An own goal from Luke Shaw saw Barcelona record a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
United arguably shaded the match against an off-colour Barca, but the Spanish champions did enough to secure a narrow advantage ahead of the return fixture at Camp Nou next week.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between Manchester United and Barcelona. Tonight will be the first meeting between these two teams since the 2011 Champions League final, when Barca landed the trophy courtesy of a 3-1 win. It should be a fascinating battle between these two European heavyweights. Be sure to stay tuned for live minute-by-minute coverage of the action!
TEAMS!
MAN UNITED: De Gea; Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; Pogba, McTominay, Fred; Rashford, Lukaku, Dalot
BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Arthur, Busquets, Rakitic; Coutinho, L Suarez, Messi
Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera both miss out for United tonight, meaning that there are spots in midfield for Scott McTominay and Fred. There is also a position in the XI for Diogo Dalot, who is expected to operate on the right of a front three. Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku also start for the Red Devils, who need a big performance from Paul Pogba tonight.
As for Barca, Ousmane Dembele is only fit enough for the bench, meaning that Philippe Coutinho again joins Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the final third. Elsewhere, Nelson Semedo and Arthur are preferred to Sergi Roberto and Arturo Vidal, while Gerard Pique faces his former club.
KICKOFF: Barca kick things off at Old Trafford...
... not too much of a surprise that Barca have taken control of the early possession here. Luis Suarez has already broken into a wide position, but Smalling makes a smart challenge.
Smalling does well again as a long ball is delivered towards Suarez. United then win a free kick down the other end as Busquets arrives late on McTominay. Good position here...
SHOT! ... Rashford's effort is just wide of the post!
Not too much of a surprise that Barca have had most of the ball early on, but United have started quite well with Rashford, Lukaku and Pogba all pushed high up the field here.
It appears that United are actually playing a back three, with Shaw alongside Lindelof and Smalling. Young and Dalot are then the two wing-backs. It seems to be working quite well as Rashford has just broken into a dangerous position only for Ter Stegen to make the clearance.
Barca continue to pass and probe as the clock ticks on at Old Trafford. Lots of space.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Luis Suarez thinks that he has scored for Barca, but the flag is raised! The Uruguay international looked onside, and the goal is currently being checked by VAR.
GOAL! UNITED 0-1 BARCELONA (SUAREZ)
Goal given. Barca have the lead as Luis Suarez heads a Messi cross into the back of the net. It seemed to come off Shaw, but the centre-forward will claim it, that is for sure.
Barca want a second here as they continue to move the ball in the final third of the field. Nothing much from United since the goal as the away side continue to dominate the ball.
YELLOW CARD! Busquets (Barcelona) is booked for bringing Pogba to the deck.
Fred fires the resulting free kick straight into the away side's wall.
SHOT! Young's strike from distance misses the Barca goal.
YELLOW CARD! Shaw (United) is booked for a tug on Messi.
United have the chance to break through Young, but the Englishman's cross is really poor and Barca can resume from the back. The opening 22 minutes of this match have flown past.
SHOT! Rashford misses the target from outside the Barca box.
Barca are just so dangerous in the final third of the field. United are having their moments on the break, but there is so much space for the Spanish champions in the final third here.
Lukaku finds space in a decent position on the left, but crosses straight into the arms of the Barca goalkeeper, who releases Semedo down the right and the away side start again.
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and not too much has happened in the last couple of minutes. Pogba picked up space in a decent area for United, but could not find Lukaku with a cross. You do feel that the home side need a goal back as soon as possible.
United waste another promising position as Young delivers straight into the arms of Ter Stegen. McTominay then goes down inside the box, but the referee is not interested.
Messi has picked up a bloody nose following a challenge with Chris Smalling, which has led to a fairly lengthy stoppage so the Argentine can receive treatment. He is not best pleased!
Play is back underway and Barca have possession in United's half of the field.
Messi does not fancy the aerial challenge with Lindelof this time, which is not too much of a surprise considering the state of his nose, which will swell up for the rest of the match. United are building a little bit of momentum at the moment as they continue to press high.
SAVE! Wonderful save from De Gea to keep out a powerful strike from Coutinho!
Busquets is fortunate to escape a second yellow for bringing Pogba to the ground. The Barca midfielder needs to be really careful here. Still 1-0 with 39 minutes on the clock at Old Trafford.
CHANCE! Huge chance for United as Dalot rises unmarked at the far post, but he gets it all wrong! The Portuguese attempted to head across goal when he should have gone himself!
These are encouraging signs for United as the home side continue to cause problems with crosses into the box. Solskjaer would have liked to have seen more from Lukaku here.
Apart from the goal, United will be pretty pleased with their performance in this first period. Barca can turn it on at any moment, though, and 2-0 would be huge for the visitors here.
Good stuff from United once again, but the final pass just goes astray and Barca can clear their lines as we enter first-half stoppage time, of which there will be two minutes.
SHOT! Luis Suarez strikes wide of the United post from inside the box.
HALF TIME: UNITED 0-1 BARCELONA
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barca leading 1-0 courtesy of a Shaw own goal, but United have more than held their own at Old Trafford. It is delicately poised ahead of what is a huge second 45 minutes of Champions League football here.
STATISTICS! Barca had 64% of the ball in the first period, but only managed two attempts on target. United, meanwhile, had five attempts, but are yet to test Ter Stegen between the sticks. Two yellow cards to report - Busquets for the visitors and Shaw for the hosts here.
BENCH WATCH! Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Juan Mata are amongst those on the United bench tonight and we could see two or three of those in the second period. Barca, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Dembele, Sergi Roberto, Malcom and Arturo Vidal.
KICKOFF: United resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops.
United really need to score tonight to stand a chance of progressing from the second leg. The problem, however, is that Barca could easily grab another one or two in the second period.
Young delivers United's first corner of the second period into the Barca box, but the away side clear their lines. Valverde's side then gain a throw following a poor pass from Fred.
CHANCE! Huge chance for United as the ball drops for Rashford inside the Barca box, but the striker gets it all wrong! Really good spell for the home side at the moment here.
United are very much on the front foot at the moment as they continue to move the ball in the final third of the field. Barca just cannot get going, but the visitors still have the lead here.
You do wonder whether this might be a match for Lingard or Martial, or potentially both.
Fred strikes from outside the Barca box, but Pique makes the block. The Spanish champions just cannot keep the ball at the moment, though, and United are still on the attack here.
Messi fouls Pogba and the Argentine shows his frustration, which is an indication of Barca's struggles. The visitors still lead, though, as we enter the final 30 minutes of action here.
United have a free kick in a dangerous area as Lenglet brings Rashford to the ground...
... Alba stoops to head Young's free kick clear.
Barca are preparing two changes as Vidal and Semedo receive their instructions here.
Long spell of possession for Barca at the moment, meaning no changes!
CLOSE! Luis Suarez hits the side-netting after breaking into the United box!
BARCA SUBS! Vidal and Roberto replace Coutinho and Arthur.
SAVE! Really good save from De Gea to keep out a low strike from Alba!
Ter Stegen gathers a low cross from Lukaku and United will make their first change when the ball next goes out with Martial ready and waiting. Perhaps for Lukaku?
UNITED SUB! Martial replaces Lukaku for the home side.
United really, really need a goal. And they have just over 20 minutes to score one. Martial has just driven away from the Barca midfield before finding Young, but his cross was so poor.
United have a free kick in a dangerous area as Pogba is felled by Vidal...
SHOT! ... Rashford's free kick is far too high.
YELLOW CARD! Vidal (Barca) is booked for a late challenge on Fred.
Lingard could be United's second change of the match here.
Super passing move from Barca involving Messi, but Fred does well to come across and clear behind. The visitors have been poor, but are capable of putting something like that together.
UNITED SUB! Lingard replaces Dalot for the home side.
YELLOW CARD! Lingard (United) is booked for a foul on Vidal.
Approaching the final 10 minutes of this first leg and Barca are still in the lead. United really need someone to come up with a big moment as a 1-1 would not be the worst result in the world, but a 0-1 would leave them with a mountain to climb in the second leg next week.
Poor ball from Roberto after Barca had worked another dangerous position. You do get the feeling that something is going to happen late on. Still a solid 10 minutes of football left.
Barca have just started to keep the ball as United's legs tire. A goal either way would be absolutely massive late on, but as it stands, Shaw's own goal is the difference here.
Barca have a free kick in a dangerous position as Pogba brings Semedo to the deck...
SAVE! ... De Gea keeps out Messi's free kick.
McTominay finds Martial inside the Barca box, but Pique makes a huge challenge!
UNITED SUB! Pereira replaces Rashford for the home side.
YELLOW CARD! Smalling (United) is booked for a foul on Luis Suarez.
Little over two minutes of normal time remaining and United are on the front foot. Pereira has just played a little pass into Pogba before Shaw delivers, but Alba makes the clearance.
Barca keep the ball as they prepare to make their third change here.
We are into the the first of three minutes of additional time here.
Alena might not get on here as Barca continue to keep the ball.
Pass, pass, pass from Barca. United cannot touch the ball.
BARCA SUB! Alena replaces Busquets for the away side.
SHOT! Smalling fires over the Barca crossbar from inside the box.
FULL TIME: UNITED 0-1 BARCELONA
FULL TIME: So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barcelona running out 1-0 winners over United courtesy of that Shaw own goal. The two teams will do it all again in the Camp Nou next week! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
