Old Trafford rises to the occasion for Barcelona clash but David de Gea’s penalty woe goes on… and blonde bombshell Alejandro Garnacho is a natural entertainer.
Brazilian forward Antony stepped off the bench to send Manchester United through to the Europa League last-16, with the hosts coming from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 in Thursday’s play-off second leg, progressing 4-3 on aggregate.
After a frantic start, Barca were awarded an 18th-minute penalty, much to United’s frustration, after Bruno Fernandes was adjudged to have fouled defender Alejandro Balde, with Robert Lewandowski just squeezing the resulting spot kick home.
United came out for the second half looking like a different side and levelled through Fred, the Brazilian steering home Fernandes’ pass two minutes after the restart.
A superb save from goalkeeper David de Gea kept Jules Kounde at bay, a stop that proved crucial as Antony arrowed a superb finish into the bottom corner 17 minutes from time to send United through.
Sportsmail’s JOE BERNSTEIN takes a look at some of the things you may have missed at Old Trafford.
Manchester United came from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 and reach Europa League last-16
Old Trafford rises to the occasion
Old Trafford was as noisy as you’d expect between the team with Europe’s third-highest average attendance this season (Man Utd) and the highest (Barcelona).
It felt a proper European night from the moment Barcelona’s players clambered off their heavily-branded team coach 90 minutes before kick off to a chorus of boos.
United fans got in the mood by chanting the name of their former striker Robin van Persie as he worked on the game for television and the volume rose from thereon reaching a final crescendo at full-time.
Rare win for United
This was only United’s second win in their last 12 games against Barcelona in European competitions (D5, L5).
Their last victory was in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final in 2008, when Paul Scholes scored in a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
De Gea’s penalty woe goes on
It seemed inevitable Lewandowski would score his penalty past De Gea, particularly as match referee Clement Turpin was also in charge of the 2021 Europa League final when the Spaniard failed to save any of Villarreal’s 11 spot-kicks in the shoot-out, and then missed himself.
De Gea got a hand to Lewandowski’s stuttering run-up and kick but his overall record is lousy, saving just 13 of the 72 he’s faced in his career – and letting in the last six.
Lewandowski’s goal edged him ahead of Marcus Rashford in their personal duel with both men having scored 24 goals each for their clubs this season.
Fernandes was angry with Turpin at being penalised for a brush with Balde, particularly as United hadn’t been given anything when Rashford was earlier sent tumbling. Barca won’t want to comment too much on referees at the moment – they are under investigation in Spain for their relationship with former official Enriquez Negreira and allegations of paying for ‘technical advice’
Fred 3 Wout Weghorst 0
The big Dutchman, signed as a short-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, was hooked at half-time and now has one goal in 11 games for United.
On a particularly quiet night for the 30-year-old, he touched the ball just 11 times (see below).
To make him feel worse, Fred then banged in his third goal since Weghorst last found the target.
Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho got a great reception as he came on in the second-half
Garnacho is a natural entertainer
Alejandro Garnacho debuted his blonde bombshell look when he replaced Jadon Sancho midway through the second half.
The 18-year-old is a natural entertainer and got a great reception as he came on looking young enough to be Lewandowski’s grandson.
It was a good night for the bleached brigade with Antony then firing United ahead.
source: dailymail.co.uk
