Barcelona vs Man Utd: Lionel Messi fires Spaniards into Champions League semi-finals
Relive all of the drama
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Lionel Messi delivered another reminder of his enduring star quality as Barcelona quashed Manchester United's hopes of another improbable Champions League comeback at the Nou Camp.
United had overcome a two-goal deficit at Paris St Germain last month but Messi's first-half brace and a wonder strike from Philippe Coutinho ushered Barcelona towards a 3-0 victory, 4-0 on aggregate, at the ground of one of the Premier League side's greatest triumphs.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was insistent that the 1999 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich would have no bearing on this quarter-final second leg and his remarks proved accurate.
While his side made an energetic start, with Marcus Rashford denied by the goal frame within seconds of kick-off, Barcelona became more proactive and Messi, as he so often has done in the past, took top billing.
Relive all of the drama below.
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After such a fantastic start, Manchester United's momentum under Ole Gunner Solskjaer has rather stalled, injuries, suspensions and a general loss of form contributing to a slow puncture of a run that means the club are still moving forward, but slowing, certainly.
Solskjaer's charges were outplayed by West Ham on Saturday evening and fortunate to escape with three points, but they find themselves falling behind the pack in the race for the top four.
Underdogs certainly, the nature of tonight's fixture could just offer Manchester United the freedom they need to get back on track.
A feature of the first leg was the McTominaissance, Scott the Scot mature in midfield, far from overawed despite his relative inexperience at this level and indifferent season.
You suspect McTominay will be further tested in a defensive capacity this evening, if, indeed, he keeps his place, with Nemanja Matic back amongst things and ready for selection.
And will Solskjaer stick with the five-at-the-back, the loaded-up left side that worked, somewhat, in keeping Barcelona quiet?
While seemingly a measure designed to combat Lionel Messi, regular viewers of the Catalans will know that Messi is inhabiting the wider confines less and less and pounces on the defensive vulnerabilities an unfamiliar formation can reveal, as shown by the first-leg winner, capitalising Luke Shaw's discomfort in being the deepest man.
I'd be picking a four and providing extra reinforcement through the middle.
Switching to affairs in Turin, briefly, the standout star of the first leg was undoubtedly Frenkie de Jong, who will of course be pulling on a Barcelona shirt from the summer. The wickedly talented de Jong displayed all his prodigious qualities in a virtuoso performance in midfield, and thus Ajax will be concerned that a hamstring injury suffered 22 minutes into their intervening Eredivisie game with Excelsior may rule him out.
A shame for viewers, too, for de Jong is truly wonderful to watch, such grace, calm and poise in a midfield role that he has the potential to redefine. And yes, he is that good.
Jack Pitt-Brooke is in Turin for tonight's fixture, and rather enjoyed a working excursion into the city centre yesterday:
Back to Barcelona, then, and there is a real feeling that the club think this is their year, a yearning on the part of Lionel Messi to underline his legacy with another Champions League, sick at the successes of Real Madrid in recent years.
It is a squad sculpted around Messi, of course, and they have recruited well to that end, Clement Lenglet and Arthur fulfilling specific briefs ahead of more experienced campaigners at this level. Of their likely lineup, only really Philippe Coutinho is out of form. They are not the all-conquering force that some prompt them to be, and there are flaws in Ernesto Valverde's conservative approach, but they seem well set up to grind out a home win at the very least and progress.
And the team news for tonight's fixtures is just about to roll in...
Team News - Juventus vs AJAX
Big news for the Dutch side - Frenkie de Jong is fit and starts.
Team News - Barcelona vs MANCHESTER UNITED
It is a back four, seemingly, for Manchester United, Ashley Young at left-back, Phil Jones at right-back. Alexis Sanchez and Nemanja Matic return to the bench.
Team News - BARCELONA vs Manchester United
Just the one change from the first leg for Barcelona. Nelson Semedo is out, Sergi Roberto is in.
The confirmed team news from the Camp Nou:
Barcelona XI: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Piqué, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Arthur; Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Philippe Coutinho
Manchester United XI: David De Gea; Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young; Fred, Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba; Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford
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