MANCHESTER United defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Old Trafford tonight in the headline fixture of the UEFA Europa League play-offs to advance to the round of 16.
The English side had to come from a first-half deficit to win the heavyweight tie 3-2 on aggregate, after the first leg at Camp Nou last Thursday ended 2-2.
Robert Lewandowski fired the visitors into the lead from the penalty spot in the 18th minute after Bruno Fernandes was adjudged to have fouled Alejandro Balde in the United box.
Barcelona were close to doubling their lead late in the first half following a wayward David De Gea pass, but Sergi Roberto and Frank Kessie could not take advantage.
United manager Erik ten Hag tweaked his team at half-time, replacing the ineffective Wout Weghorst with Antony, and the change made a big difference, with the hosts more vibrant and threatening.
They were level within two minutes of the restart, with Fred finishing off a square pass from Fernandes from the edge of the box.
The hosts found their rhythm in the second half and looked the more dangerous side, with Antony, Marcus Rashford and Fernandes causing the Barcelona defence problems.
United got the breakthrough they would feel they deserved in the 73rd minute when Antony finished left-footed across goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stergen.
Manchester United are now unbeaten in their last 18 matches at Old Trafford, winning 16 and 41 goals, conceding nine. They also ended Barcelona’s 18-match undefeated run in all competitions.
With the win, United will go into the round of 16 draw.
Joining the Red Devils in the draw will be Jose Mourinho’s Roma, who saw off RB Leipzig 2-1 on aggregate.
Andrea Bellotti and Paulo Dybala netted in the first half at the Stadio Olimpico to overturn the Austrian side’s 1-0 first leg win.
In Germany, Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey played all 90 minutes as his Ajax side lost 3-1 at Union Berlin, crashing out 3-1 on aggregate.
Robin Knoche, Josip Juranovic and Danilho Doekhi netted for the hosts while Ghana forward Mohammed Kudus scored for Ajax, who had Edson Alvarez sent off in stoppage time.
Juventus, Sevilla, Sporting Lisbon and Bayer Leverkusen also all progressed to the round of 16 tonight.
