Manchester United 0-1 Barcelona
La Liga top dogs Barcelona will take a one-goal lead back to the Camp Nou after a narrow win over Manchester United
Barca scored an early goal when Luke Shaw diverted a Luis Suarez header into his own net. The Catalans rarely looked like adding a second, but they still ran out fairly comfortable winners of this Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The Blaugrana are among the hottest SBOBET tips to win the tournament, and while this game won’t be high up in the Champions League 2019 highlights package, they did the job. That should make head coach Ernesto Valverde a happy man tonight.
Highlights of the game
Barcelona took control of the ball from the off, pinning their hosts back for the opening five minutes but without any great early threat. In fact, the Red Devils had the first shot of the game, with Marcus Rashford firing wide from about 25 yards.
But the visitors continued to dominate and it was no real surprise when they went ahead on 12 minutes, with some help from VAR.
Lionel Messi got in behind the United defence and chipped the ball over to Suarez. The Uruguayan then headed it back across the goal and into the net — with the help of an unlucky deflection from Luke Shaw. The flag went up for offside but Suarez was on; VAR did its job.
Messi was the Red Devils’ chief tormentor back in the 2011 Champions League final as Barca put on a master class to lift the trophy with a 3-1 victory. And the hosts would have hoped to keep him quiet a little longer! Luke Shaw got a yellow card for stopping a driving run by Messi which means the full-back is out for the second leg.
The hosts began to get into the game and make things a little less comfortable for their visitors; Messi even copped a bloody nose after a collision with Chris Smalling. But Barca threatened again when Suarez collected the ball and laid it back to Philippe Coutinho, who forced David De Gea to save with his legs.
Former Manchester United defender Gerard Pique warned his team-mates to kill off the Red Devils if they got the chance. But the hosts had grown into the half and despite the Catalans’ possession, they threatened little apart from the goal.
Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets was lucky to stay in the pitch early in the second half. Already booked, he deliberately handled just outside the box, but the referee missed it.
The Red Devils made a good start to the second period. Rashford had another chance, this time volleying over when he met a ter Stegen punch.
Suarez came close after taking a pass from Nelson Semedo but shot into the side netting. Ernesto Valverde, concerned by his teams’ lack of bite, brought on Arturo Vidal and Sergi Roberto to replace Arthur and Coutinho. Vidal certainly brought the bit as he earned a yellow card after leaving his mark on Fred.
De Gea made another save with his legs, this time denying Jordi Alba. And as the game moved into the last ten minutes, Barca began to control the ball again. Messi had a great chance with a free-kick after Paul Pogba had upended Semedo, but he scuffed his shot and enabled De Gea to save.
Key Statistics
A run of three defeats in four games for the Red Devils shaped our pre-match
Manchester United vs Barcelona betting tips and we were right, but the hosts played with plenty of passion.
The Red Devils didn’t play badly by any means, but they failed to register a single shot on target. And with 67 per cent possession and over 90 per cent passing accuracy, Barcelona had control of the ball for long periods.
Valverde’s team is now unbeaten in 17 games, a good indication of the task facing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team in the second leg.
What’s next?
It’s back to Premier League matters for the Red Devils at the weekend when they host West Ham United on Saturday evening. Manuel Pellegrini’s Hammers have been inconsistent of late, losing three and winning two of the last five.
This is a big chance for OGS’s team to continue its push for Champions League football next season.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s huge win against Atletico Madrid last week put the Catalans well in control of La Liga, 11 points ahead. They now have a trip to SD Huesca, who are bottom, six points from safety, and without a win in five.
Valverde can rest some players to prepare for the quarter-final second leg, which is not good news for the Red Devils.
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