Europe continues to be elusive for Barça. The Barcelona team could not tame Old Trafford or a brave Manchester United and was left out of the second continental competition (2-1, 4-3 on aggregate). Although the blaugrana advanced with a penalty converted by Lewandowski, they lacked offensive quality and more muscle to withstand the English onslaught. Those of Ten Hag turned the scenery around in the second half with goals from Fred and Antony and sent Barcelona to the canvas. It was not an embarrassing elimination but it was a confirmation that Xavi’s team, and even more so with the casualties it had, still needs to be great again in Europe.
There was no lack of attitude or desire or work. What was missing was football, play, class and precision, especially from three quarters of the field forward, where the most powerful teams unbalance because they are supposed to have the best elements. Barça did not have them, with a disastrous Raphinha, a Lewandowski far from his performance last fall and only with Balde as the most damaging element.
The Barcelona coach opted for the formula of the four midfielders, with Sergi Roberto acting as the inside left and recovered the starting defense with Balde on the left-back and Araújo as the leader in the axis. He did not have the order of Pedri, nor the passion of Gavi nor the overflow of Dembélé but Xavi asked his men to come out and compete with conviction and order. That they were not devoured by a deafening atmosphere, by a shout that resounded on all four sides of a packed Old Trafford. If in the first leg Araújo played on the wing and Rashford on nine, this time they did not find a start either as Ten Hag placed his star on the left flank. As in Barcelona, ??Xavi did not change because of it and kept the Uruguayan where he was.
But all these tactical hand games were close to being altered very early if Ter Stegen had not appeared as a savior, once again. A loss from Koundé and an excellent cross from Casemiro placed Bruno Fernandes in front of the German’s domain, but the Blaugrana goalkeeper won the pulse and prevented Barça from having to row against the current from the start.
Overcome these skirmishes, Barça was picking up skill and temperature. With the good footing of Christensen, the strength of a brave Bucket and the calm of De Jong, Xavi’s team managed to lower the revolutions of the contest, always from a perspective of equality. Barcelona lacked depth, but, after an elaborate play, Bruno Fernandes grabbed Balde in the area when the Blaugrana had his back turned. The winger fell mischievously and the referee interpreted that the contact was enough to award a penalty. As absurd as pitable. The Theater of Dreams fell silent, the silence only broken by the joy of the 2,300 Barça fans. Lewandowski holed out with remarkable suspense as he made his classic semi parandinha, De Gea guessed the direction and got to touch the ball, but not enough.
Xavi’s men took the lead and United, also under reconstruction, entered a phase of doubt. It did not last long and Barça did not take advantage of them, whose offensive wicks are limited. However, behind the team was competitive, with a Busquets who returned attentive.
Everything would change after the break as Ten Hag intervened with more wood. He turned to Antony, who would be decisive, changed Sancho to the side, put Rashford on nine and crossed Bruno Fernandes. The movement dislodged Barça and without time to settle United tied. Fred, after combining with Fernandes, equalized the result. The world was coming down on those of Xavi. Key moment to see because in Europe any weakness is usually punished with several blows in a row The red devils looked for him, feverish, like the stands, attacking like stingers and more when Garnacho also entered. To make matters worse, Araújo had physical problems but he resisted as he could, like the team, which only found a way out in Balde since Raphinha’s game was to cry.
However, when United was at its best, Barça came close to making it 1-2 in a fantastic delivery from De Jong to Koundé’s head. The Frenchman’s shot was repelled with a great De Gea flight. That was where Barcelona had a good part of the pass.
The game was going crazy and Xavi was betting on reinforcing the attack. He seated Sergi Roberto and brought in Ferran Torres. But only the Valencian came out, United advanced. After a series of rebounds Antony connects an unappealable cross shot.
The English team, with more talent, was struggling with the will of Barcelona, ??which lacked resources. Xavi then remembered Ansu Fati because a goal was needed to force extra time. But the miraculous goal would not come. The subject of Europe remains pending.