Red and buried /Messi and Coutinho send United crashing out of Europe
● Repeat of 1999 Nou Camp glory eludes Solskjaer as his side’s early vigour is subdued
3 Lionel Messi celebrates with Philippe Coutinho after putting Barcelona ahead against Manchester United at the Nou Camp last night. Further goals by Messi and Coutinho completed a 3-0 win for the Catalans and a miserable night for Ole Solskjaer’s side.
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 twogoal deficit at Paris St Germain last month but Messi’s first-half brace and a wonder strike by Philippe Coutinho, pictured, 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, 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.
The 31-year-old five-time Ballon d’or winner doubled Barcelona’s advantage with a left-footed strike from the edge of the area that has so often become his hallmark, although his second strike arrived following a major blunder by United goalkeeper David De Gea.
There was nothing the United goalkeeper could do to stop Coutinho just after the hour mark, though, as Barcelona booked a semi-final showdown against either Liverpool or Porto.
United at least started with plenty of belief, with boss Solskjaer preaching the virtues of having an attacking mindset in an intimidating atmosphere, a message his players seemed to take on board as they sprung out of the traps.
Rashford was able to get in behind the Barcelona defence but saw his toe-poke clip the top of the bar in the opening seconds, while Scott Mctominay dithered in space moments later, allowing the hosts to clear their lines.
The visitors were given a letoff, however, when a penalty was rescinded after the video assistant referee deemed Fred had got a touch to the ball before Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic went over his trailing leg.
The decision left Barcelona fans incensed but boos turned to cheers as an archetypal Messi goal after 16 minutes gave United an even bigger mountain to climb. Ashley Young was caught in possession, allowing the Barcelona captain to nutmeg Fred and cut infield from the right before curling a left-foot shot from the edge of the area beyond De Gea.
If the Spaniard could do little about that, he was entirely culpable four minutes later, allowing Messi’s tame rightfoot effort to slide under him after United had once again given the ball away deep inside their own half.
Messi’s brace left United needing three goals to progress but the vigour they showed in the opening stages had evaporated, while they were fortunate not to fall further behind on the stroke of half-time.
De Gea made amends for his earlier mistake with a fantastic reflex save to keep out Sergi Roberto’s sliding finish at the back post from point-blank range.
The half-time break seemed to do little to raise United’s spirits and any realistic hope of a comeback disappeared when former Liverpool forward Coutinho exquisitely found the top corner from 25 yards after 61 minutes.
An overhead by Messi went just wide in front of an increasingly jubilant 96,708-strong crowd – Barcelona’s highest attendance of the season.
The pace of Rashford kept Barca’s defence honest but his withdrawal – with the more powerful Romelu Lukaku introduced after 73 minutes – suggested Solskjaer’s thoughts are now on the domestic front.
Former Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez also came on in the closing stages for his first appearance in six weeks after a knee injury.
His header produced a brilliant full-length diving save from Marc-andre ter Stegen, depriving United of a consolation. BARCELONA: ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto (Nelson Semedo 71), Pique, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Arthur (Vidal 75), Messi, Suarez, Coutinho (Dembele 81). Subs not used: Cillessen, Malcom, Umtiti, Alena.
MANCHESTER UNITED: de Gea, Jones, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, Mctominay, Fred, Pogba, Lingard (Sanchez 79), Rashford (Lukaku 73), Martial (Dalot 65). Subs not used: Romero, Mata, Andreas Pereira, Matic.