After finishing third in their Champions League group behind an unbeatable Bayern and resurgent Inter, Barcelona entered this match having not lost since October and have won every game they've played since January 12 this year.
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Pedri's first-half strike sealed the points in Barca's last league game against Villarreal, and the Blaugrana made two changes at the back for this match. Jordi Alba was in for Alejandro Balde at left-back, and former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen was replaced by his ex-Blues teammate Marcos Alonso, most often used as a wing-back in west London, in the heart of the defense.
BARCELONA XI (4-3-3): Marc-Ander ter Stegen; Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Marcos Alonso, Jordi Alba; Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Franck Kessie; Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Gavi.
SUBS: Inaki Pena, Arnau Tenas, Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Andreas Christensen, Sergi Roberto, Eric Garcia, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado, Pablo Torre, Angel Alarcon.
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Manchester United was pipped to the top spot of their Europa League group by Real Sociedad on goal difference, with a 1-0 home loss to the Spanish side in their opening game proving crucial. However, they're on a six-game unbeaten run of their own, winning five of these games since a league loss to Arsenal in late January.
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United was bolstered by the return of Casemiro to their midfield. The ex-Madrid lynchpin missed their two back-to-back league games with Leeds through suspension but was straight back in the XI alongside Fred for this must-win match.
MANCHESTER UNITED XI (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia; Casemiro, Fred; Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Wout Weghorst.
SUBS: Tom Heaton, Jack Butland, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot, Facundo Pellistri, Anthony Elanga, Alejandro Garnacho, Zidane Iqbal, Kobbie Mainoo.
📋 Presenting your United XI to take on Barcelona at the Nou Camp 🔥#MUFC || #UEL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 16, 2023
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ᵀʰᵉˢᵉ ᵗʷᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᶠᵃᶜᵉᵈ ᵒᶠᶠ ¹³ ᵗⁱᵐᵉˢ ⁱⁿ ᵃˡˡ ᶜᵒᵐᵖᵉᵗⁱᵗⁱᵒⁿˢ, ʷⁱᵗʰ ˢⁱˣ ʷⁱⁿˢ ᶠᵒʳ ᴮᵃʳᶜᵃ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰʳᵉᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᵛⁱˢⁱᵗᵒʳˢ. ᵀʰᵉ ᶠⁱʳˢᵗ ᵗʰʳᵉᵉ ʷᵉʳᵉ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒˡᵈ ᶜᵘᵖ ᵂⁱⁿⁿᵉʳˢ’ ᶜᵘᵖ, ʷʰⁱˡᵉ ᵉᵃᶜʰ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʳᵉᵛⁱᵒᵘˢ ¹⁰ ʷᵃˢ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵃᵐᵖⁱᵒⁿˢ ᴸᵉᵃᵍᵘᵉ.
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𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 – 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟐.
It was goalless at the break, but we saw massive chances kept out at both ends! While Barca had much more of the ball, their goalkeeper Ter Stegen was called into action most often, making two fantastic saves to keep out Rashford and Weghorst. The Blaugrana also created chances, with Lewandowski and Alba going close, and given the openness we've seen at the back from both teams, an opening goal looked set to come along sooner rather than later.
Jordi 4️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ pic.twitter.com/oncCHI1bcj
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 16, 2023
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Left-back Alba, in his 450th appearance, was charging up and down the left edge throughout that first half, and the Barcelona captain almost got on the scoresheet with a deflected effort parried wide by De Gea. He led the way for touches so far, with 50, and also completed a game-high 17 passes in the final third, as well as winning all three of his duels. He's also been busy at the back, winning possession eight times via a successful tackle and two interceptions and clearances apiece. Evergreen!
Despite being the better side so far, United took the first bleeding. GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! A Blaugrana breakthrough!!! Raphinha won a corner and fired the delivery curling towards the back post. Alonso evaded his marker to meet the ball with a deft header, which beat De Gea at his near post and bounced into the net!! Poor defending from the visitors, but Barca didn't care as they went 1-0 up from the corner!
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The savior of United, who is having the form of his life, didn't take long to respond. GOOOOAAALLL!!! An instant reply from the Red Devils!! Fred charged through the middle before playing Rashford in on the right, and the in-form England forward smashed a low shot on the angle, which flew past Ter Stegen and nestled in the bottom corner!! He's playing absolutely scintillating football at the moment, and what a way to make it 1-1!
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𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗟𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟲.
𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝟮𝟮 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁-𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆, 𝗵𝗲'𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵-𝟮𝟬 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲!
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𝚁𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚍'𝚜 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚘 𝚒𝚜 𝙰𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚘, 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚄𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚛, 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝙴𝚞𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎'𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚏𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜.
United's high press and intensity were rewarded by an own goal. Rashford won a corner, and it's taken short, allowing the previous goalscorer to drive toward the box before crossing. His teasing ball led to a scramble in the goalmouth, and the ball bounced off Kounde before hitting the net! Another goal of Rashford's making and Barca's lead was turned on its head!
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ᴿᵃᵖʰⁱⁿʰᵃ ʷᵃˢ ˢⁱᵐᵖˡʸ ᵘⁿᵖˡᵃʸᵃᵇˡᵉ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ˢᵉᶜᵒⁿᵈ ʰᵃˡᶠ, ᵈᵉˡⁱᵛᵉʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵒʳⁿᵉʳ ᶠᵒʳ ᴬˡᵒⁿˢᵒ'ˢ ᵒᵖᵉⁿᵉʳ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᵗʳʸⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱˢ ˡᵘᶜᵏ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵈⁱˢᵗᵃⁿᶜᵉ ᵗᵒ ⁿᵉˢᵗˡᵉ ʰⁱˢ ˢⁱᵈᵉ'ˢ ˢᵉᶜᵒⁿᵈ. ᵀʰᵉ ᴮʳᵃᶻⁱˡⁱᵃⁿ ʰᵃᵈ ˢⁱˣ ˢʰᵒᵗˢ ⁱⁿ ᵗᵒᵗᵃˡ, ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰⁱˢ ᵗʰʳᵉᵉ ᵒⁿ ᵗᵃʳᵍᵉᵗ ᵃᵐᵒᵘⁿᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ⁰.¹⁹ ˣᴳ. ᴴᵉ ᵃˡˢᵒ ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ ²⁰ ᶠⁱⁿᵃˡ ᵗʰⁱʳᵈ ᵖᵃˢˢᵉˢ, ⁱⁿᶜˡᵘᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵒⁿᵉ ᵏᵉʸ ᵖᵃˢˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶠⁱᵛᵉ ᶜʳᵒˢˢᵉˢ. ᵂⁱⁿⁿⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵃˡᶠ ᵒᶠ ʰⁱˢ ¹⁶ ᵈᵘᵉˡˢ, ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵒʳᵐᵉʳ ᴸᵉᵉᵈˢ ʷⁱⁿᵍᵉʳ ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ ᵗʰʳᵉᵉ ˢᵘᶜᶜᵉˢˢᶠᵘˡ ᵈʳⁱᵇᵇˡᵉˢ, ᵃˢ ʷᵉˡˡ ᵃˢ ʷⁱⁿⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᵖᵒˢˢᵉˢˢⁱᵒⁿ ᶠⁱᵛᵉ ᵗⁱᵐᵉˢ, ⁱⁿᶜˡᵘᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵛⁱᵃ ᶠᵒᵘʳ ᵗᵃᶜᵏˡᵉˢ, ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵗʷᵒ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉˢᵉ ᶜᵒᵐⁱⁿᵍ ⁱⁿ ᵁⁿⁱᵗᵉᵈ'ˢ ᵈᵉᶠᵉⁿˢⁱᵛᵉ ᵗʰⁱʳᵈ. ᶠᵒʳᶜᵉ!!
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A 2-2 draw tee us up for a mouth-watering second leg to this Europa League knockout tie in a week, with the winners of the match, Old Trafford entering the last 16 of Europe's secondary club competition. The short turnaround should see the two sides set up similarly in attack, and with no away goals, it looks set to be another firecracker of a game that will hopefully see another feast of chances, saves, and goals at both ends.
Rashford and Raphina were the heroes of their team and a massive round of applause for both goalies. Varane was also rock solid in his 50th appearance for United. Jordi Alba also made it a memorable 450th milestone with a stunning performance at the Spotify Camp Nou.
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