Can United perform another Champions League miracle?

As we approach the Easter holidays, Manchester United are in need of their own Champions League miracle as they head to Barcelona looking to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit. However, they’ll take confidence from their performance in the last-16 where, against all odds, they found a way to progress.

A Parisian party for United

In the last-16, United were initially humbled at Old Trafford by an unforgiving and ruthless performance from PSG. They suffered an embarrassing 2-0 first leg defeat, with many stating that the tie was already over before the second leg had even kicked off. United were comprehensively outplayed all over the park, and any chance of a come back in the return leg seemed out of the question.

However, the following week in Paris, the Red Devils produced one of the Champions League’s greatest ever comebacks to silence the Parc des Princes. Romelu Lukaku put United ahead within two minutes, before Juan Bernat pulled PSG back into command of the tie. But United’s European party was just beginning as Lukaku pounced on a rare Gianluigi Buffon error to give United the lead once more.

Then, a coming of age moment from Marcus Rashford was to determine the tie. The young Englishman, who is quickly becoming one of the key players for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, stepped up to take a last minute penalty following a controversial handball call from VAR. The 21-year-old made no mistake, and sent United into the quarter-finals and believing anything was possible in Europe.

Brought back down to Earth

Unfortunately, the euphoria did not last long for Rashford and co., as Barcelona came to Manchester and put in a typically commanding and dominant performance. Barcelona left with a 1-0 victory and a vital away goal, yet never looked flustered at Old Trafford and didn’t have to leave second gear following their opening goal.

Now, needing a win at the Camp Nou to advance, United have likely dug themselves too deep a hole from which to escape. Barca, nearly a 2/5 favourite at home according to sites like SBD, have only lost once at the Camp Nou this year, have yet to lose in the Champions League at all during this campaign, and held United without a shot on target in the first leg.

That said, United did manage to overcame similar odds in Paris last time around and showed a modicum of promise in the first leg against Barcelona. They generated 47 dangerous attacks to Barca’s 34, and ten total attempts to Barca’s five. Better finishing could potentially produce another stunning result.

Pogba’s time to shine

Remarkably, United were able to pull off the miracle in Paris without their talisman Paul Pogba, who was sent off late in the first leg. But this will be the Frenchman’s time to shine and put in a real match-winning performance on one of the world’s biggest stages. If he is able to control the game as much as possible from midfield, and release the likes of Rashford and Anthony Martial, United have a real chance of pulling off an unlikely victory.

This is not the greatest Barca team of recent years, and there was enough in the first leg to suggest that Solskjaer’s men can do some damage in Catalonia. Keeping Lionel Messi quiet is a nigh on impossible task, whilst Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho
will be their typical busy selves, but United need to attack with vigour and determination to have any chance in Spain. One goal would rattle Barcelona, two could be enough to send them through.

Featured Image Credit: “Ver Manchester United vs. Bayern Múnich” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by MULADAR NEWS