FT: Barcelona 0 Man Utd 0 (pens: 2-0)

Last updated: 8th August 2012  

Barcelona defeat fellow European heavyweights Manchester United 2-0 penalties after a 0-0 draw in a pre-season friendly in Gothenburg.
Pique wins it for Barcelona (Bar 2 United 0)
Young, who failed from the spot at Euro 2012, sees his penalty saved by Pinto (Bar 1 United 0)
Xavi dinks his penalty past De Gea (Bar 1 United 0)
Nani hits the crossbar (Bar 0 United 0)
Here comes the shoot-out...
90 + 2 FULL-TIME: We go to penalties after a 0-0 draw following 90 minutes in Gothenburg. Three spot-kicks each.
90 + 1 Just to reiterate, it is only three penalties for each team in the shoot-out before going straight to sudden death.
90 ADDED TIME: There will be two minutes additional time before the final whistles and, if it stays likes this, penalties.
89 A cross drops into the United box but it is just over the head of Pedro. He was unmarked at the back post, however, was also not particularly interested in the ball.
88 Alba does not look like he is going to have any problems slipping into the Barcelona fashion. He has seamlessly fitted into this match on his debut.
87 Valencia has had a good game tonight. Along with Scholes and Ferdinand, he has been among United's best players.
86 There has been no signs tonight of any changes in style Vilanova might want to make after taking over from Guardiola. Obviously it will take time if he does make alterations.
85 It is all Barcelona in terms of possession as we enter the final five minutes. Fabregas makes a burst into the United box but is crowded out.
84 United look well set for the closing six minutes plus any additional time. They are back in two banks of four just outside the edge of their box.
83 Ferdinand's excellent evening is over. He is replaced by Scott Wootton.
82 This will certainly have been a good workout for United in terms of their fitness. They have had to be alert watching Barcelona runners and have also been made to work on their defensive shape.
81 Pedro has the chance to run at the United defence. But a back-pedalling Carrick superbly tackles. This really does look like it is going to penalties.
80 Lunging challenge from Pique on Nani. Fortunately for the United winger he skips out of the way. If Pique had made contact, Nani would surely have been injured.
79 Nick Powell comes on for Anderson.
78 Talk about chalk and cheese. De Gea claims the corner and then smacks a kick up field towards Kagawa. It goes out for a Barcelona throw-in.
77 More passing from Barcelona on the edge of the United box before they win a corner.
76 After an Afellay shot is dragged wide, pantomime villain Busquets goes off to be replaced by Ilie Sanchez.
75 Nani has had some bright moments this evening. His pace has caused problems but, as is often the case, an end product has been lacking.
74 It is difficult to see where a goal is coming from. We could be heading for penalties.
73 Barcelona simply refuse to shoot from outside the penalty area. Good stuff from Ferdinand as a body swerve gets him out of trouble on the edge of the box.
72 It is developing into more of a friendly tempo. All of Barcelona's substitutions have not helped.
71 After those chances in the opening minutes of this half, United are again struggling to test the Barcelona defence.
70 Busquets is not a popular player with the United fans. Fouls on the midfielder have seen two United players - Nani and Scholes - booked this evening.
69 Nani and Busquets are both booked. Busquets pulled Nani's shirt and then the United man retaliated.
68 United want a second penalty of the match when Nani goes down under a challenge from Bartra. The referee is correctly not interested.
67 The United players will already be feeling tired and will not be looking forward to facing the flying runs from full-back of Alba which lit up Euro 2012 before his move to Barcelona from Valencia.
66 More changes. Summer signing Jordi Alba comes on among another handful of Barcelona substitutions. Berbatov replaces Welbeck for United.
65 United are ready to bring on Berbatov.
64 De Gea produces another superb stop to prevent Pedro from heading Barcelona into the lead from a bouncing ball inside the penalty area.
63 Another good save from De Gea after his shaky start. In a one-on-one with Pedro, he stops with his feet.
62 Nani has the ball towards the right corner flag on the United attack. But he is facing three Barcelona players and does well to win a throw-in.
61 United look like they have lost a little bit of their concentration. De Gea has to be out off his line to stop Afellay.
60 All a bit of a mess from United as first Kagawa gives the ball away to Barcelona and then Ferdinand's loose stab at a cross runs the risk of going straight to an opponent.
59 Welbeck draws a foul from Mascherano on the right touchline. United go back to the defence from their free-kick.
58 Kagawa cannot quite get to a ball before Pique. It is unfortunate for United as Young was busting a gut getting forward down the left.
57 A nice flick from Scholes draws cheers from the United fans in Gothenburg as he clips possession to a team-mate in his own half.
56 De Gea lumps the ball rather aimlessly up field. Welbeck gives chase but it is easy for the Barcelona defenders and Pique then runs possession up field.
55 Evra is back on his feet and seems to be okay to continue.
54 While Evra is receiving treatment after a collision with Alves, Messi, who went off at the break, is walking around the edge of the pitch and slapping hands with fans.
53 This half is not as quick as the first. Both teams may be feeling their way back into the game after the changes.
52 Fabregas latches onto the ball inside the United penalty area and rolls it across towards fellow substitute Afellay. But Carrick steps in with an important interception.
51 Remember, if this stays 0-0 after 90 minutes, we will go to a three-penalties shoot-out.
50 Barcelona break down the left through another of their half-time introductions, Pedro, but the move comes to nothing.
49 But Kagawa almost makes an immediate impact with a shot that is heading for the back of the net before substitute goalkeeper Pinto tips it behind for a corner.
48 The second half is starting in much the same pattern as the first. Barcelona are passing the ball about the pitch.
47 Barcelona have made a host of changes, including Fabregas, Xavi and Pique.
46 Kagawa and Carrick have come on for United, with the latter taking the place of Vidic at centre-back and the former replacing Rooney.
WE'RE BACK: United get the second half under way.
Barcelona had the better of the first 45 minutes, with Messi shining at times. But Ferdinand had an excellent performance at the heart of United's defence. Rooney also wasted that penalty on the stroke of half-time.
45 HALF-TIME: BARCELONA 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 0
Valdes dives low to his left to save Rooney's powerful spot-kick. The goal-keeper is then back on his feet to put Rooney off on the follow-up which he knocks wide on his weaker left foot.
45 VALDES SAVES ROONEY'S PENALTY
Clumsy challenge from Tello on Nani. The Portuguese had possibly lost control of the ball but he had his legs taken by the sliding Barcelona man.
45 PENALTY UNITED!!!
44 Vidic has been taking things easy as the gradually works back towards match fitness. Ferdinand has been the dominant centre-back to allow his team-mate to work on his conditioning and positioning.
43 Another good challenge from Ferdinand, who is looking very good, as he stops a trademark Messi run.
42 Alexis has the chance to cross from wide on the right. But he does not lift his head to see none of his team-mates are attacking the back post. It is an easy header away for Ferdinand.
41 If he stays on for the second half, United should look to get the ball to Valencia more often. He is looking fit, powerful and full of pace considering it is still only pre-season. His crossing is also always excellent.
40 Valdes flaps horribly at the corner. With Rooney and Vidic both swinging at the dropping ball inside the six-yard box, the Barcelona goalkeeper is lucky to see it drift behind for a goal-kick.
39 Corner to United after Evra and Young worked a good overlap on Alves.
38 De Gea has to be quickly off his line to stop another Barcelona attack through Alves.
37 Poor from Welbeck as he takes the ball on his chest when back and deep in his own half before prodding it out wide for a throw-in to Barcelona.
36 Superb challenge from Ferdinand as he lunges out of defence to prevent a pass from reaching Messi on the edge of the box.
35 Tello again gets in down the left. He crosses to Messi who prods a shot into the shins of De Gea. It would not have counted. Tello was just offside in the build-up.
34 Scholes has not been distracted by his booking. Excellent challenge on Iniesta.
33 Corner to Barcelona when Tello is offered too much space on the left before his cross-shot is blocked and put behind. The set-piece is wasted.
32 United's fans in Gothenburg boo Busquets when he touches the ball again.
31 It's a cliché but Scholes really cannot tackle. He lunges for a loose ball when attempting to stop Busquets and only succeeds in clobbering the Barcelona man. Deservedly booked.
30 After some initially joy in the opening minutes, Barcelona are finding it a bit difficult to get behind the United defence. Ferdinand is marshalling the backline.
29 Scholes earns a deserved round of applause for somehow finding his way out of a cul-de-sac in the heart of the field to pass to Evra out on the left.
28 Alves does not quite have the legs this time to meet a cross-field pass. Throw-in to United in their own half.
27 Sloppy from Alexis as he gives the ball back to United on the edge of the Barcelona box. Nani eventually uses two lovely pieces of skill to beat a pair of defenders. But Mascherano is back to slide tackle before the winger can cross from the right byline.
26 Free-kick to United on the halfway line as Welbeck trips Mascherano.
25 Barcelona have Alves and Adriano playing as almost out-and-out wingers. It is leaving spaces at full-back, which United are trying to expose. But it is also stretching United's midfield.
24 From the corner, the ball finds its way to Messi on the corner of the six-yard box. He swivels and shots but it is a long way over the crossbar.
23 Corner to Barcelona after a Messi shot is just tipped past the base of the post by De Gea. A good and vital touch from the goalkeeper when diving low to his left.
22 Clever from Messi. A poked pass through the heart of the United defence just has too much power to reach the advanced Adriano.
21 Welbeck gets to the byline on the left and sends a low cross fizzing across the face of the six-yard box. It is just out of reach of Rooney.
20 This is a good game. After Barcelona's strong start, United have soaked up some of the pressure and are looking to hit their opponents with swift breaks down the flanks. Alvess defensive weaknesses appear to have been highlighted as an area to attack.
19 Nani cuts in from the right and takes on a left-footed shot from the edge of the box. It has Valdes scrambling but bobbles wide after being slightly scuffed.
18 Adriano crashes into the back of Valencia close to the halfway line and gives away a free-kick.
17 After the initial free-kick is pulled back for being taken too early, Messi hits a left-footed effort into the United all from 25 yards.
16 It is a good battle between Alves and Young on the right-left flank. Anderson fouls Messi by pulling the Argentine's shirt.
15 A long ball for Rooney almost sees the striker get in behind the Barcelona defence. The England international is furious a handball is not awarded against Puyol.
14 United are beginning to see a bit more of the game. Scholes is dictating from almost a sweeper role.
13 The familiar combination of Valencia crossing for Rooney results in the latter heading just wide of the target.
12 Tello has acres to gallop into on an overlap down the Barcelona left. But he cuts inside rather than taking a first-time shot and can then only fire wide.
11 Welbeck gives Valdes something to think about for the first time tonight. But it is nothing too serious.
10 Young gives away a free-kick in the United half for a trip on Alves.
9 Young looks like he could be a good outlet for United. Twice he has had room to make a run down the left.
8 This will be a good workout for United's fitness as the new season approaches. They are going to have to get through a lot of running if this pattern continues.
7 Iniesta is showing all of his class in the opening stages. His runs off the back of United's midfielders are from years of experience.
6 United are looking to play a counter-attacking game, with Barcelona high up the pitch.
5 Chance for Messi. Iniesta dinks a pass through to the Argentine but he cannot quite get his toe to the boot. De Gea did not look totally convincing when coming off his line to try and block.
4 United's midfield is deep to try and counteract Barcelona's high line of pressure. Rooney is playing as the lone man up front, with the energetic Welbeck attempting to offer some support.
3 Now United enjoy a passage of passing, with Scholes deep in his own half attempting to show his team-mates how it's done.
2 Barcelona have had no problems clicking into their usual passing style. United and spent the first two minutes chasing the ball.
1 Hardly a touch for United in the opening seconds and then Iniesta tests De Gea from 25 yards.
KICK-OFF: Barcelona get the game going.
18.56 As a helicopter delivers the matchball, this promises to be an excellent game. Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Tito Vilanova have named strong teams. If it is level scores at the end of 90 minutes, there will be a three penalties shootout.
18.49 Referee: Martin Balko (Slovakia)
18.48 Man Utd team: De Gea, Valencia, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Scholes, Anderson, Young, Welbeck, Rooney. Subs: Lindegaard, Berbatov, Hernandez, Carrick, Powell, Kagawa, Macheda, Wootton, Brady, Michael Keane, Lingard.
18.48 Barcelona team: Valdes, Dani Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Adriano, Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Iniesta, Alexis Sanchez, Messi, Tello. Subs: Pinto, Pique, Fabregas, Xavi, Bartra, Pedro, Jordi Alba, Montoya, Afellay, Ilie Sanchez, Rafinha.
18.46 Hello and welcome to our live and interactive coverage of the friendly between European giants Barcelona and Manchester United in Gothenburg.