We learnt three things as Manchester United secured a 2-2 draw against FC Barcelona in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League playoff round. The hosts took the lead with a header from Marcos Alonso, but Marcus Rashford scored a powerful equaliser for the Red Devils. Jules Kounde then scored an own goal, giving United the lead, but Raphinha was able to level the score.
Former Leeds United winger Raphinha was a menace, while Kounde endured a night to forget as the Catalans had to settle for a draw at Camp Nou on Thursday. United manager Erik ten Hag believed that Kounde committed a clear red card offence, which the referee, Maurizio Mariani, failed to spot. The Dutch manager suggested that the Barcelona “pressure” may have affected Mariani’s performance.
1. Barca Short of Players in Midfield
Pedri had to be substituted in the first half of the match due to a hamstring injury, and reports suggest that he will be out of action for the next month. Gavi will not be able to participate in the second leg at Old Trafford due to a yellow card he received for a foul on Fred, resulting in a 1-match suspension.
Barcelona confirm Pedri has suffered a hamstring injury and is out for their Europa League second leg against Manchester United.
They'll also be without Gavi at Old Trafford due to yellow card suspension 😕 pic.twitter.com/l08D2rutRG
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 17, 2023
Barcelona may also be without the services of Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembele for the Europa League second leg against Manchester United next week, which could be a significant challenge for the team. While Busquets may recover in time for the game at Old Trafford, the Spanish manager will have to address some selection concerns if the Blaugrana hope to advance.
2. Rashford And Casemiro Are Unstoppable
Before the match, Erik ten Hag and Xavi spoke highly of Rashford, and he proved them right by scoring a superb goal for the visitors. The English forward also played a crucial role in United’s second goal, expertly dribbling towards the byline before sending a missile cross along the six-yard box. Jules Kounde was unable to handle the weight on the ball, inadvertently chesting the ball into his own goal, giving United the lead.
The Nou Camp crowd booed at the mention of former Real Madrid stars Casemiro and Raphael Varane, highlighting the well-known rivalry between the two Spanish giants.
Casemiro had an opportunity to score in the first-half when he headed a Bruno Fernandes free-kick towards the goal. Despite getting a yellow card and coming close to scoring an own goal, Casemiro’s experience was valuable for United, who were missing several key players.
3. Ten Hag Seems To Be Making Changes To His Usual Formation
During the match, United’s starting lineup initially appeared to have a conventional front-line, but that was not the case. They experimented with a new strategy trialed during their weekend victory over Leeds. Wout Weghorst was positioned in a withdrawn role behind Marcus Rashford, who played as a central striker, while Jadon Sancho played on the left flank.
This tactical decision almost paid off, as Weghorst managed to break free from his deeper position, but eventually failed to beat Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. Sancho also had a chance to score, but his shot missed the target. It is worth considering if the match outcome could have been different had Rashford taken the shot himself instead of laying it off for Sancho.
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Barcelona conceded twice and could have allowed more, with the Manchester United manager boldly stating after the match that his team should have scored four. While the Blaugrana defence has been excellent in La Liga this season, they have not been as impressive in Europe, conceding 14 goals in just seven games, compared to half that number in 21 league matches.
Despite this, Barcelona almost secured a late victory against Manchester United when Casemiro’s attempted clearance struck his own post. Ten Hag acknowledged that the Red Devils displayed a good performance against the La Liga leaders, but he also admitted that his side missed the opportunity to take a lead into the second leg. The second leg will take place on the upcoming Thursday.
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