The History of Manchester United vs. Barcelona

It is not Manchester United vs. Liverpool, but it is the next best possible draw for the neutral viewer. Manchester United vs. Barcelona is a classic European Cup tie.

The two European juggernauts have butted heads 11 times in their illustrious history. Barcelona holds the slight edge with four wins to United’s three. The other four ended in draws.

This quarterfinal meeting will be their first encounter since their second Champions League Final meeting in 2011. Barcelona, lead by Lionel Messi, edged out United on that occasion winning 3-1.

The clubs’ history goes much further back than 2011 with their first meeting in the 1983/1984 European Cup Winners’ Cup quarterfinals. Barcelona won the first leg 2-0 thanks to an own goal from Graeme Hogg and a late goal by Juan Carlos Rojo.

Two weeks later the second leg kicked off in front of a ruckus Old Trafford crowd. Barcelona had never lost a European competition after winning the first leg 2-0. That was about to change in Manchester.

Bryan Robson scored a brace to level the tie by the 50^th minute. Just three minutes later Frank Stapleton scored what turned out to be the winner. United advanced to the semifinals to face Juventus only to be eliminated courtesy of a 90^th minute goal by Paolo Rossi.

Seven years later the two sides met in their first European Cup final. They faced off in Rotterdam for the 1990/1991 European Cup Winners’ Cup title. Just like in 1984 United came out on top this time thanks to a brace from Mark Hughes. Ronald Koeman scored a late goal, but United held on for their first European Cup Winners’ Cup title.

Barcelona returned to winning ways against United in the 1994/1995 Champions League group stage. Barcelona’s 4-0 thumping of United would however be their last win against the Red Devils for 15 years.

United and Barcelona drew three games in a row before another unforgettable night at the Theatre of Dreams. In the 2007/2008 United and Barcelona went toe to toe in the Champions League semifinals. The first leg ended in a 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou which meant it was all to play for in Manchester.

Enter Paul Scholes.

Scholes scored one of the most spectacular goals in Champions League history. He struck the ball perfectly from well outside the box into the top corner making Old Trafford erupt into a frenzy. The one goal turned out to be enough and United advanced to the final where they beat Chelsea for their third Champions League title.

The following year Barcelona and United played in the Champions League final. This time it was Barcelona getting the last laugh at the Stadio Olimpico. Messi and Samuel Eto’o scored a goal each to capture their third Champions League title.

Barcelona denied United a chance to exact revenge in 2011 when they won their fourth Champions League title at Wembley Stadium over the Red Devils.

Since then Barcelona won another Champions League title bringing their total to five while the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 left United in mediocrity. United’s progression into the quarterfinals is just the second time since Ferguson’s retirement they have managed to do so and the first time since 2014.

A United victory over their old Spanish rival will potentially set up a semifinal with Liverpool and wouldn’t we all love to see that.

An interesting note to their history is that no team has won a game away from home.