 min: Raphinha dribbles purposefully down the right. He dinks a cross into the middle. Varane eyebrows away from danger. The ball floats over Balde’s head. Balde turns and chases after it, only to be hauled down by Fernandes, who had hold of his arm. The referee points to the spot.
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14 min: Rashford dribbles down the left and wins the first corner of the evening. It leads to nought, but the pendulum continues to swing back and forth at great speed.
13 min: Casemiro ships possession and Roberto nearly benefits by bursting into the box from the right. Martinez comes across to shepherd the ball out of play, and draw a foul from Roberto to boot. This is very open.
11 min: Raphinha’s delivery is no better than that of Fernandes a minute earlier.
10 min: Fernandes’ delivery gets lost in the post. But United come again, the rejuvenated Wan-Bissaka popping up on the left wing (!) and curling in a deep cross that floats out for a goal kick. Barca counter quickly, and Fred does to Balde what Kessie did to Casemiro seconds earlier. A free kick, just left of centre, 25 yards out.
9 min: Casemiro strides down the inside-right channel and draws a foul from a clumsy Kessie. If anyone knows how to press Barcelona’s buttons, it’ll be him. A free kick that gives United a chance to line up on the edge of the Barca box, awaiting Fernandes’ delivery.
7 min: It really is a fantastic atmosphere at Old Trafford. Plenty of old-fashioned roaring from all corners. The mood music is good. Whatever happens tonight, Manchester United feels like a club on an upward trajectory right now.
5 min: Rashford dribbles down the middle towards the Barca box and goes over Busquets’ leg. He wants a foul. He’s not getting one. I’ve seen a replay twice, and the first time it looked like Busquets caught him, the second like Rashford went over his foot far too easily. Who’d be a referee?
4 min: Barcelona, signally unruffled at giving up such a chance, go straight up the other end and nearly score themselves, Raphinha making good down the right and curling powerfully from 25 yards. Over the bar it flies. Signs already of the basketball rhythms that were a feature of the second half of the first leg. Lovely.
3 min: A huge early chance for United! Casemiro intercepts in the centre circle and immediately slips a pass down the inside-right channel to release Fernandes. He’s one on one with Ter Stegen! He tries to slot across the keeper, towards the bottom left-hand corner, but Ter Stegen makes himself big and sticks out a leg to block.
2 min: Both teams take turns to launch a quick probe. Then Shaw stands on Kounde’s foot causing the Barca right-back to holler loudly. He’s good to continue, but gives Shaw a frosty look as he gets up and jogs back to his position. One to keep an eye on.
Manchester United get the ball rolling. Barcelona will be kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.
The teams are out! Manchester United wear their famous red, which means Barcelona are forced into their second-choice butter-biscuit away strip. Gregg Wallace would doubtless approve. Plenty of noise pinging around the walls of Old Trafford, as you’d expect when two European giants get it on. This could be fun. In the meantime, here’s Peter Oh’s capsule preview: “Re: Xavi’s pre-match mental tiki-taka flourish of referring to Bruno Fernandes as ‘the Portuguese guy’. I reckon the visitors’ German guy between the sticks should be wary of the in-form English guy. But the Spanish guy in the home goal should not get too complacent, given the qualities of the Polish guy. Both sides boast some crafty Brazilian guys too, so pity the guys and gals watching who are trying to guess which guys will come out on top.” We’ll be off in a minute or three.
Last week was the first time Manchester United have drawn a first leg of a European tie away from home 2-2. They’ve recored a first-leg away draw on 17 other occasions in Uefa-approved competition, going on to win 12 of the 18 ties in total … but they lost the most recent, against Atletico Madrid in last season’s Champions League last 16.
Barca have been held to a draw at home in the first leg of a Uefa tie on 13 previous occasions. They’re only a smidge better than one in two going forward, having progressed in seven of those ties. They succeeded on that score twice in the Europa League last season, going through against Napoli and Galatasaray after first-leg home draws … and after their one and only first-leg home 2-2 draw, against PSV in the 1995-96 Uefa Cup quarter-finals, they advanced after a 3-2 win in Eindhoven.
In summary: both teams will surely reckon, on balance, that history is on their side. Or maybe not. The mind plays tricks sometimes.
The wonderfully no-nonsense Erik ten Hag speaks to BT Sport. “[The first leg] was a great game … toe to toe … I think today will be the same, toe to toe, and I am really looking forward … we have to bring it on the pitch and the energy will go over to the stand, a good connection, but first it’s up to us … we have so many games … from game to game there are tactical choices … Sunday is a big game but this is the first game so it is the most important game … so you pick a team but you can rotate … all of Europe is looking at this game tonight … it is like a Champions League game … we are really excited … Barcelona are normally really proactive so they play a high defensive line and give a lot of space away … normally we are really good at that, but you have to make the runs … if you see [Wout Weghorst’s] stats in all of the leagues he has played, he scores goals, so I am sure they will come … at the start of the season, Rashy didn’t score all that much, so it will come … all of a sudden he nets one and there will be more … he is making a lot of space for other players, what he is doing out of possession is magnificent … I am not thinking about [the takeover talk] at all, I am not focusing on that, it is for other people in the club … it is not up to me, I have to manage the team and make the team perform … that’s my job.”
Manchester United make one change to the starting XI named at Camp Nou. Lisandro Martinez is back from injury, so he takes up his place in the centre of the defence. Luke Shaw moves across to his usual left-back spot, replacing Tyrell Malacia, who drops to the bench.
Barcelona make four changes to their starting XI from last week’s first leg. Two are enforced – Pedri is injured and Gavi is suspended – while Marcos Alonso and Jordi Alba drop to the bench. Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets, Andreas Christensen and Alejandro Balde take their places.
The teams
Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Fred, Casemiro, Fernandes, Rashford, Sancho, Weghorst.
Subs: Heaton, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Sabitzer, Dalot, Antony, Pellistri, Elanga, McTominay, Garnacho, Mainoo.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde, De Jong, Busquets, Kessie, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Roberto.
Subs: Peña, Tenas, Fati, Torres, Alonso, Alba, García, Casado, Torre.
Referee: Clément Turpin (France).
✅ ¡Once confirmado!
— Manchester United (@ManUtd_Es) February 23, 2023
📋 Así saldremos a la cancha ante el Barcelona de Xavi Hernández.#MUFC #UEL
🚨 BARÇA XI 🚨#MUFCBarça pic.twitter.com/iPx1KmcHMA
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 23, 2023
Preamble
The first leg at Camp Nou was one of the games of the season so far. More please!
Kick off at Old Trafford is 8pm GMT. It’s on!
