Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro (L) fights for the ball with Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Gavi during the UEFA Europa League round‑of‑32 first‑leg match at the Camp Nou on 16 February 2023. (Photo by Pau Barrena/AFP)
Barcelona’s late equaliser secured a 2‑2 draw against Manchester United on Thursday, marking the return of the Europa League as United travelled to face the Catalans. It was the first leg of the play‑off round clash between two of the competition’s favourites. Marcos Alonso gave Barcelona the lead with a header, but Marcus Rashford’s superb strike levelled for the visitors and forced a Jules Koundé own‑goal that put United ahead. Raphinha’s cross later pulled Barcelona level, and the hosts almost won when Andreas Christensen hit the post late on, while they also appealed for a penalty after Fred appeared to handle in the box.
Xavi Hernández and Erik ten Hag’s sides are among the most in‑form teams in Europe, delivering a remarkable spectacle. Having met in Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011, this Europa League duel offered an enthralling test of each team’s recent improvements. Xavi surprisingly dropped Christensen and Alejandro Balde for Alonso and Jordi Alba, starting Ronald Araujo at right back. United deployed an in‑form Rashford up front, with Wout Weghorst playing in a withdrawn role as an atypical No 10. The visitors were without several key players, including Christian Eriksen, Antony and the suspended Lisandro Martínez, while Barcelona missed the injured duo Ousmane Dembélé and Sergio Busquets.
David de Gea parried a Robert Lewandowski drive early on as Barcelona started stronger, with Alonso curling over a free‑kick and Pedri volleying off‑target. The Red Devils soon improved, with Frenkie de Jong deflecting a Jadon Sancho effort narrowly wide of his own goal. Barcelona goalkeeper Marc‑Andre Ter Stegen, in sparkling form this season, made a superb save from Weghorst when the latter was through on goal and then denied Rashford. At the other end, De Gea saved from Alba as he burst into the area, before Barcelona lost midfield maestro Pedri to a thigh injury before the break.
Raphinha lashed a spectacular effort inches wide before setting up Alonso from a corner; the Spaniard headed Barcelona in front after 50 minutes, escaping Fred’s challenge at the far post and raising a finger to the sky in tribute to his father, a former Barcelona player who had died the previous week. Rashford pulled United level two minutes later with a sharp near‑post finish past Ter Stegen after breezing past Alonso. United then took the lead before the hour mark when Rashford drove into the box, his cross was flicked on, and Koundé inadvertently shouldered the ball into his own net.
Barcelona battled back as Raphinha, playing well in Dembele’s absence, curled a vicious cross that flew past Lewandowski and into the far corner to level. Christensen hit the post, and De Gea made a fine save to foil Ansu Fati late on as Barcelona took control in the final stages but could not find a winner. Xavi warned in his press conference that the game would not be won or lost in the first leg, and the tie is perfectly poised for the second leg at Old Trafford next week. (AFP)
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