Goals from Wayne Rooney, Jesse Lingard and Adnan Januzaj were enough to give Manchester United a 3-1 victory over European champions Barcelona in the International Champions Cup
Luis Suarez and Sergio Roberto almost gave Luis Enrique’s side the lead in the first five minutes before Rooney nodded home the opener in the seventh minute. Barcelona continued to press with Ivan Rakitic and Suarez both having chances early in the second period but United pounced again with Lingard doubling the lead.
Januzaj nearly added the third but it was Barca who were still maintaining control of the match with Munir El Haddadi hitting the woodwork late on. Barca were handed a lifeline when Rafinha got one back late on, but it was Januzaj who finished off the game in extra-time.
The European champions could have easily been two goals to the good only five minutes into the match, their first chance came when Suarez stood over a free-kick 20 yards from the goal. The Uruguayan’s effort had David De Gea rooted to the spot but it could only find the right-hand post.
The second came two minutes later when a lapse in concentration by the United defence was pounced upon by Roberto who was through one on one with De Gea but the Spaniard did brilliantly to stand tall and block the effort.
Rooney gives Man Utd the lead
Seemingly against the run of play United took the lead seven minutes in, a routine corner from Ashley Young was misjudged by Adriano which left Rooney with acres of room to place a simple header past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
United were playing quite dangerously defensive wise in the opening proceedings and it almost cost them in the 14th minute, a wayward clearance fell to Roberto on the edge but luckily a deflection took his effort wide of the mark.
Young was proving to be quite a menace on the left-hand side and proved it again in the 25th minute when he found room to pick out Rooney who managed to take it around Ter Stegen but angle proved impossible for even a man of Rooney’s talent.
In the last ten minutes of the half Barcelona were beginning to cause more and more problems, and Suarez almost equalised with just three minutes to play, the striker received the ball on the edge of the area but was blocked by defenders. He decided to turn and bend a shot towards the far post curling out of the reach of De Gea, but again he could only find the woodwork.
A minute later United target Pedro was causing problems for his potential teammates on the by-line where he drilled a pass into the feet of Suarez but he couldn’t quite get the shot off which allowed De Gea to collect with relative ease.
Memphis had been relatively quiet throughout the first period at the Levi’s Stadium but the Dutchman came close to doubling United’s lead five minutes after the break.
He showed incredible pace to get past the Barca and onto the ball and opened his left foot to get his shot off at substitute keeper Jordi Masip who did well to palm it away. Moments later Rooney managed to get a shot off at the keeper but like Memphis he didn’t have enough power behind the shot and the chance went begging.
Substitute Rakitic came extremely close to grabbing the equaliser in the 57th minute when he lined up the free kick. The Croatian hit a thunderous driving effort over the United defensive wall but luckily for them it found the roof of the net.
Barcelona thought they had the equaliser in the 61st minute when Pedro linked up well again with Suarez, putting the striker through who coolly slotted home with the first time shot, but the flag was up for offside.
The Red Devils double their advantage
Manager Louis Van Gaal had a mass change just after the hour break swapping all eleven players which seemed to pay off as they doubled their lead in the 64th minute. Defender Tyler Blackett managed to get the ball on the edge of six-yard box from James Wilson’s pass before pulling it back to an unmarked Lingard, who easily slotted it home.
United almost got a third three minutes later when Antonio Valenica played an excellent ball to Januzaj, the Belgian hit an excellent curling effort but it could only find the side-netting.
It didn’t seem to be Barcelona’s day when they found the woodwork for the third time in the 72nd minute, Rakitic whipped a ball into the area which found the head of substitute El Haddadi whose header could only find the post.
Even with 10 minutes left to play Enrique’s side continued to press and again came close with Rakitic this time having the opportunity from Sandro’s ball into the area. However, the midfielder couldn’t quite get the desired touch onto it and shinned the ball wide.
After all their pressure finally managed to get a goal in the 90th minute, a ball into the area was met just on the edge by Rafinha who hit an excellent volley into the ground beyond the reach of Sam Johnstone and into the bottom corner to give Barca fans a glimmer of hope.
Januzaj seals the victory
It was all over a minute later when Januzaj wrapped up the win, the Belgian had a great first touch which had sub Marc Barta floundering on the turf before sweetly side footing it into the bottom corner.
That proved to be the final nail in the coffin of what proved to be a frustrating match for Barcelonam who dominated for the majority of the game but ultimately have nothing to show for it despite Rafinha’s consolation effort.
United on the other hand were critical with the opportunities and this win will give them a big confident boost ahead of their final match against Paris Saint-Germian on Thursday.