Manchester United 3-1 Barcelona – Match Report
Manchester United maintained their 100% pre-season record under Louis van Gaal with a well deserved win over European champions Barcelona in California on Saturday night.
van Gaal named a strong Reds XI, although he backtracked pre-game on claims that this team would be close to the one that will start against Tottenham on the opening day of the Premier League season.
More from Red Devil Armada
- Aaron Wan Bissaka out for ‘several weeks’ with injury
- Manchester United break an unwanted record after Brighton loss
- Sofyan Amrabat set to miss game against Brighton
- Preview: Manchester United vs Brighton – What you need to know
- Jadon Sancho set to train away from first team squad
Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea started in goal, as revealed by Louis van Gaal in the pre-match press conference, while a defence of Matteo Darmian, Phil Jones, Daley Blind and Luke Shaw was fielded in front of him. Michael Carrick and Morgan Schneiderlin anchored the midfield with the usual front four from this tour of Young, Depay, Mata and Rooney playing ahead of them.
De Gea was making his first appearance of the new season and it only took three minutes before he was forced into action. A Daley Blind foul on the edge of the box saw Luis Suarez step up to take a free kick, which he curled onto the post leaving De Gea totally stranded. Just two minutes after that, De Gea showed why Manchester United are desperate to retain his services by thwarting young attacker Sergio Roberto when one on one with a fine save.
United began to come into the game at that point and an Ashley Young whipped delivery from a corner found Wayne Rooney, who headed home past ter Stegen after a shove on full-back Adriano went unpunished by the referee.
van Gaal’s side looked in control throughout with solid defending and creating chances, despite new signing Memphis Depay being rather quiet throughout the game in his new No.10 role.
More from Manchester United News
- Aaron Wan Bissaka out for ‘several weeks’ with injury
- Sofyan Amrabat set to miss game against Brighton
- Preview: Manchester United vs Brighton – What you need to know
- Jadon Sancho set to train away from first team squad
- Mike Phelan blasts Manchester United teammates over Ronaldo exit
Barcelona, without Messi and Neymar, pushed forward with Suarez and Pedro looking to create although David De Gea didn’t have much to do after Manchester United went 1-0 up.
The manager didn’t make any changes at half-time for the first time on tour and the Reds continued their good performance. They kept their shape and pressed well in the opposition half, cutting any clear-cut chances off for the Catalan side.
van Gaal made 11 changes to his side on the hour mark as he gave Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini their first run-outs of the pre-season campaign too. Sam Johnstone replaced David De Gea in goal, with the new defence reading Valencia, Smalling, McNair and Blackett. In midfield Fellaini was partnered with Ander Herrera while the impressive, youthful front four made another appearanc with Jesse Lingard on the right wing, James Wilson on the left wing and Andreas Pereira in the No.10 role behind Adnan Januzaj as the striker.
It took less than three minutes for the new line-up to have an impact as Andreas Pereira found James Wilson, who played in Tyler Blackett down the left and his pull-back found Jesse Lingard to slam home in a goal that came straight from the ‘La Manc-sia’ academy.
United continued to look comfortable with and without the ball as the clock ticked down. Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic grazed the crossbar with a free-kick while Munir’s header bounced back off the post as they continued to push for a goal. They finally got it with the clock striking 90 minutes as a fine cross to the back-post found Rafinha who rifled a volley past Sam Johnstone and into the bottom corner.
As the game faded to a finish, Manchester United re-established their two goal lead almost immediately from kick-off. Jesse Lingard received the ball just inside his own half and played a lofted pass through to Adnan Januzaj, who held of Marc Barta before beating him and powering the ball into the bottom corner.
It was a well deserved victory for the Reds as they head into their final pre-season game against PSG on Wednesday with a 100% record for the second season running in pre-season under Louis van Gaal.
You can watch the full match in HD here.