Marcus Rashford scored one goal and set up the other as Barcelona drew 2-2 against Man United played to a two all draw against Barcelona in an exciting Europa League play-off first leg played at the Spotify Camp Nou.
The game kicked off on a slow note but the tempo gradually became tense. It was Robert Lewandowski who got the first chance but his effort didn’t trouble David De Gea in goal. Soon Pedri fired wide from a close range in the 16th minute.
Man United created some chances and in the 27th minute, Wout Weghorst missed a clear chance on goal when Ter Stegen denied him from close range. Rashford almost got the opener but his side-footed effort was thwarted out for a fruitless corner kick in the 33rd minute.
Barcelona nearly broke the deadlock when Wan Bissaka’s mistake led to the short that De Gea perfectly blocked to keep the scoreline goalless at halftime.
After the interval, both teams returned with enthusiasm as the hosts almost grabbed the opener but Rafinha’s left-footed drive missed the target narrowly by inches.
Jadon Sancho missed from close range- a would be opener- when he fired wide following a cross from the right in the 48th minute.
Goals rain
The hosts broke the deadlock from a corner kick when Marcos Alonso headed home to beat De Gea on the near post in the 49th minutes.
The Catalan side’s joy was short lived though when Rashford was put through by Fred to finish off the move with a tremendous shot that beat Stegen to his near post for the equaliser in 51st minute.
The Man United academy product almost immediately scored another goal but was denied by the Germany custodian.
Both sides threw the game open as Clear opportunities were created alternatingly on counter attacks.
From a corner kick, Rashford exchanged with Luke Shaw before delivering a low cross that was turned into the net by a Barcelona defender Jules Kounde in the mix-up to give the visitors the lead in 58th minute.
Xavi Hernandez made tactical substitutions when he brought in Ansu Fati who accelerated the intensity of attacking play and soon, Rafinha grabbed the equaliser from a teasing effort that beat flat footed De Gea in goal inside the 80th minute
Rashford had the chance to restore United’s lead but erratic shooting let him down on two occasions.
Then Ansu Fati who almost also grabbed the winner in the dying minutes but De Gea rose to the occasion to deny the exciting attacker as Barcelona drew 2-2 against Man United
The two sides will meet again in the second leg that will be played at Old Trafford next week.
