16 February 2023 , 22:26
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Owen Hargreaves admits Manchester United 's display will have dealt Barcelona something of a reality check after they were held at the Nou Camp.
The Catalans are comfortably sat top of LaLiga and welcomed the English side to Catalunya, but will need to win at Old Trafford if they are to progress in the Europa League. United continue to develop under Erik ten Hag and put themselves in a position to win when they went 2-1 up.
Barcelona managed to battle back thanks to Raphinha, whose cross evaded everyone to level the contest. Neither side could find a winner but Hargreaves is confident that the Spanish giants will have been taken aback by United's display - and be fearful of what they could produce on their own patch.
He said on BT Sport : "I reckon the Barcelona players and Xavi will be in that dressing room thinking ‘wow, I didn’t see that coming. I didn’t see Manchester United coming here and trying to dictate to us a little bit as well.’ I didn’t think they had any fear, they didn’t have any doubt, and if anything Barcelona will be thinking ‘well if they’re going to play that well here, at our stadium, what’s going to happen at Old Trafford?’
"The Barcelona players are going to be a little worried. I felt Gavi was fantastic in the game, Pedri going off had a big impact on the way Barcelona played, but they can step it up, Barcelona. They can play better, and I’m sure they will at Old Trafford."
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United are still fighting on four fronts with the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle just around the corner. Ten Hag is aiming to end the club's trophy drought, which dates back to the Jose Mourinho era, and has taken huge strides since the 4-0 loss at Brentford earlier this season.
Barcelona battled back to secure a draw against Man UtdFormer Red Devil Paul Scholes felt that United would've taken a draw before kick-off, but given their opportunities there will be a sense of what might've been in Spain.
He said: "I really think they would have been before the game, but if you look at the way the game went and the chances they’ve created, I thought Man United were really good tonight - second half especially - and what a game to watch, so exciting.
"There just wasn’t a breath taken, both teams really going for it, a bit of a throwback really when you look at it. As the manager said before the game he said they were going to go for it, and he was right."
United will host Barcelona next week in Manchester with a home game against Leicester to come before that. Manchester City's win at Arsenal on Wednesday night means they are just five points off the Premier League's summit.