Manchester United 0 – 1 FC Barcelona: Luke Shaw own goal hands Barca Champions League advantage

United need another Nou Camp Miracle

By Utkarsh Gulati | 10th April, 2019

The United left-back gave Barca a deserved lead on 12 minutes when he deflected Luis Suarez's header into his own net, with the goal confirmed following a VAR review.

United responded well by dominating the ball and threatening Barca in front of the goal, but their chances went in vain for they failed to register a single shot on target in the Champions League for the first time since 2005. Having overcome a two-goal deficit to knock out Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 United need to another moment of inspiration to progress to the semi-finals when they travel to the Nou Camp on April 16.

Luis Suarez heading the ball into the net.

Barcelona were playing on the front foot and took the lead when Lionel Messi collected Sergio Busquet’s ball over the top and delivered a cheeky cross to the back post for Luis Suarez who pounced to meet the ball with his head and got it past De Gea with the help of a deflection from Shaw. The goal was questionably ruled out for offside but the relief inside Old Trafford was short-lived as VAR found no infringement and the goal was allowed to stand. 

United responded well to the goal, Chris Smalling’s robust but fair challenge that left Messi with a bloody nose typifying their willingness to put the squeeze on the visitors and disrupt their rhythm. The hosts restricted Barca from building momentum by pressing higher up the, and had their claims for a penalty rightly rejected by the referee when Scott McTominay went to ground under a challenge from Gerard Pique on the half hour mark.

De Gea came to the rescue of his team by making a fine save with his feet to deny Philippe Coutinho making it 2-0 on 36 minutes after the Brazilian was released in behind by Suarez.

None of Ashley Young's nine crosses from open play were successful and, from 16 attempts by the entire United team, only one found a red shirt - Marcus Rashford's cross for Diogo Dalot

Diogo Dalot should have got United back in the game four minutes before half-time when Rashford’s cross from right flank found him unmarked, but the Portuguese international was caught in two minds and sent his header across the face of the exposed Barca goal.

United lacked the clinical edge in front of goal and Rashford sliced horribly wide after goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen's punched clearance landed at the striker's feet within six minutes of the restart.

FC Barcelona celebrate 1-0 victory at full-time.

United had another chance to equalize six minutes after the restart but the lack of ambition and clinical edge in front of goal got the better of them as Rashford’s shot sliced horribly wide to the mercy of Marc-Andre ter Stegen whose punched clearance found the feet of the striker in the first place.

After Suarez rifled a shot into the side-netting, Ernesto Valverde introduced Arturo Vidal and Sergi Roberto, and the latter nearly had an immediate impact as his mazy run into the area was halted just as he prepared to pull the trigger by a vital challenge from Shaw.

Barca upped the tempo in search of a potentially crucial second, but United prevented further damage, living to fight another day ahead of next Tuesday's return leg in Catalonia.