Manchester United drew 2-2 against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou, ‘the away team’s hell’.
Manchester United faced FC Barcelona in the first leg of the 2022-2023 European Football Federation (UEFA) Europa League round of 16 playoff held at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain on the 17th at 2:45 am (hereinafter referred to as Korean time) and drew 2-2. .
With this, the two teams will decide the winner in the second leg held at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on the 24th.
The visiting team, Manchester United, took out a 4-1-4-1 formation. Marcus Rashford was in the front line, and Jadon Sancho, Fred, Bout Behorst, and Bruno Fernandez stood in the second line of attack. Casemiro filled the midfield and Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw, Rafael Baran and Aaron Wan-Bissaka formed the back four. The goalkeeper’s gloves were worn by David de Gea.
The home team, Barcelona, brought out a 4-3-3 formation. Pablo Garvey, Roberto Lewandowski, and Rafinha were aiming to score, while Frank Kesier, Frankie the Yong, and Pedri formed the midfield. Jordi Alba, Marcos Alonso, Jules Kunde, and Ronald Araujo made up the back four. Mark-Andre ter Stegen in goal.
In the ninth minute of the first half, Barcelona took the first chance. Grabbing the ball and heading into the box, Lewandowski fired a quick Timmy shot. But De Gea knocked it out.
Man United also responded. In the 27th minute of the first half, Wan-Bissaka broke through the right flank and fired a low cross. Sancho connected with a shot, but it hit the defense and slightly missed the goal.
Soon after, in the 28th minute, United again aimed for a goal. Behorst, who received a pass from Bruno at once, fired a shot straight away, but Ter Stegen blocked it.
Man Utd created a menacing scene again. Rashford, who penetrated into the box in the 34th minute of the first half, shot towards the corner of the goal even in a difficult position, but Ter Stegen knocked it back.
Barcelona also had a chance. In the 37th minute of the first half, Alba intercepted a pass mistake by the Manchester United defense and fired a left-footed shot from inside the box. De Gea blocks.
In the 41st minute, a variable occurred in Barcelona. Pedri, who had a frown on his face, sent a replacement sign to the Barcelona bench after a back pass, and Sergi Roberto was put in instead. Fedry complained of pain in his thigh.
Two minutes of extra time were given in the second half, but both teams remained balanced and the first half ended 0-0.
Man United missed a great chance. In the 4th minute of the second half, Araujo missed the ball due to poor judgment in the box and the ball flowed to Sancho. Sancho connected with a shot straight away, but it missed the goal.
Barcelona scored the first goal. In the 안전놀이터5th minute of the second half, Barcelona received a corner kick from the right flank, and Rafinha stepped up as the kicker. Rafinha’s corner kick was directed at Alonso, who cut United’s net with a powerful header.
Man Utd struck the balance. Rashford, who caught the ball through Casemiro and Fred in the 7th minute of the second half, used his explosive speed to quickly dig into Barcelona’s box and shoot straight to score.
Man United turned the game around. Rashford, who took over a short corner kick in the 14th minute of the second half, entered the box and fired a cross, and Bruno slightly turned the ball. The ball hit Kunde’s body and headed into the goal. It was recorded as Kunde’s own goal.
Barcelona, in a hurry, used a replacement card. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Ansu Fati, Andreas Christensen and Alejandro Balde replaced Alonso, Alba and Keshi.
Barcelona tied the game 2-2 again. In the 31st minute of the second half, Rafinha raised a cross from the right flank. The ball left Rafinha’s feet and passed Lewandowski and was sucked into the goal.
4 minutes of extra time were given in the second half. Both teams continued to threaten each other’s goal until the end of the match. Party’s shot was deflected and Araujo’s shot was blocked by Malacia. In the end, the game ended in a 2-2 draw with no goals scored.