Europa League crazy 2-2! Barcelona’s 11-game winning streak ended, Manchester United created 15 years of humiliation in front of 90,000 people
Europa League play-off first leg kicked off, a Champions League knockout level showdown between Barcelona and Manchester United, a total of 90,225 people came to the Nou Camp to watch the game, the final two teams played a 2-2 crazy score, suspense retained to the second leg, the transfer to Manchester United at home.
This is the first time the two sides have met in the Europa League, having won six, drawn four and lost three of their previous 13 meetings, including the last 10 in the Champions League. Barcelona are worth 762 million euros and Manchester United 759 million euros, making them the most expensive Europa League clash of the season at more than 1.5 billion euros, according to Dezau.
Alonso gave Barca a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute with a header from Rafinha’s corner kick.
United levelled 1-1 in the 52nd minute when Rashford got on Alonso’s back and fired home from a tight Angle.
United made it 2-1 in the 59th minute when Rashford waded past Rafinha to set up Conte’s own goal. Rashford continues to excel as the Red Devils’ No10, scoring a goal and an own goal, and has 14 goals in all competitions since returning from the World Cup, at least four more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.
Rafinha’s cross set up Levan in the 76th minute to give Barca a 2-2 draw.
With the draw, Barca have not lost to United at home for the sixth time in their history, winning three and drawing three. They are also unbeaten in their last five competitive matches, winning four and drawing one. United only ended a run of four successive defeats against Barcelona, the last of which, in 2008, extended to 15 years of humiliation.
For United, it is impossible to win six consecutive European games, the last time the club did so was in 1965-66, when Uefa abolished the away goals rule, so two away goals were useless and United needed to score more than Barcelona to qualify.
