Highlights of Man-U vs. Barcelona: Underdogs not losers.
Highlights of Man-U vs. Barcelona: Underdogs not losers.
Ademola Adekanmbi
"...I know how to stop Lionel Messi. I have played against Mbappe (kylian) and Ronaldo (Cristiano) in the champions league this season already..."
Those were the words of United Defender,Chris Smalling before the match.
Day two of the 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League kicked off at Old Trafford between Manchester United and FC Barcelona with all eyes on the Manchester United Squad and their new manager,Ole solksjaer.
United ,a team which suffered a rough start to the season under Jose Mourinho became rejuvenated under Solksjaer after winning his first six games in charge. Meanwhile, their form has been shaky of recent after losing to newly promoted side,Wolverhampton Wanderers twice in the space of 17 days.
A large percentage of football fans over the World predicted a thorough thrashing of United in the hands of Barcelona before the game.
The game started around 8pm West African Time with Barcelona dominating proceedings which kept United Fans on the edge of their seat looking on like doomsday was upon them.
Lionel Messi, the Argentine veteran was released with a lovely ball into the box and found Luis Suarez at the far post who nodded the ball across the goal but hit Luke Shaw, the Manchester United Left-back as the ball found its way into the back of the net.
It took the Video Assistant Referee to affirm the goal after it was initially ruled offside. All these happened just twelve minutes into the game. The beginning of the end were the thoughts of most fans at the viewing centre.
In the 29th minute, Chris Smalling won an aerial battle against Lionel Messi which left the latter bleeding and had to be taken off the pitch for further treatments.
He came back to the pitch shortly after, Ashley Young who was handed the role of Right Back for Manchester United was disastrous with his crosses as they barely found any United player in the box.
"...It has been confirmed that Young is a farmer" tweeted a United fan during the game. The half grew with Barcelona dominating the possession while United put in a good fight with Rashford producing some threatning shots and runs.
The Second-half continued how the first half ended with both teams going at it for a goal. Chances fell for Marcus Rashford and Luis Suarez at both ends but it was not to be their night of goals.
Smalling did very well to hold off threats from Lionel Messi and his cohorts but the final score reflected otherwise.
Ashley Young will not want to watch a replay of this game as his performance was the worst of the Manchester United Squad. A player of over 30 years playing like a newly promoted rookie from the Academy System. Soksjaer has to weigh his options for the coming season.
The full-time whistle came and it ended 0-1 in favour of Barcelona but the United Squad will be proud of themselves for showing character and not being intimidated by the Barcelona faithfuls.
Youngster Scott Mctominay of United said in his post-match interview that "..United should not be written off yet".
Barcelona goes into the second leg with an away goal advantage but this is football where the unexpected happens right before our eyes, with the words of Mctominay ringing in our ears about United being capable of a comeback.
United may have lost but Smalling kept to his words and while United maybe the underdogs beside Barcelona,they are not losers until the second leg is over.
Ajax vs. Juventus
Ajax hosted Juventus in the second part of the day 2 Quarter Finals which ended one-all. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo who just returned from injury and David Netret at either halves of the game means Juventus go into the second leg with an away goal but unlike United, Ajax have a goal of their own to take along for the second leg.
Results of the First-leg
LIVERPOOL 2-0 PORTO
TOTTENHAM 1-0 MANCHESTER CITY
MANCHESTER UNITED O-1 BARCELONA
AJAX 1-1 JUVENTUS.
No team is guaranteed a passage to the Semi-Finals just yet. The odds are against every team and the tides are in favour of evert team until the end of the second leg coming up on the 16th and 17th of April respectively.
Ademola Adekanmbi
"...I know how to stop Lionel Messi. I have played against Mbappe (kylian) and Ronaldo (Cristiano) in the champions league this season already..."
Those were the words of United Defender,Chris Smalling before the match.
Day two of the 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League kicked off at Old Trafford between Manchester United and FC Barcelona with all eyes on the Manchester United Squad and their new manager,Ole solksjaer.
United ,a team which suffered a rough start to the season under Jose Mourinho became rejuvenated under Solksjaer after winning his first six games in charge. Meanwhile, their form has been shaky of recent after losing to newly promoted side,Wolverhampton Wanderers twice in the space of 17 days.
A large percentage of football fans over the World predicted a thorough thrashing of United in the hands of Barcelona before the game.
The game started around 8pm West African Time with Barcelona dominating proceedings which kept United Fans on the edge of their seat looking on like doomsday was upon them.
Lionel Messi, the Argentine veteran was released with a lovely ball into the box and found Luis Suarez at the far post who nodded the ball across the goal but hit Luke Shaw, the Manchester United Left-back as the ball found its way into the back of the net.
It took the Video Assistant Referee to affirm the goal after it was initially ruled offside. All these happened just twelve minutes into the game. The beginning of the end were the thoughts of most fans at the viewing centre.
In the 29th minute, Chris Smalling won an aerial battle against Lionel Messi which left the latter bleeding and had to be taken off the pitch for further treatments.
He came back to the pitch shortly after, Ashley Young who was handed the role of Right Back for Manchester United was disastrous with his crosses as they barely found any United player in the box.
"...It has been confirmed that Young is a farmer" tweeted a United fan during the game. The half grew with Barcelona dominating the possession while United put in a good fight with Rashford producing some threatning shots and runs.
The Second-half continued how the first half ended with both teams going at it for a goal. Chances fell for Marcus Rashford and Luis Suarez at both ends but it was not to be their night of goals.
Smalling did very well to hold off threats from Lionel Messi and his cohorts but the final score reflected otherwise.
Ashley Young will not want to watch a replay of this game as his performance was the worst of the Manchester United Squad. A player of over 30 years playing like a newly promoted rookie from the Academy System. Soksjaer has to weigh his options for the coming season.
The full-time whistle came and it ended 0-1 in favour of Barcelona but the United Squad will be proud of themselves for showing character and not being intimidated by the Barcelona faithfuls.
Youngster Scott Mctominay of United said in his post-match interview that "..United should not be written off yet".
Barcelona goes into the second leg with an away goal advantage but this is football where the unexpected happens right before our eyes, with the words of Mctominay ringing in our ears about United being capable of a comeback.
United may have lost but Smalling kept to his words and while United maybe the underdogs beside Barcelona,they are not losers until the second leg is over.
Ajax vs. Juventus
Ajax hosted Juventus in the second part of the day 2 Quarter Finals which ended one-all. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo who just returned from injury and David Netret at either halves of the game means Juventus go into the second leg with an away goal but unlike United, Ajax have a goal of their own to take along for the second leg.
Results of the First-leg
LIVERPOOL 2-0 PORTO
TOTTENHAM 1-0 MANCHESTER CITY
MANCHESTER UNITED O-1 BARCELONA
AJAX 1-1 JUVENTUS.
No team is guaranteed a passage to the Semi-Finals just yet. The odds are against every team and the tides are in favour of evert team until the end of the second leg coming up on the 16th and 17th of April respectively.
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