Manchester United produced a scintillating fight back to beat Barcelona 2-1 at Old Trafford on Thursday and advance to the Europa League round of 16 4-3 on aggregate.
After a memorable first leg ended 2-2, Man United fell behind in the tie and on the night when Robert Lewandowski’s 18th-minute penalty beat David de Gea after Bruno Fernandes had grabbed at Alejandro Balde in the box for a soft spot kick.
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But United were rejuvenated following the half-time interval and the introduction of Antony in place of Wout Weghorst. The hosts equalised in the 47th minute through a fine finish from the impressive Fred and then sent the fired-up Old Trafford crowd wild when fellow Brazilian Antony guided home a classy finish in the 72nd.
The win was Man United’s first over Barcelona since the Champions League semifinals of 2008 and is another major achievement for manager Erik ten Hag in his first season at the club.
United will now look to make it a week to remember when they face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are left to focus on their quest to win LaLiga after having now fallen at the first hurdles in both the Champions League and Europa League under Xavi Hernandez this season.
The draw for the Europa League round of 16 will be made at 11 a.m. GMT (6 a.m. ET) on Friday, where Man United will meet one of the seeded teams who bypassed the playoff round after winning their group.
“The belief of the team is always there,” Fernandes told BT Sport. “The belief of the fans, they push us through difficult moments.
“We have made great comebacks, the club is made also by that. In the past we have done a lot like this result.”
Both sides have improved a great deal under their new…
