Luke Shaw's first-half own goal
handed Barcelona the advantage as Manchester United suffered a frustrating 1-0
defeat in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Old Trafford.
The United left-back gave Barca a
deserved lead on 12 minutes when he deflected Luis Suarez's header into his own
net, with the goal confirmed following a VAR review.
United responded well to the
early setback, halting Barca's dominance on the ball, but their cause was
undone by a toothless attacking display which failed to yield a single shot on target.
After overcoming a two-goal
deficit to knock out Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round, United will
need to produce another comeback to progress to the semi-finals when they
travel to the Nou Camp on April 16.
Marcus Rashford's fiercely-struck
free-kick flashed wide inside four minutes but Barca were dominant in
possession and it was not long before their precise passing unlocked the United
defence.
Messi gathered Sergio Busquet's
ball over the top and cleverly crossed to the back post for Suarez, whose
header deflected in off Shaw. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but
the relief inside Old Trafford was short-lived as a brief consultation with VAR
found no infringement and the goal was allowed to stand.
United prevented Barca from
building momentum after their opener, pressing their opponents high, and the
hosts had claims for a penalty rightly rejected when Scott McTominay went to
ground under a challenge from Gerard Pique on the half hour.
Another incisive Barcelona move
nearly yielded a second goal on 36 minutes, but David de Gea produced a fine
save with his feet to deny Philippe Coutinho after he was released in behind by
Suarez.
United should have drawn level
four minutes before half-time when Rashford's cross from the right found Diogo
Dalot unmarked at the back post, but the Portuguese got caught in two minds and
sent an aimless header across the face of the exposed Barca goal.
United lacked the clinical edge
in front of goal and Rashford sliced horribly wide after goalkeeper Marc-Andre
ter Stegen's punched clearance landed at the striker's feet within six minutes
of the restart.
After Suarez rifled a shot into
the side-netting, Ernesto Valverde introduced Arturo Vidal and Sergi Roberto,
and the latter nearly had an immediate impact as his mazy run into the area was
halted just as he prepared to pull the trigger by a vital challenge from Shaw.
Barca upped the tempo in search
of a potentially crucial second, but United avoided further damage, keeping
themselves in the tie ahead of Tuesday's return in Catalonia.
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