PLAYER RATINGS | Barcelona 2-2 Manchester United

The week’s blockbuster game lived up to the hype, as Barcelona and Manchester United played out a dramatic, end-to-end 2-2 draw at Camp Nou.

Xavi raised eyebrows by switching up his tried-and-trusted back four, and ultimately both Jules Koundé and Ronald Araújo performed well below their usual standards.

FC BARCELONA

Marc-André ter Stegen: 7 – Apart from being beaten at his near post by a superb finish from Rashford, the German was excellent all game, making a bunch of crucial saves and being composed in playing out.

Ronald Araújo: 4 – Was lucky not to pay for a poor touch that allowed Sancho a free shot. Xavi’s decision to swap Araújo and Koundé seemed to affect both players’ performances.

Jules Koundé: 3 – A number of defensive lapses playing at centre-back. Scored an own goal. Looked better when switched to right-back late on.

Marcos Alonso: 6 – A solid performance at the back, which he added to by heading in the game’s opening goal.

Jordi Alba: 5

Frenkie de Jong: 5 – A rather passive display.

Franck Kessié: 4

Pedri: 5 – Went off with what seemed like a muscle injury in the first half. Barça missed his presence, failing to gain control of the midfield since.

Gavi: 6 – A typical feisty performance, but picked up an unnecessary yellow that will see him suspended for the second leg.

Raphinha: 7 – Poor in his decision-making in the first half. Was much more direct in the second, assisting Alonso’s header before firing in the equaliser to make it 2-2.

Robert Lewandowski: 5 – A mixed game from the Pole. Not his sharpest outing, but helped force the equaliser.

SUBSTITUTES:

Ansu Fati: 5 – Had a few pops at De Gea, his second shot saved well by the Spaniard.

Álex Balde: 5 – Added directness to the Barça build-up.

Sergi Roberto: 4 – A mere 28 touches all game after replacing Pedri in the 41st minute, as the game bypassed him.

Andreas Christensen: 5

Ferran Torres: 5

MANCHESTER UNITED

David de Gea: 6 – Perhaps could’ve done better to prevent the first goal, but made some top saves in the second half.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 5 – Shabby in possession, but got in behind on occasion to pose a threat on the overlap. Failed to contain the Barça offence, who combined well to get beyond him.

Raphaël Varane: 6 – A good performance, largely keeping Lewandowski quiet.

Luke Shaw: 4 – Showed his inexperience as a centre-back, as he was beaten a few times by Lewandowski’s good centre-forward play.

Tyrell Malacia: 5

Casemiro: 6 – Generally very good defensively. Will rue giving away the ball, and letting Lewandowski sneak in behind him, leading to Barça’s equaliser.

Fred: 6 – Aided by Casemiro doing the defensive cleaning up, Fred put in an energetic shift. Assisted the opener.

Wout Weghorst: 6 – Was tremendous in his defensive workrate, having been deployed on the right wing. Three clearances and four tackles by the Dutchman.

Bruno Fernandes: 7 – Put in a fantastic shift, making eight recoveries. Created one big chance, as he tried to set Rashford through with the final ball.

Jadon Sancho: 4 – Tidy on the ball and pressed well, but missed a glorious chance early in the second half with the scores at 0-0.

Marcus Rashford: 8 – Took the game by the scruff of its neck in the second half, finishing brilliantly for United’s first and creating the second with a driving run and ball in from a short corner.

SUBSTITUTES:

Alejandro Garnacho: n/a

GSFN | Roddur Mookherjee

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