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Barcelona v Manchester United: Champions League quarter-final – live! Barcelona v Manchester United: Champions League quarter-final – live!
(31 minutes later)
I’ve no idea how United approach the second half. Trying to keep the score down isn’t good for business, especially if it doesn’t work out, but trying to fight back is asking for trouble. Exciting!
United gave it a brave go in the early stages and has Rashford scored not hit the bar, who knows. Ok, we all do - Barca have Messi, and in the context of this tie - in the context of most ties - that’s enough.
45+1 min Messimessimessimessimessimessimessimessimessimessimessimessimessimessimessi! He comes short and as the ball’s played into him, he feints left then turns right, diddling Jones, before megging him for the lols and zoning forward to find Jordi Alba on his outside. The ensuing cross is a beauty, low and hard for Sergi Roberto at the back post, and he slides in to shoot, but somehow De Gea, making up ground from the other side of his goal, dives to keep it out. That was glorious from all concerned.
45 +1 min There’ll be two added minutes, both of them consumed by Barcelona toying with United and ball.
45 min “United’s light rose away shirt looks like watered-down Palermo to me,” reckons Peter Oh. “Anyway, about the scoreline. Barça are sitting pretty now, ain’t they?”
The kit looks like when Tracy in Jossy’s Giants washed their white away kit with her hockey bibs.
44 min Rashford smashes into the wall. And before you ask me for predictions of equivalent soothsaying, tomorrow is Wednesday.
43 min Pogba scythes through midfield and Rakitic slides him down; free-kick United, 25 yards out, just left of the D. Rashford looks like he’s having it, so presumably will smash into the wall..
41 min Barca win a free-kick down the right 30 yards from goal, and Messi picks out Rakitic at the near post, running from out to in; no one bothers to go with him, but he can only guide a header straight at De Gea. That’s a spectacular save, by the standard.
41 min “You say Messi is better on grass,” tweets Michael Hann, “but to paraphrase a now-disgraced American athlete, has he ever smoked AstroTurf?”
I think he’s more a 3G man, man.
40 min Slightly better from United, Rashford finding space down the left after a few consecutive passes and nicking away from Rakitic to drive a low cross, but Lenglet is there to clear.
38 min United’s first attack in sometime and Pogba, who seems to lost his goals from range in the elan black-hole that is post-Fergie United, dribbles an effort straight at Ter Stegen.
37 min There’s a tie brewing in Turin! Van de Beek has equalised for Ajax, who now need to score once to force Juve to score twice!
36 min Pogba tries to force the issue, close to halfway but inside his own half, and takes a succession of hacks at Arthur. Gosh, he really showed everyone.
35 min Messi fancies a shot - he wants to put De Gea under pressure again, I shouldn’t wonder - and who’s about to argue with him? But he wafts over the bar, and United try to do something, anything.
34 min Barca are enjoying this, popping the ball about as United struggle to stop them. Fred pulls Rakitic back, then catches the back of his heel, and Barca have a free-kick about 40 yards out, dead centre.
33 min United have not had decent possession for quite sometime. While we wait for Barca to score again, what on earth is wrong with David de Gea? His kicking has gone, he’s never dominated his box less, and he’s making more errors than once. His reactions are still immense, but this has not been a good season for him.
31 min Another one to crtl c, ctrl v: Ronaldo has scored for Juventus against Ajax, putting them 2-1 up on aggregate. His record in the knockout stages of this competition is absolutely obscene - though Messi is obviously better on grass, you can make a strong case that he is better on paper.
Juventus v Ajax: Champions League quarter-final – live!
30 min It’s been bothering me, who Messi reminds me of. Not anymore.
28 min A quiet period, which is the respite United needed.
26 min Jordi Alba has started the game brilliantly, and Lindelof is struggling to handle him and Coutinho with no help. He breaks down the left again and finds Rakitic, who clips into the box; Messi is first to the ball and nicks it away in a trice before panelling a shot over the bar.
24 min Barca are playing a back three now, with Busquets between Lenglet and Pique - at least when United have the ball. Which isn’t that often, at the moment.
23 min “The most remarkable thing about Larsson’s spellat Man United,” emails Simon McMahon, is that it was IN 2007!!! Time really does speed up the older you get. Soon I’ll be eating breakfast every five minutes.”23 min “The most remarkable thing about Larsson’s spellat Man United,” emails Simon McMahon, is that it was IN 2007!!! Time really does speed up the older you get. Soon I’ll be eating breakfast every five minutes.”
This sounds like an excellent ruse, and well worth wearing a suit to go to the newsagent.This sounds like an excellent ruse, and well worth wearing a suit to go to the newsagent.
22 min “The ‘Walking’ in ‘Walking to Glory’ sounds like a schoolchild’s go at translating ‘Caminando’,” advises Charles Antaki, “but to be fair, caminar can mean to walk, but also, presumably more appropriately, moving or, better marching. Here endeth the evening class Spanish lesson, misremembered from a very long time ago.”22 min “The ‘Walking’ in ‘Walking to Glory’ sounds like a schoolchild’s go at translating ‘Caminando’,” advises Charles Antaki, “but to be fair, caminar can mean to walk, but also, presumably more appropriately, moving or, better marching. Here endeth the evening class Spanish lesson, misremembered from a very long time ago.”
Er, I think this one might just be over. McTominay and Fred do well to unload Coutinho, but the ball breaks for Messi, who eyes up Jones and quickly swerves away, as you would, before hitting a pretty tame right-footer over which De Gea somehow dives, allowing it to squirm under him and in. This could get, er, messy.Er, I think this one might just be over. McTominay and Fred do well to unload Coutinho, but the ball breaks for Messi, who eyes up Jones and quickly swerves away, as you would, before hitting a pretty tame right-footer over which De Gea somehow dives, allowing it to squirm under him and in. This could get, er, messy.
18 min United now need to score twice, as they were always going to have to. The problem is that they’ve not finished conceding.18 min United now need to score twice, as they were always going to have to. The problem is that they’ve not finished conceding.
He is so, so, so, so, so good. Deep inside his own half and close to the touchline, Young loses the ball as Messi pounces, and he tricks his way across Fred then Jones sells himself and suddenly he’s central and with a clear sight of goal. Naturally, he measures a perfect, low, curling finish into the far corner for a perfectly routine piece of association football by his ludicrous standard. He is so, so, so, so, so good. Deep inside his own half and close to the touchline, Young loses the ball as Messi pounces and he megs Fred, of course he does, then Jones sells himself and suddenly he’s central and with a clear sight of goal. Naturally, he measures a perfect, low, curling finish into the far corner for a perfectly routine piece of association football by his ludicrous standard.
15 min Alba goes down the left and swings over a fine cross; Suarez is just adjusting his position at the back post to cushion home the opener and race off celebrating, parading his magnificence in front of all his friends, when Jones pokes out a head to send the ball away. Excellent de-fence.15 min Alba goes down the left and swings over a fine cross; Suarez is just adjusting his position at the back post to cushion home the opener and race off celebrating, parading his magnificence in front of all his friends, when Jones pokes out a head to send the ball away. Excellent de-fence.
14 min United are in this game, Rashford screeching at Pique and making an angle for a shot, only to slip in the process of applying it. Ter Stegem saves easily, but United are finding space without much difficulty here.14 min United are in this game, Rashford screeching at Pique and making an angle for a shot, only to slip in the process of applying it. Ter Stegem saves easily, but United are finding space without much difficulty here.
12 min We restart with a drop-ball in the United box - I’ not sure how Rakitic has got away with that - and it goes behind for a goalkick.12 min We restart with a drop-ball in the United box - I’ not sure how Rakitic has got away with that - and it goes behind for a goalkick.
The ref goes to look at the screen, sees what happened, and reverses his decision.The ref goes to look at the screen, sees what happened, and reverses his decision.
Given for Fred’s foul on Rakitic, but that’s never one “for me”. Fred gets in front of his man, stands his ground and moves the ball away, as Rakitic vaults over him. I think we’ll see this overturned, which is funny because the ref was so pleased with himself when he awarded it, contemptuously shaking his head when the United players appealed.Given for Fred’s foul on Rakitic, but that’s never one “for me”. Fred gets in front of his man, stands his ground and moves the ball away, as Rakitic vaults over him. I think we’ll see this overturned, which is funny because the ref was so pleased with himself when he awarded it, contemptuously shaking his head when the United players appealed.
10 min In defence, United’s first line has Lingard in the middle and Rashford on the right. But the pattern of things has changed slightly, Barca pushing and United looking to break; Pogba has to clear another corner, and...10 min In defence, United’s first line has Lingard in the middle and Rashford on the right. But the pattern of things has changed slightly, Barca pushing and United looking to break; Pogba has to clear another corner, and...
8 min Alba makes his first foray forward and wins a corner off Jones. United get it away and Sergi Roberto crosses from the right, but Smalling is up to chuck a go-go gadget neck which gets rid well.8 min Alba makes his first foray forward and wins a corner off Jones. United get it away and Sergi Roberto crosses from the right, but Smalling is up to chuck a go-go gadget neck which gets rid well.
7 min “Missed all the build up,” emails Matt Dony, “just caught the first couple of minutes. Barcelona are in pink, yeah?”7 min “Missed all the build up,” emails Matt Dony, “just caught the first couple of minutes. Barcelona are in pink, yeah?”
This really is very strange. United are pushing the pace, and not only that, but playing with some quality.This really is very strange. United are pushing the pace, and not only that, but playing with some quality.
6 min Martial and Lingard link, the latter scurrying into the box after a bouncing ball, and forcing three defenders to hack about til one of them sees it away. And back come United!6 min Martial and Lingard link, the latter scurrying into the box after a bouncing ball, and forcing three defenders to hack about til one of them sees it away. And back come United!
5 min “ALDI’s interesting new beer is a hitherto unsuspected 6.8%,” says Geoff Wignall, “and I’ve been up since 5:00a.m; wanna fight? (He says from the safety of central Portugal).”5 min “ALDI’s interesting new beer is a hitherto unsuspected 6.8%,” says Geoff Wignall, “and I’ve been up since 5:00a.m; wanna fight? (He says from the safety of central Portugal).”
Hold me back, hold me back.Hold me back, hold me back.
4 min ... Young hits the first man, ctrl c, ctrl v.4 min ... Young hits the first man, ctrl c, ctrl v.
4 min This is a fine start from United, and Rashford wins a corner down the right...4 min This is a fine start from United, and Rashford wins a corner down the right...
3 min United come again, and this time McTominay breaks through the middle, but can’t quite control the pass from Lingard.3 min United come again, and this time McTominay breaks through the middle, but can’t quite control the pass from Lingard.
2 min Jones is playing centre-back, with Lindelof on the right, and here comes Coutinho down the left; Smalling dhalsims into a fine sliding tackle.
1 min Marcus Rashford hits the bar! United enjoy some nice possession, moving the ball with tempo, and Pogba flips a ball around the corner for Rashford! He’s in behind, but doesn’t have a great angle, so jabs a dink over Ter Stegen and onto the face of the bar!
1 min United are all over them!
1 min United get us away. For those watching in black and white, they’re wearing the pink shirts.
Ashley Young and Leo Messi shake hands, then hug. I can only assume Young promised a mate he’d achieve that.
Uefa gets lots wrong, but:
Ce sont les meilleures équipesEs sind die allerbesten MannschaftenThe main event
Die MeisterDie BestenLes grandes équipesThe champions
Une grande réunionEine grosse sportliche VeranstaltungThe main event
Die MeisterDie BestenLes grandes équipesThe champions
Ils sont les meilleursSie sind die BestenThese are the champions
“WALKING TO GLORY” reads a banner behind the goal, which seems like a lot of trouble to go to for what is, let’s be real, a slogan that’s mediocre at best and dying to be misread at worst.
Here they come! The noise is pretty aight.
The Barca anthem starts up and the flags start going. Things are warming up, and the players are in the tunnel, Phil Jones with a bandage around his head, presumably to stop brain seeping out.
They’ve been absolutely blasting the tunes at Camp Nou – someone had the brainwave to put on Eye of the Tiger, bound to end in disappointment when Raymond van Barneveld didn’t show. Tangentially, I saw the weirdest pre-match entertainment I’ve ever seen at Camp Nou, and this was it – feel free to send in your favourites too.
“Did Saha’s increasing injury problems not do more to disrupt his partnership with Rooney in 06/07 than on-loan Henrik?” asks Booboo76.
Those didn’t help. But if you look through January and February 2007, you’ll see Larsson starting, Saha on the bench, goals drying up and performances deteriorating.
“You could have a fight about whether Sergi Roberto is more defensive than Semedo,” emails Charles Antaki. “Roberto has more experience playing in the middle (and indeed everywhere else) for the team (and for the national team), while Semedo, though faster, seems naturally glued to the touchline. Both do crosses, to be sure, but Roberto can also come in a bit, and can score a goal or two. (Inevitably, watch as he never leaves his half, and scores an own goal).”
I could have a fight about anything. Who wants a straightener?
Rio Ferdinand says he hopes Solskjaer is lying about an open game, and trying to psyche Barca out. I’m inclined to agree, because if United try to get out in midfield, they’re getting passed around.
Ole speaks: “We can’t wait to get it started ... be disciplined, work harder than ever, ride our luck ... but we need more quality than last Wednesday ... express ourselves.”
He also reckons United have a better chance in an open game and says United can’t sit back and wait for errors - “we need to go a little bit at them”.
“We’ve picked a team we think can solve most of the problems they can set us, but we can’t afford to have five at the back.”
Didn't want Martial to start but never thought I'd get this lucky. #UCL #BARMUN #BarcaMUFC @DanielHarris pic.twitter.com/J50dfQqF7w
“Camp Nou & OT are the same size,” chides Christopher Smith, “at least per Wikipedia (which also currently has the stadium being demolished by Ole and the boys tonight, mind you).”
My favourite 80s prog-country band, by far. I guess the size of the ground make it look bigger, same way, to paraphrase John Toshack, time passes more slowly in the Bernabeu. Tangentially, I’d forgotten until yesterday that before the 99 final, Bayern successfully lobbied to have the pitch narrowed. If only they’d applied that same attention to detail to their finishing.
Rio Ferdinand reckons United can take their time in this game, and I agree. Even if they go one down, well, the likelihood is they need to score twice anyway. And they’re capable of that, but they’ll need to play a lot better than they did last week, where they just lacked the class and cohesion around the box. I’m sure they’ve been practising some set-piece moves, but they also need to improve their give and goes. or should that be gives and go, I don’t know.
OK, go on. Let’s cast our footballing Game of Thrones. I can think of about 1063 Joffreys.
Owen Hargreaves took United’s first leg defeat hard.
Henrik Larsson is on the pitch with Des Kelly, so an unpopular opinion: he was an absolutely useless signing for United. He scored only one crucial goal, and because Fergie was so smug about the situation, he disturbed the Rooney-Saha partnership and that team was never as electrifying again.
Barcelona haven’t lost a European home game in six years, and in that time they’ve never conceded more than once. In fairness, though, they’ve never come up against your Freds and your Lingards.
“Just seen the lineups,” emails my colleague Paul Doyle.” Out of interest, what’s United’s biggest ever defeat in Europe?”
I can answer that! I can answer that! The lost 5-0 to Sporting Clube in the 63-64 Cup Winners’ Cup, having won the first leg 4-1.
As it happens, I think the line-up is more or less United’s strongest in the circumstances. I might’ve played Dalot at right-back and gone with five defenders, leaving out Martial. But we’re rearranging the deckchairs, I suppose.
On BT, they’re rhapsodising Scott McTominio. Hargreaves says that he had a good game for Bayern against Madrid in the 01 semi, and that made his career; he reckons the same has just happened to McTominio.
And he’s a funny one. Last season, I concede, I saw almost nothing in him - it looked like Mourinho was trying to replace Pogba with the worst possible player to wind him up the maximum extent. But he’s played with much more dynamism and authority recently, to suggest that he can at least be a squad player. For United to be relying on him tonight, though, should shame every other midfielder at the club.
“FCB could take MUFC to the cleaners here tonight,” predicts John McEnerney. “First leg they showed their class in possession this evening they’ll show their teeth and boy what a set of gnashers they have! They’ll come bursting out of the gates and hit United early & then take them apart! 4-0 or 5.”
I’m not sure about that. I’d expect Barca to be circumspect early on because they’ve no need to force the issue and won’t want to expose their defence. Obviously they’re much better than United, but I’d expect them to ease to a 2-0.
A back-four featuring Alas Smalling and Jones, plus Ashley Young, in the year 2019 C.E. – absolutely remarkable.
“A refreshing absence of half-and-half scarves in the preamble photo, I must say,” emails Peter Oh. “I imagine that Marcus Rashford will be particularly motivated to impress. Which side, I’m not sure. In any case, it should be an entertaining game and I look forward to following it on your Mes Que Un Blog.”
A Euro away is probably the place that they’re least unacceptable. I’m not sure the game will be so entertaining, though - that doesn’t especially suit either side.
United have had a win already - Coutinho starting instead of Dembele is to their advantage. I’ve a feeling he might like a look at United’s full-backs; heyzoos, I’ve a feeling I’d like a look at United’s full-backs.
Just the one change from the first leg for Barcelona, and it’s a defensive one: Sergi Roberto is in for Nelson Semedo.
As for United, Jones comes in at right-back with Young moving left to cover the suspended Shaw; I’m a little surprised Dalot isn’t playing, because Coutinho isn’t much into running back and Jordi Alba leaves space in behind. In front of them, the midfield is the same, with McTominao set to dominate once more while, up front, Lingard and Martial are in - in theory that makes sense, because both have pace and skill, but in reality is a gamble, because both are in rotten nick - and Lukaku drops out. That is unsurprising, because when the ball goes forward, it’ll need to stick, and if a chance comes, it’ll need taking.
Barcelona (a matter of principle 4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur; Messi, Suárez y Coutinho. Subs: Cillessen, Semedo, Umtitti, Alena, Vidal, Malcolm, Dembele.
Manchester United (a theoretical 4-3-3): De Gea; Jones, Lindelöf, Smalling, Young; McTominay, Pogba, Fred; Lingard, Martial, Rashford. Subs: Romero, Dalot, Matic, Mata, Pereira, Sanchez, Lukaku.
For Manchester United fans, the last few months have been the most uplifting since Alex Ferguson retired and winter came. A low bar, admittedly, but nonetheless: where once there was José, now there is hopé. But is there really? If you think this has a happy ending, then you haven’t been paying attention. Never before has there been a season which, at this late stage, retains the capacity for such multifarious awfulness – verily, the night is dark and full of terrors. And, at the end of it, Manchester City might win a domestic treble, something Manchester United have never managed; or they might win the actual treble something Manchester United have managed; or they might win absolutely everything. Alternatively, Liverpool might win their first league in 29 years, perhaps thanks to a helping hand from United; or Liverpool might win their first league in 29 years, perhaps thanks to a helping hand from United, then add to it a sixth European Cup; or Liverpool might share every trophy with City, a sweep culminating in a European Cup final that, for United fans, will forever be known as the Battle of the Bastards. And yet, the question begs: do United even want to win tonight? A silly question, you might think, but stick with me. What happens if their reward for so doing is a pumping from Liverpool, who then go on to reclaim Ol Big Ears? Or what happens if they somehow sneak by Liverpool as well, only to be brutally murdered by quadruple-chasing City in the final, their very own red wedding. Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word.
Of course, these are all worstest case scenarios. More likely, United subside gently this evening and then hope that Ronaldo and Messi can, between them, limit the season to a straight, upstanding worst. The Nou Camp pitch is wide, and it’s hard to see how United can cover all of it, at the same time as keeping Messi, Suarez and Dembele quiet, at the same time as finding a goal or two for themselves. But, at 1-0, they’re not entirely out of things - leave one wolf alive, and the sheep are never safe. The thing is, that though Barca are good, they’re not that good - the same issues that make them unreliable insurance also render them slightly vulnerable Their defence is far from the tightest, their midfield is slow, and in Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford, United have players able to trouble any team – on a good day. Today will need to be their best day. Dracarys!
Kick-off: 8pm BST