Aftermath of Barcelona-Loss: Man United left to rely on another CL miracle at Camp Nou

Defender Luke Shaw's own goal gave Barcelona an advantage over Manchester United

Manchester United will summon up spirits and omens from far and wide as they go in search of a second Champions League miracle in Barcelona - but the bottom line is a brutal one.


This Manchester United team cannot consider itself anywhere near Europe's elite and the freakish events that saw United claw back a 2-0 home loss to overcome Paris St-Germain in the last 16 rarely strike twice.

No doubt we will hear about that incredible night in Paris, how seemingly insurmountable mountains can be climbed and how it is 20 years since United's only win in the Nou Camp - the dramatic 1999 Champions League final win against Bayern Munich.

There might even be a mention for the Champions League semi-final against Juventus in Turin that same year when United came from two goals down to win 3-2.

It is a romantic narrative but Barcelona deal in reality. With United 1-0 down, it would be truly astonishing if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side came through next Tuesday's quarter-final second leg to reach the last four where, in all likelihood, Liverpool would await.

Barcelona have not lost at home in this competition for six years and the harsh reality is that they were, by their own standards, decidedly average at Old Trafford but won without any anxiety.

Manchester United did not have a shot on target in a Champions League game for the first time since March 2005, when they lost away to AC Milan.

It was a workmanlike Barcelona but they still eased through.