Manchester United’s pre-
season preparations
continued with a 0-0
draw with Barcelona in
Gothenburg in a game
which saw Wayne
Rooney miss a first-half
spot-kick before losing in
a penalty shoot-out.
Both teams fielded strong line-ups in the
showpiece friendly which sold out in 45
minutes, saw the ball arrive on the pitch by
helicopter and featured a firework display
after the final whistle.
United included fit again Nemanja Vidic in
defence with Wayne Rooney and Danny
Welbeck up front and new boys Shinji Kagawa
and Nick Powell starting on the bench.
Barcelona, meanwhile, were near full strength
with Carles Puyol, joining Andres Iniesta,
Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez in the starting
XI with David Villa amongst the substitutes.
Perhaps unsurprisingly it was the Spanish
side who started strongly, characteristically
dominating possession and enjoying the best
chances of an entertaining first half.
Indeed it took less than a minute for
Barcelona to get sight of goal, Iniesta firing
goalward but his shot was easily saved by
David de Gea, returning to the United team
after his Olympic efforts.
Minutes later and the Spaniard was at it again,
dinking a delightful ball over the United
defence and into the area for Messi. De Gea
came flying out of his goal but could only flap
at the ball, but fortunately for the Red Devils it
skipped out of play before Messi could tap it
into the empty goal.
As the half wore on, Barcelona began to profit
down the United right, with Tello exploiting
Antonio Valencia at right-back and frequently
finding acres of space but unable to pick out
team-mates in the box.
United, meanwhile, were reduced to half
chances. Indeed a Rooney header that flew
wide and a low shot from Nani that flew past
the post after a gorgeous cross-field pass by
Scholes were all they had to show for their
efforts in the first half an hour.
Whilst it may have been a friendly, that did not
stop Scholes getting his name into the book
after a sliding challenge on Sergio Busquets
left the Spaniard in agony.
However, with time running out it was
another late challenge that almost gave United
an undeserved lead. Cristian Tello upending
Nani in the penalty area, leaving the referee to
point to the spot with just a minute left in the
opening 45 minutes.
Up stepped Rooney but his poor effort was
easily saved by Victor Valdes, who parried the
ball straight back to the England international
who put the rebound wide as the game went
into half-time goalless.
The penalty miss was to be Rooney’s last
contribution to the game, the striker being
part of a whole raft of changes at half-time as
Kagawa and Michael Carrick joined the fray for
United whilst Xavi, Pedro, Gerard Pique, Pinto
and Cesc Fabregas arrived for Barcelona.
Substitute Kagawa almost made an instant
impact, a good lay-off from Welbeck allowed
the Japan international to shoot low and force
Pinto into a diving save, as he tipped his
fizzing effort around the post.
Further changes followed with Dimitar
Berbatov and Powell introduced by Sir Alex
Ferguson who looked visibly frustrated on the
touchline; irritation which only grew after
Busquets pulled back Nani on a United break,
only for the Portuguese international to kick
out and force the referee to book both men.
Yet despite the attacking talent on view, there
was to be no breakthrough, with the crowd
treated to a penalty shoot-out after the 90
minutes ended goalless.
First up was Nani, but after a stuttering run
up his effort rebounded off the crossbar and
away to safety. Xavi then slotted home coolly
for Barcelona before Ashley Young also
missed for United, leaving Gerard Pique to roll
home the ball for the winning goal.

I could have died while laughing at ManU, they were outbeating alright

good match, nonetheless!

Johnpaul88: good match, nonetheless!

Hope u laughed more than i did

it is becoming a culture. even is barca play man u sleeping, they will win. give manure 12 penalties, they will loose. how can manur play barca with a white jersey? please next time, wear BLUE jersey.

even if man u falls i still remain their fan

Akwusike: even if man u falls i still remain their fan

do u have a choice?