Ten Hag wins the touchline battle over Xavi as Manchester United oust Barcelona from Europa League
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United knocked Barcelona out of the Europa League with a frantic 2-1 win at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag’s team came from behind to book their place in the last-16 thanks to second half goals from Fred and substitute Anthony.
Robert Lewandowski’s first-half penalty had given Barcelona the lead but after losing the tie 4-3 on aggregate, the Spanish giants are left to focus on their LaLiga and the Copa del Rey campaigns.
Rapid reaction
- Ten Hag wins touchline battle against Xavi
There were fascinating duels all over the pitch — Casemiro vs. Sergio Busquets and Lisandro Martinez vs. Robert Lewandowski, among them — but United manager Erik ten Hag won his with Barcelona counterpart Xavi Hernandez and it proved decisive.
Barcelona looked in control after taking the lead but Antony’s introduction for Wout Weghorst at halftime changed the game. Antony stretched Barcelona’s defence and Bruno Fernandes, moved inside off the right, began to find more space and was involved in both United’s goals. United still needed a full length save from David De Gea to stop a Jules Kounde header and stoppage time goal line clearance from Raphael Varane from Lewandowski before being sure of a place in Friday’s draw for the last-16 but Ten Hag can be pleased that he had a similar impact.
On the type of frantic, fierce European night that United fans have been missing since reaching three Champions League finals between 2008 and 2011, the Dutchman’s new-look team showed they are not far away from bringing back these occasions in Europe top club competition. Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City have already been beaten at Old Trafford this season and against Barcelona, United recorded another statement win in a season that is promising to deliver trophies as well as hope for the future.
- Not quite Keane but Fernandes shows mettle in comeback
Bruno Fernandes looked in danger of letting the red mist take over in the first half but regained his composure to lead United’s fight back.
He was already annoyed at missing a golden early chance after being played in by Casemiro when French referee Clement Turpin gave a penalty for his tug on Alejandro Balde. It was a soft decision but Fernandes was barely in the game for the next 10 minutes as he spent it arguing with Xavi on the touchline and chasing Turpin around for another row.
He almost started a riot in the second half when he booted the ball into Frenkie de Jong but either side, it was his cool head which turned the game for United. First he fizzed a pass into Fred for the Brazilian to score the equaliser and with the tie in the balance he bulldozed Raphinha off the ball in the corner to help set up Antony.
It wasn’t quite Roy Keane against Juventus in Turin back in 1999 but it was still a captain’s performance from Fernandes on a big European night. It might not have been his most technically perfect display but it was full of the fight and grit that Ten Hag values in his players.
- Barcelona’s exit turns focus to where it matters
Barcelona ended the first half in complete control after Lewanowski had given them the lead from the spot and Xavi will no doubt be annoyed that Fred was allowed to equalise just minutes after the break. But this was a competition Barcelona didn’t want to be in anyway after dropping down from the Champions League after the group stage and from then on, making sure they get over the line in LaLiga was always going to be the priority.
Despite missing Pedri and Gavi at Old Trafford, they controlled a long spell after Lewandowski’s penalty and it was only after halftime that they began to look ragged with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford finding more space. Over the two legs, there really wasn’t much in it between two teams who are working their way back up to the top of European football.
Barcelona, still battling to balance the books off the pitch, can take a big step forward by winning their first Spanish title since 2019. Eight points clear of Real Madrid at the top (with whom they’ll also play a two-legged Copa del Rey semifinal match), they are in pole position and if they can get the job done, very few fans will care about their very brief foray into the Europa League.
