It was Lionel Messi who deligthted the home fans with his magic feet as he struck twice past Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea to put Barcelona in a commanding position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0As5nFlijU
Things got worse for Manchester United after Phillippe Coutinho increased Barcelona’s lead to make it 3-0 with just under 29 minutes to play.
Manchester United needed to win by two clear goals in order to make it to the last 4 of the champions league after the side went down to the Spanish giants 1-0 in the first leg at Old Trafford.
The lone goal scored in the first leg of the quatter final played between the two sides was courtesy of Manchester United defender Luke Shaw, whose deflection found the net from a Luiz Suarez cross just from the edge of the 18 yard box.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhBCZvNpumQ
To annalyze this two leg contest, Manchester United played a lot better at old Trafford than at Camp Nou.
The reason why I say this beause one way to beat Barcelona is to deprive them of the ball because once they start dominating possession, they take control of the game.
Looking at Manchester United’s home game against Barcelona, they allowed the visitors to control possession but were pretty quick to defend against Barcelona attackers.
This I think was really lacking in the second leg at the Camp Nou.
They allowed players like Leonel Messi, Luiz Suarez and Phillippe Coutinho too much space to move around with possession and these players rose to the occasion.
However, I strongly believe one of the many reasons for United’s heavy defeat to Barcelona in the second leg was because they really needed goals and so pushing players up front was one way of scoring goals.
But this backfired, leaving too much space in the mid-field area for Barcalona attackers to penetrate the United defence.
In the end Barcelona winning 4-0 on aggregate.
On the other hand, last season’s Champions League runner- ups Liverpool have also made it to the last four with a handsome 6-1 aggregate win over Portuguese club FC Poto.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtsS04i2PVI
With Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino findig the net comfortably, Liverpool took a 2-0 lead to Portugal where Sadio Mane, Mohamad Salah, Roberto Firmino and Virgil Van Dijk assured a Champions Leage semi final sport for their side.
In critical analysis, Liverpool were too dominant against Porto particularly in the second leg where they showed their finishing ability in front of goal.
You don’t often as a manager sit back and watch your team play this well. But when they do, its a real joy to watch.
Both Barcelona and Liverpool last met in the 2006/07 Champions League round of 16 tie where Liverpool won the mach 2-1 and won the tie on away goals.
I definitely think that this match is going to be a cracker. And the most hungerier team might jst win it becacuse both look evenly matched on paper.
Even though Liverpool might have a better goal average after that 6-1 agregate win over Porto, their opposition cannot be ruled out.
Barcelona will host the first leg at the Camp Nou on the 1st of May 2019, with the return leg at Anfield on the 7th of May 2019. Click here
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