Marcus Rashford was left disappointed after Manchester United and Barcelona played out a breathless and pulsating 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League playoff at the Camp Nou.
It was a lively start from Manchester United in which they had a couple of decent openings in the first 10 minutes, though Barcelona started to settle into some of their trademark possession-based football.
Both sides had a number of presentable opportunities in the first half, Robert Lewandowski seeing an effort saved by David de Gea, while Wout Weghorst and Marcus Rashford each saw big chances saved by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
It would however be Barcelona who took the lead early in the second half, former Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso ghosting in at the back post to meet an inswinging Raphinha corner before nodding past De Gea.
The hosts’ lead lasted just three minutes though, the energetic Fred slipping the ball in behind the Barcelona defence to pick out Marcus Rashford before the in-form England international drilled home past Ter Stegen from a narrow angle.
The Red Devils then got themselves in front before the hour mark, some fantastic work by Rashford following a short corner saw the United number 10 beat his man and drill the ball across goal, before Bruno Fernandes’ attempted flick was turned into his own goal by Jules Kounde.
With 14 minutes left to play, there would be yet another twist, United giving the ball away in their own half, with former Leeds winger Raphinha putting in a whipped delivery from the right that evaded everyone and flew past De Gea.
Marcus Rashford has joined Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke as the ONLY Manchester United players to score against Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
MBE 👑❤️ pic.twitter.com/NIeJaQQjUT
— UF (@UtdFaithfuls) February 16, 2023
Speaking afterwards United’s starman Rashford was clearly gutted his side couldn’t hold onto their lead.
“It feels like a loss,” Rashford told BT Sport. ”I think we did well to get back into the game, the first-half was probably in favour of them but I think we stayed calm and tried to create chances when we could. We scored two good goals and tried to maintain control of the outcome but they are a good team.
“I felt we were trying to score more goals in the second-half, that may have been because we were a goal behind.”
The England international also went on to say how he is hopeful the Red Devils can beat Barca next Thursday at Old Trafford and progress to the last 16.
“Hopefully it will be another good game but we will go that one step further.”
