Europa League, Manchester United-Barcelona 2-1: Lewandowski, Fred and Antony

There is a Barça in La Liga and a Barça in Europe. The former is the leader and almost never concedes a goal. The second had already left the Champions League and tonight he also said goodbye to the Europa League. After drawing 2-2 at Camp Nou Manchester United won from behind 2-1 at home and earns a place in the round of 16 of the second continental competition. The first European goal in the red shirt by the Brazilian Antony was decisive, a bombing substitution by Ten Hag in the interval. Lewandowski’s advantage thanks to a generous penalty, equal to Fred, among the best together with the giant Casemiro, a former Madrid player who dominated his very personal Clásico.

FIRST ENGLISH VICTORY

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The two faces of Barça were said: just 7 goals conceded, and even 17 clean sheets in 22 days of Liga, while in Europe the Catalans have conceded goals in each of the 8 games this season, for 16 goals overall, two on average. Barça were unbeaten in 18 games since Bayern conceded 3-0 at home in October, United extend their run of matches in which they have scored at least once to 26 and secure the first win for a Premier League side this round European Championship, after 3 defeats and two draws.

THE CHOICES

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With Pedri injured and Gavi suspended, Xavi reorganized the team keeping the 4 midfielders: no Ferran Torres or Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto inside (on the left) with Kessie, De Jong and the returning Busquets, injured in the first leg. Lisandro Martinez returns to United after suspension, with Luke Shaw climbing on the left and Malacia on the bench. For the rest, the same ones who drew at the Camp Nou, but with Weghorst today as center forward while in Barcelona he had played much further back. Sancho between Bruno Fernandes and Rashford.

EVIL BRUNO FERNANDES

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Old Trafford sold out and United’s electric start led by marshal Casemiro: the former Madrid sent Bruno Fernandes in the 3′ only in front of Ter Stegen, but the former Novara shot the ball on the right shin of the German goalkeeper, eating up his best chance of the first half. And after the English domination, the Portuguese himself was unlucky in the 14th minute when the French referee Turpin deemed his light but repeated hold on Balde as a penalty.

THE USUAL ROBERT

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Lewandowski went to the spot and between jumps and hops he shot a very crooked penalty: a great right hand from De Gea who, however, sent the ball onto the post and then into the goal. For the Pole, making his debut in the Teatro dei Sogni, 25 goals for the season: Lewandowski has scored at least 25 goals for 12 years. For the rest United did little and took risks in defence, especially when De Gea gave the ball to Sergi Roberto: the usual Casemiro saved twice.

IMMEDIATELY EQUAL

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In the interval Ten Hag replaced the bad Weghorst with the Brazilian Antony, but it was a mistake in setting up Barcelona, ​​again attacked from the start with vigor and ardor by the English, who offered Fred the equalizer after 85 seconds: right from winning limit. And a moment later the immense Casemiro again launched a teammate in front of Ter Stegen: Barça’s luck that Antony slept.

ANTONY DECISIVE

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As in the first part, Barcelona slowly managed to get out of the cave into which United had forced them, and in the 64th minute Kounde forced De Gea to make a great save. Ten Hag introduced Diogo Dalot and Garnacho for Wan Bissaka and the useless Sancho, Xavi answered with Ferran Torres for Sergi Roberto and moved on to 4-3-3. The best substitution, however, is the first, that of Antony: it was the Brazilian who completed the comeback in the 73rd minute when he beat Ter Stegen with a left footed shot from the right to the far post, the third shot in the same action as the attacking Manchester United, after those by Garnacho and Fred reballed by Christensen and De Jong.

DREAMS AND NIGHTMARE

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Xavi introduced Ansu Fati and then Marcos Alonso, but Barcelona were only able to get close to De Gea in the 94th minute when, with De Gea already overtaking Varane (another highly inspired ex-Madrid player) he rejected Lewandowski’s equalizer in front of an empty net . At the Teatro dei Sogni on the evening of 16 September 1998 the splendid European career of the young footballer Xavi had begun. Almost 25 years later, Europe turns into yet another nightmare for this suddenly competitive Barcelona only at home.