MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Barcelona overcame a punchless Manchester United to take the upper hand in their Champions League quarter-final after Luke Shaw's own goal gave them a 1-0 first-leg victory at Old Trafford on Wednesday (April 10).
Shaw deflected a Luis Suarez header into his own net after 12 minutes, handing the Catalans a vital away goal that will make them clear favourites in the return leg.
After United's comeback against Paris St Germain in the previous round, Barca will take nothing for granted, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team will struggle to repeat the trick against a side with a fearsome home record.
"We played a good team," said Solskjaer.
"We know you have to defend a lot without the ball and you might be tired when you get the chance yourself. We go there with one thing in my mind, we have to score."
Barca have not lost at home for 30 games in the Champions League since 2013 and while United can take credit for staying in the tie, they produced little that will overly worry the Spanish side.
Barcelona's first win at Old Trafford in European competition was relatively comfortable with their keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen not having a single shot to save.
With Paul Pogba failing to impact the game, United were left trying to hit Barca on the break or from set-pieces and too often they lacked the precision to make the most of the few openings that fell their way.
The crucial away goal was well-worked. Sergio Busquets found Lionel Messi with a clever ball into the area and the Argentine carved out space on the left to deliver a lofted cross to former Liverpool striker Suarez at the back post.
The Uruguayan's header deflected off the shoulder of a scrambling Shaw and beat David De Gea to give the visitors the lead and although the linesman initially flagged for offside, the goal was given after a VAR video review.
DE GEA SAVES
United had De Gea to thank for keeping the difference down to a single goal as he saved superbly with his feet to keep out Philippe Coutinho in the 36th minute.
Then the home side had an appeal for a penalty waved away after Scott McTominay, who had a fine game in midfield, went down under a challenge from Gerard Pique.
United's best chance of the first half fell to Diogo Dalot but the Portuguese made a mess of a fine Marcus Rashford ball, heading harmlessly across the goal from close-range.
Solskjaer's team had struggled to get a foothold in the game during the opening 45 minutes, but they were much improved after the break, applying plenty of pressure without creating any clear chances.
Barcelona could have added a second had Suarez not fired into the side-netting from a promising position after a clever through ball from Nelson Semedo and then De Gea did well to foil Jordi Alba's low drive - again with his legs.
The loss was United's fourth in their last five games in all competitions.
"We did as well as we could against Messi, kept our shape well. It could have gone both ways," said Solskjaer.
"I don't think we hit the target and that's a disappointment. We go there with work to be done but chances," he added.
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde was pleased with the result, especially given the club's previous failure to win at Old Trafford in four earlier meetings in European competition.
"Given the atmosphere and the type of team they are and that this is the Champions League it's very hard to win here, it was a very difficult game and things were complicated for us at a few moments," he said.
"We had spells of dominance they pressured us very high but we created the clearest chances," he added.
National Under-22 coach Fandi Ahmad yesterday named Vasileios Zikos Chua, 17, and three other youngsters who made their professional debuts in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) this year in his
30 Things To Know Before Living in Norway - Megan Starr
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne will stand trial for sexual assault in October after allegedly kissing a woman without consent on a train, a judge ruled on Tuesday. The 51-year-old ex
Ex-football star faces assault trial - gulf-times.com
Sep 20, 2017 · Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers reacts on the field in the 4th quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship in Tampa Florida on
Tigers' next foe: Royals riding high as they visit Comerica Park
Man City end Newport's Cup dream to reach quarter-finals. Soccer Football - FA Cup Fifth Round - Newport County AFC v Manchester City - Rodney Parade, Newport, Britain - February 16, 2019
Man City end Newport's Cup dream to reach quarter-finals
VALENCIA (REUTERS) - Valencia eased into the Europa League semi-finals for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spaniards Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday
Valencia stroll into last four with 2-0 Villarreal win
Home Football Ikhsan gets off mark in Norway, Football News & Top Stories. Football; His team were crying out for a saviour in Oslo, Norway, on Sunday and Ikhsan Fandi delivered.
Ikhsan gets off mark in Norway - theworldnews.net
Emery, whose fifth-placed crew are some extent behind Chelsea with a recreation in hand, mentioned: "We may be pissed off (with the loss to Palace), however tomorrow get up and be prepared for the sport in opposition to Wolves. "It is going to be very difficult, but it is in our hands." AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE. WOLVES V ARSENAL
US stocks edge down as Fed stays dovish on rates
Two other defiant goalkeepers. LES SEALEY (MAN UNITED) Sealey was the first goalkeeper who refused to leave the pitch during an English League Cup final. But, unlike
Best Soccer Goalkeepers in the World | Stadium Talk
Arsenal inflict first domestic defeat on Solskjaer to surge into top four March 12, 2019 LONDON (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blamed Manchester United's lack of ruthlessness as the Norwegian suffered his first domestic defeat as caretaker manager in a 2-0 loss at Arsenal on Sunday night.
Arsenal inflict first domestic defeat on Solskjaer to surge
Football. Home football Makeshift Barca side beaten at Celta and lose Dembele to injury Vigo after making 11 changes but forward Ousmane Dembele suffered an injury setback ahead of Tuesday
Makeshift Barca side beaten at Celta and lose Dembele to
Manchester United's Champions League hopes were hanging by a thread after a 2-0 home defeat by Paris St Germain in their round-of-16, first leg match on Tuesday, with talisman Paul Pogba sent off
PSG take charge with 2-0 win at United, Pogba sent off
Iqbal Hussain proved his coach wrong when his goal helped salvage a well-deserved 1-1 draw with title favourites Tampines Rovers at the Hougang Stadium.
Women's World Cup 2019 preview: What to know when USA takes
sportslifetale.com/soccer/womens-world-cup-2019-preview-what-to-know-when-usa-takes-on-thailand/
The wait is over. The U.S. women's national team will take the field Tuesday to compete in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup with its first match against Thailand in Group F. Thailand, ranked 34th in the world by FIFA, is relatively new to the World Cup stage as it first made the tournament in […]
Draw news | Serendeputy: Newsfeed Engine for the open web
Brazil soccer player Neymar has denied accusations of rape contained in a Sao Paulo police report seen by Reuters, saying he had been the victim of an extortion attempt by a lawyer claiming to
Brazil soccer star Neymar accused of committing rape in Paris
Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium; Saints stay up By Neil Robinson Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - April 27, 2019 West Hams Michail Antonio scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs LONDON (Reuters) -
Premier League: Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium
0 comments:
Post a Comment