Manchester United vs Barcelona LIVE result: Europa League reaction after Antony completes thrilling comeback

A Qatari state takeover of Manchester United would be nothing short of an English football travesty.

This is a moment of enormity for the sport. The concern is two-fold, both having a multiplying effect on the other to pose a potentially irreversible impact on the game. At its moral core, there is English football’s biggest club being made to represent the biggest problem in football right now. United would be politically used to mitigate one of the most criticised human rights records on earth, centred on a labour system described as modern slavery, consequently making this noble institution complicit.

United would no longer just be about Salford, Manchester and a community of fans thrilled by a glorious history of adventure and defiance. It would be about Qatar, its foreign policy and the kind of issues that just shouldn’t be a concern for football. “Sportswashing” is too soft a description for what is actually happening here, especially when you consider the other issue.

The first game was a well-balanced affair although Manchester United could count themselves unlucky not to come away without a win.

Home advantage should see them over the line in this one, and expect Marcus Rashford to be amongst the goals again.

Manchester United 3-1 Barcelona.

Man Utd XI: David De Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw; Casemiro, Fred, Bruno Fernandes; Jadon Sancho, Wout Weghorst, Marcus Rashford.

Barcelona XI: Marc Andre ter Stegen; Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Marcos Alonso, Jordi Alba; Frenkie De Jong, Franck Kessie; Raphinha, Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres; Robert Lewandowski.

Barcelona will be without talented midfielders Pedri and Gavi following the first leg, whereas Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer are available having been suspended for the first leg in Spain.

Scott McTominay was absent through injury but returned to the squad on Sunday, while there is further good news on the fitness of winger Antony and captain Harry Maguire. Antony has not played since the 2-1 win against Crystal Palace on 4 February, while the United skipper watched from the stands against former club Leicester due to a minor knock.

“We still have the training to go but I expect Harry Maguire and Antony dos Santos available,” Ten Hag said. “Anthony Martial is not available. He’s back, back on the pitch, not back in the team training so we wait for that.”

The match kicks off tonight at 8pm GMT at Old Trafford.

The game will be shown live on BT Sport 1 in the UK and subscribers can stream online via the BT Sport app.

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s crucial Europa League play-off game which will see one of either Manchester United or Barcelona progress to the last-16 stage.

A week ago the two European heavyweights played out a spectacularly entertaining 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp with Barcelona opening the scoring through Marcos Alonso before Marcus Rashford equalised. Rashford was key to United’s next goal when his driving run and cross into the box resulted in a Jules Kounde own-goal but Barcelona recovered late in the second half and Raphinha curled one home to keep the tie delicately poised.

The first leg was a close fought affair with both sides having moments of dominance and control before momentum swung the other way. Expect something similar tonight though Erik ten Hag will be hoping home advantage plays its part in United’s favour.

Barca are without midfielders Pedri and Gavi though there is enough quality in Xavi’s squad to make up for their absences. This should be a fascinating encounter that will end with one of these teams being dumped out of the competition.

Who will go through tonight?