Barcelona 0-0 Man United LIVE: Red Devils on top in the Nou Camp as they go close twice in quick succession with Wout Weghorst and Marcus Rashford denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Follow Sportsmail’s live blog for the Europa League play-off clash between Barcelona and Manchester United.
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The stage…
?️ Today's attendance at Spotify Camp Nou for Barça vs Manchester United: 90,225!
Moltes gràcies, culers! ???#BarçaMUFC pic.twitter.com/eVtBbuk2Bm
While we wait for the players to reemerge at the Nou Camp, let’s take a look at some of the other games going on tonight.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Rennes
Salzburg 0-0 Roma
Ajax 0-0 Union Berlin
Stick with us for the second-half!
Well no goals here at the Nou Camp but what a fascinating first-half of football we have had in Barcelona.
Both sides have had glorious chances to open the scoring, with Wout Weghorst coming closest.
Marcus Rashford was also denied by Ter Stegen who has come up with two important saves to keep the scoreline level.
United haven’t had it all their own way, with De Gea called into action to make a couple of crucial saves but the Red Devils should really be ahead.
All to play for in the second-half!
Two minutes added on here at the Nou Camp. Can either side grab one before the break?
Barcelona enjoying a strong spell on the ball before the break. Wan-Bissaka lets a ball run across him again which is intercepted but United are able to get bodies back.
Alba then whips in a dangerous ball from the left which is heading straight to Lewandowski but Shaw does well to get a challenge in.
Varane goes into the book for bringing down Gavi, who turned the former Real Madrid defender brilliantly.
A big, big blow for Barcelona. Pedri will play no further part here. He is replaced by the experienced Sergi Roberto.
A few minutes until half-time here and both managers will be quite pleased with their side’s performances so far actually.
Raphinha thinks he gets past Malacia but the Brazilian is penalised for holding him back, to the fury of the home crowd.
Meanwhile Pedri is down injured and it looks like he is struggling here. Sergi Roberto is stripped and it looks like an early forced change.
SAVE!
This time De Gea is called into action. Wan-Bissaka lets a firm cross-field ball run across him and Jordi Alba intercepts before driving into the box.
The United right-back does brilliantly to recover, putting in one of his textbook sliding tackles. Barcelona are convinced they should have a penalty but VAR are not having any of it.
A quick check but nothing doing.
We have an update from our reporter Rob Draper, who is at the Nou Camp.
‘United are much better now and are having a sustained period of pressure.
The pace of Rashford and Wan-Bissaka is hurting Barca. Better finishing from Wegoirst and Sancho required however. Really United should be leading.’
Well after surviving a bit of an onslaught from the hosts, United have really come to life.
This time Fernandes gets in behind and squares it to Rashford. Aruajo does brilliantly to get a foot in and stops the in-form striker connecting.
GREAT SAVE!
United are in again and this time it’s Rashford. He drives into the box from the left and tries to curl an effort into the far right corner but Ter Stegen saves!
United take the free-kick short and Rashford wins a corner.
Varane meets the cross but sends his header over. Another decent chance for the visitors, who really are on top here.
United pinch it off De Jong in midfield and the Dutchman is penalised for bringing Fernandes down.
The home crowd feel as though United are getting the rub of the green at the moment with some of the decisions and they are letting the referee know.
Alba was booked moments ago for showing dissent after he was convinced that Barca should have had a corner.
All United here at the moment! The visitors win a free-kick on the left from a Kessie foul.
Fernandes whips in a brilliant cross which Casemiro flicks on but it’s straight at Ter Stegen.
WHAT A CHANCE!
United should be ahead but Weghorst is denied by Ter Stegen! The United striker is found brilliantly in behind by Bruno. He lets it run across his body and hits it with his left foot but straight at the keeper.
He has to score…
So close for United! Great play from Wan-Bissaka down the right. He drives down the wing and cuts it back to Sancho.
The United forward hits it first time and it comes off De Jong and goes behind for a corner.
Almost for Barca! Varane gives it straight to De Jong in midfield who sends it to Lewandowski first time.
The former Real Madrid star does brilliantly to recover and United survive.
Man United are really struggling to get hold of the ball for a long period of time.
Barcelona are dominating possession at the moment and are closing down the United players so quickly every time they give it away.
Meanwhile, Alba wins a corner for Barcelona but De Gea punches it away.
A bit of an off the ball incident as Gavi kicks out at Fernandes after the United man appeared to foul him.
The referee blows his whistle but it goes United’s way.
What is Kounde doing!? He sends a wild backpass back towards Ter Stegen but the goalkeeper has to dive for it with his legs and it goes behind for a United corner.
Very cheap corner to condede but the hosts are able to clear Shaw’s cross.
United give the ball away and Gavi picks it up. He finds Pedri with an audacious flick but the Spaniard fires his effort over the bar.
The visitors need to settle a bit now. Barcelona are having a lot of luck down the left with Alba and Gavi at the moment.
We told you earlier that Wout Weghorst was playing in a deeper role today and our reporter Rob Draper has an update from the Nou Camp.
ROB DRAPER: ‘Weghorst’s role is alongside Fred in midfield which is an unexpected departure. Presumably the idea is that Rashford’s pace will scare Alonso and Kounde – but it all looks a bit lopsided with Bruno Fernandes wide right and Sancho left. Not quite working as yet.’
A decent opening 15 minutes here at the Nou Camp. Both sides have come out fighting.
Barcelona are playing quite a high line and you would fancy Marcus Rashford to exploit that space in behind if the United midfield can find him.
United survive! The Nou Camp crowd clap in suspense before Marcos Alonso steps up.
It’s a decent effort from the former Chelsea defender but it was always heading over De Gea’s crossbar.
Barcelona are almost in again. Lewandowski threads Gavi in behind down the left but United manage to get bodies back.
Moments later, Fred brings down Gavi and gives the hosts a free-kick in a decent position here…
Wow! First real sight of the talent of Robert Lewandowski. The Barcelona striker receives the ball on the edge of the box from Alba, darts past Shaw and fires an effort at De Gea which the Spaniard palms away.
Manchester United have started really well here. Malacia does well down the left and finds Rashford.
The in-form striker drives a cross along the floor which falls to Bruno Fernandes but his effort is blocked by Alba.
Sancho gets his first opportunity to take on the Barcelona defence but Araujo comes out on top.
Barcelona are used to seeing all of the ball but United will certainly test them more tonight.
Barcelona seeing some early possession and the hosts suddenly spring to life.
Araujo gets past Sancho with a wonderful piece of skill before Raphinha breaks towards the byline but runs it out of play.
Bright start here at the Nou Camp.
Interestingly it looks as though Rashford is playing as a No 9 for Manchester United with Wout Weghorst in behind him.
Sancho is on the left, while Fernandes is out on the right. Will this plan work for Ten Hag?
A lightning start from the visitors! Bruno Fernandes gets in behind down the right and flashes a cross across goal.
Fred, who is making a deep run from midfield, comes racing into the box but cannot get a touch on it.
Manchester United get us underway here at the Nou Camp. Barcelona have won the last four meetings, but can the Red Devils get revenge?
A moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Turkey and Syria earthquake before kick-off here.
The players have stepped out on to the Nou Camp turf and we are about to kick-off here in Barcelona!
This should be a fascinating affair between two European giants. Don’t go anywhere!
We are just minutes away from kick-off at the iconic Nou Camp.
This is a huge test for Erik ten Hag’s side, who come up against a Barcelona side who are flying in LaLiga.
We have seen United successfully take on the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City this season. Can they defeat another of Europe’s elite?
These are two of Europe’s most lethal strikers we are dealing with here…
Marcus Rashford has scored 13 goals in his last 15 and has been hailed as one of the best strikers in Europe by Erik ten Hag and Xavi.
Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski has 10 goals in 17 games against English clubs, although he has never faced Man United before!
The warm ups are well and truly underway which can only mean one thing.
We are getting closer and closer to this mouthwatering clash starting.
Erik ten Hag’s side are flying, while Xavi’s Barcelona are top of LaLiga.
Who will come out on top? Let us know in the comments…
Marc-Andre ter Stegen and David de Gea are used to performing at the highest level – and both have been in brilliant form this season.
Manchester United will need Marcus Rashford and Co firing tonight because Ter Stegen has conceded just SEVEN goals in LaLiga all season.
Ridiculous.
The Manchester United players were pictured arriving at the Nou Camp earlier this afternoon.
For the likes of former Real Madrid stars Casemiro and Raphael Varane, it is familiar territory.
They are used to the big stage and will certainly still have that El Clasico fire in their bellies.
Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have also been spotted. The pair will be desperate to lead United from the front tonight.
We are less than 45 minutes away from kick-off but let’s quickly recap on why these two mammoth clubs are meeting each other in a Europa League play-off.
Manchester United finished second in Group E behind Real Sociedad on goal difference, meaning they did not automatically qualify.
Meanwhile Barcelona were in the Champions League before Christmas but finished third in Group C behind Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, dropping them into the Europa League.
Whichever of these European giants wins across two legs will book their place in the last-16 of the Europa League.
First leg coming up soon!
‘If you can get him your team will be stronger’: Erik ten Hag opens the door for Manchester United to make a fresh approach for Frenkie de Jong… after failing to sign the Dutchman
Another audition for De Jong this evening in front of Ten Hag? Sounds like he doesn’t need one to be honest….
? BARÇA XI ?#BarçaMUFC pic.twitter.com/iubeWzfPvd
De Gea, Malacia, Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Varane, Fred, Casemiro, Rashford, Fernandes, Sancho, Weghorst.
Luke Shaw still covering at centre-back, are you comfortable with that, United fans?
These teams have only played 13 times before, and that’s only a few meetings considering many of those will be from two-legged affairs.
And yet in three times they have met it’s been in a final. United won the first of them in 1991 when a Mark Hughes doubled inspired a victory against Johan Cruyff’s outfit.
Yet Barca got a double dose of revenge later a few years down the line following Champions League success in Rome in 2009 and again at Wembley two years later.
CHRIS WHEELER: Erik ten Hag talked up the one that got away as Man United consider a new Frenkie de Jong approach… but his decision to stay at Barcelona appears to have paid off and now his old boss will have to find a way of blunting him
We also get a chance to see what Manchester United missed out on last summer in their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona.
Despite their desperate bid to sign the midfielder from Barca, he never quite forced through a move and he will be keen to remind Erik ten Hag of his talents having played under the Dutchman at Ajax.
Shakhtar are playing at home – 937 miles away from Donetsk – in Warsaw, crisis-hit Juventus bid to avoid a shock at Nantes, while Arsenal are among teams with the night off… SEVEN things to look out for in the Europa League’s return
Of course there are seven other ties to look out for this evening, so here are seven things to focus on looking at tonight’s Europa League fixtures.
Not a usual picture we see from the Nou Camp but a tiny bit of cloud cover hangs over the stadium ahead of this first leg clash. It’s a rather mild 13 degrees Celsius right now in Spain. In some parts of the UK we can sometimes call that ‘summer’.
‘Duel of the champions’: Spanish press hype up Barcelona’s clash against Manchester United and predict ‘a MAGICAL night’ between the fallen giants as they lock horns in the Europa League knockouts
It’s fair to say our Spanish friends from warmer climes are also up for this Europa League encounter that they have describes as a ‘magical night’.
Here is how the Spanish media have been billing up this play-off round clash.
Quite a few tasty ties in there, with the likes of Ajax and Juventus also featuring having dropped out of the Champions League along with Barcelona before the World Cup.
It all seems so long ago now doesn’t it?
Europa League or not, it’s got to be up there hasn’t it? It’s Barcelona vs Manchester United and while it may ‘only’ be a Thursday night clash – this has all the credentials to be as good as any Champions League match.
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