Manchester United vs Barcelona clashes: Five best clashes

Manchester United and Barcelona have plenty of history with the likes of Bryan Robson and Romario headlining previous meetings.

Published : Apr 10, 2019 16:32 IST

Manchester United will on Wednesday meet Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals at Old Trafford, evoking memories of some wonderful European encounters.

The two heavyweights first met in 1984 with an incredible two-legged tie in the Cup Winners' Cup setting the benchmark for what was to follow.

Here, Omnisport examines five of the best meetings between the clubs.


Manchester United 3 Barcelona 0 (European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final, second leg, March 21, 1984)

Still talked about by United fans of a certain vintage as one of the best nights in the club's history. Having lost the first leg 2-0 at Camp Nou, United was a heavy underdog but a Barcelona side containing Diego Maradona and Bernd Schuster was overwhelmed amid a frenzied atmosphere at Old Trafford. Bryan Robson scored either side of half-time to level the tie on aggregate before Frank Stapleton popped up with the winner eight minutes into the second period. United could not go all the way, though, losing to Juventus in the last four.

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Manchester United 2 Barcelona 1 (European Cup Winners' Cup final, May 15, 1991)

Mark Hughes scored twice to see off Johan Cruyff's Barcelona in Rotterdam. Having endured a disappointing spell at Barca before returning to Old Trafford in 1988, Hughes took revenge on the Catalan club by putting Alex Ferguson's side 2-0 up inside 74 minutes. Ronald Koeman pulled one back but United held on to claim its second European crown.

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Mark Hughes (10) scores for Manchester United against Barcelona in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1991.
 

Barcelona 4 Manchester United 0 (Champions League Group A, November 2, 1994)

Romario and Hristo Stoichkov ran riot as United, and defensive pair Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister in particular, were destroyed by Cruyff's 'Dream Team'. Bulgarian Stoichkov scored twice and Brazil great Romario once with full-back Albert Ferrer adding a late fourth.

Manchester United 0 Barcelona 2 (Champions League final, May 27, 2009)

After beating Chelsea in Moscow 12 months earlier, United was bidding to become the first club to retain the Champions League title but came unstuck against Pep Guardiola's men. Samuel Eto'o put Barca ahead inside 10 minutes and Lionel Messi doubled its lead with a rare header to complete a memorable treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey triumphs.

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Lionel Messi (L) scores Barcelona's second goal against Manchester United in the Champions League final in 2009.

RELATED | Manchester United vs Barcelona: Messi's record against English clubs

Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1 (Champions League final, May 28, 2011)

Messi was to prove a key figure again as Barcelona, which overcame arch-rival Real Madrid in the semifinals, emerged victorious at Wembley. Wayne Rooney cancelled out Pedro's opener but Messi fired home from the edge of the area before David Villa made it 3-1.

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