Barcelona 2-2 Manchester United: Analysing how the goals were scored in Europa League thriller

Manchester United and Barcelona played out a thriller 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp on Thursday night, and lots of lessons were there to be learnt for both sides.

A large number of these lessons can be found in the four goals themselves, as at the end of the day goals are the difference between winning and losing football matches. Here, UtdDistrict will be looking at how each goal was scored and conceded by Manchester United yesterday, all the way back to the start of the sequence.

Barcelona 1-0 Manchester United

United press Barcelona high as they try to build out from the back following a goal kick. Ter Stegen excellently clips it out wide to Alba on his weaker left foot. Alba carries through Bruno Fernandes’ pressure and switches to Raphinha.

Here, first and foremost, we see the impact that a ball-playing goalkeeper makes in a possession-based footballing team, and it highlights just how much United need one.

Then once Alba carries through Fernandes’ pressure, he is able to switch the ball over to Raphinha. The switch from one side to another was something Barcelona toyed United around with all night, and United didn’t help themselves by not defending it properly.

Going slightly deeper. Tyrell Malacia’s defensive behaviour when Raphinha receives makes it easy for the winger to drive at United and create danger.

Malacia immediately backs off him which gives Raphinha time to bring the ball down and space to drive into where in this situation he should be suffocating him for space and delaying the attack as much as he can. Casemiro comes across and cuts off the pass inside, leading to a corner.

From the corner, Fred was blamed for his marking. But if we look closely it is actually Malacia who is marking Alonso (#17) initially. Alonso escapes him with a clever double movement, and Fred is forced to switch to him. The header is cheaply allowed in by David de Gea at his near post.

Jadon Sancho should have scored at the other end initially. But for this goal, Barcelona easily bypass United’s press with good play from MATS and Alba then switch to Raphinha in acres of space, who wins a corner. United didn’t guard the switch enough last night and it was costly here. From the corner, United mark poorly and are punished for it – something that occurs too often.

Barcelona 1-1 Manchester United

Barcelona again look to play out from the back after winning a goal kick, and the ball goes wide to Jordi Alba. Alba looks to play inside to Lewandowski, but Varane intercepts with his chest having read the play excellently. Casemiro takes it down and wrong-foots Frenkie de Jong with his pass to Fred, completely eliminating Barcelona’s midfield line.

Fred receives the pass, quickly turns and slips through Rashford with a pass between the centre-halves that rolls right in front of the forward – the sign of a good pass. Rashford keeps onside before finishing from an incredibly difficult angle. Shaw gives Fred some nice recognition after the goal as players celebrate.

For this goal after winning the ball from Alba’s off pass, United play through Barca in just three passes, and Rashford finishes excellently. The quick response of the team was good to see.

Barcelona 1-2 Manchester United

Again this goal stems from a turnover, something United did well forcing in the second half. Sancho presses Kounde aggressively who passes to De Jong. Fred presses him from behind and wins the ball which Sancho picks up before spreading to Rashford on the right. His low cross is blocked behind for a corner.

From the corner, Shaw plays short to Rashford and Raphinha expects Rashford to return this pass, hence his body shape. Rashford’s sudden burst the other way catches him completely off guard and leaves him behind. Fernandes cleverly flicks on the low ball as United flood the six-yard box and Kounde chests into his own net.

Again for this goal, United win the ball back – this time through some good pressing from Sancho & Fred – and look to transition quickly. Rashford’s confidence to take on Raphinha in that situation highlights the level he’s at right now, and Bruno’s flick is smart whilst United have bodies in the box. From the overhead angle, we can see that Varane had escaped his marker and was coming around the back too.

Barcelona 2-2 Manchester United

Going all the way back here, De Gea goes long with his goal kick and United win a couple of second balls with Varane and Fred before it falls to Marcus Rashford. Rashford drives with the ball out wide but has no support around him – Wan Bissaka should be giving this to him. Fernandes had made a run but it was not one that could be found.

By the time AWB makes himself available to Rashford, De Jong is challenging him and wins the ball. Barca take the ball before winning a throw-in. After combining with De Jong on this, Balde kicks long and Varane picks it up before passing back to De Gea.

United look to build but Casemiro cheaply loses it trying to play around the corner. Kounde picks it up and plays to Raphinha, who is given space. He whips it in and De Gea anticipates a touch from Lewandowski so is rooted.

There are multiple issues with this goal. First the total lack of support for Rashford on the right, and then the poor build-up. Casemiro makes an error and is rightly criticised, but crucially Ten Hag points out the poor shape of the team too.

It would have been best for Casemiro to just return it to Shaw, but someone should be occupying the space he plays into and that would have saved United here. When Raphinha receives, either Malacia or Sancho (ideally the former) should pressure him, and De Gea reacts poorly, allowing the ball to easily go in.

Ten Hag on Barcelona's second goal: "I think he [Casemiro] could've done better, but I say that it's a team – the formation is no good and that's why the mistake came."

— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) February 16, 2023