Barcelona has become accustomed to living in European mediocrity, not being able to take a single joy every time it leaves the Spanish borders. Not even when he is able to tie up an entire Manchester United at times. The ‘Red Devils’, with more character in the Old Continent, won at the Theater of Dreams (2-1) and cause another season of disappointment and nightmare for the Barça in Europe.
Yes, they will continue with the league on track, with a Copa del Rey semi-finals on the horizon and with a Spanish Super Cup won, but Barcelona is unable to get rid of the European stigma. A curse that goes back to seven years ago, the last time they were European champions, yes, by the hand of Neymar, Luis Suárez and Leo Messi.
Now it is not only that Barcelona does not have any of those three, nor any player close to the quality of the trident, it is that it does not compete for the ‘Champions’ either. He has descended several steps to a Europa League that does not smile at him either. Last year he danced Eintracht Frankfurt, this time, Manchester United came back at home, with goals from Fred and Antony that overturned Robert Lewandowski, and led to another torrent of disappointment.
And that the Barça dwarfed for many minutes the best United of recent years. The Englishman’s waterspout derailed when Bruno Fernandes committed a stupid penalty by grabbing Alejandro Balde inside the box.
Lewandowski, from eleven meters, threw a terrible penalty, with the luck that De Gea could only touch the ball, that it hit the post and slipped. United lost inspiration and Barcelona began to contemporize and look favourite, in a lukewarm reminiscence of when this team devoured Alex Ferguson’s.
Feeling superior could reach the 0-2, in a mistake by De Gea with his feet that Barcelona did not take advantage of.
The English needed rest to rearm and to change the formation. The departure of Wout Weghorst for Antony to enter, with the movement of Rashford at the tip, degreased the attack of United, who did not take two minutes to equalize the game.
In the front combined Wan-Bissaka and Bruno, who leaked the ball to Fred and the Brazilian, who left Sergi Roberto in evidence, scored.
This is Old Trafford. The goal emboldened the fans, who felt robbed by the penalty awarded to Barcelona, and the stands accompanied the players while grieving Barcelona, who still do not know how to deal with the pressure of these scenarios.
Ten Hag, who saw the opportunity, put in a temperamental player like Alejandro Garnacho and the Argentine was at the heart of the 2-1. Bruno entered the back line and left Garnacho with the ball controlled inside the area. His shot, hasty, was stamped on a defender, but the ball bounced towards the vicinity of Antony, who did not hesitate. He hooked the ball with such violence that Ter Stegen could do nothing.
Barcelona resigned. One more time. Like in Rome, Anfield or the Camp Nou last year. Lewandowski brushed the miracle of the equaliser on aggregate, but Varane took the ball under the sticks, prolonging for Barcelona a dramatic nightmare that has no end.
Europe is still a pending issue, a pressure that Barcelona is not able to overcome. Not with Xavi or with anyone.
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