Top five greatest matches between Manchester United and Barcelona

Both the giants have played some great battles over the years

Manchester United and Barcelona have played out some classic encounters in Europe over the years. The two clubs are set to meet in continental competition for the first time since 2019 and history suggests there will be fireworks. There have been some incredible contests between these two sides down the years, stretching back to the eighties. The Spanish side does have the upper hand over their English counterpart, however, winning six times compared to United’s three wins, with four drawn games. Their upcoming meeting will be the first on a Europa League stage, which shows how far they have both fallen in recent years, but there will still be plenty of top talent on display and an intriguing touchline duel to keep an eye on between Erik ten Hag and Xavi.

Here are the top five matches between these two European giants:

5. Manchester United 3-0 Barcelona, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final, 1983-84

These were the pre-Alex Ferguson days for Manchester United. The memory of United overturning a two-goal semi-final deficit against Barca in the second leg of their 1983-84 Cup Winners' Cup campaign ranks among the fondest for the club's die-hard supporters, and for good reason. Barcelona won the first leg at Camp Nou 2-0 and felt so assured of victory that they brought but a few supporters with them. That assisted in creating what former United left-back Arthur Albiston later called the most intense atmosphere he had ever experienced. “ As well as a two-goal lead, Barça also counted two of the best footballers in the world among their ranks — Maradona and Bernd Schuster. As Barca lose in the 2nd leg Diego Maradona featuring Barcelona's side stood shell-shocked.

4. Manchester United 2-1 Barcelona, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final, 1990-91

Barcelona was under the charge of Johan Cruyff, a tactical genius obsessed with his sides controlling the midfield area, but on this occasion the ex-England international dominated proceedings. The night Sir Alex Ferguson's technically inferior Manchester United side battled their way to a 2-1 victory over Barcelona's 'Dream Team' in Rotterdam to claim the Cup Winners' Cup. Robson was the architect of both goals to cap another stellar all-round display as the underdogs held on for victory despite a late own goal from Les Sealey. Alex Ferguson’s charges held out for the club’s first European trophy in 23 years. 

3. Manchester United 3-3 Barcelona, UEFA Champions League group stage, 1998-99

The two teams somehow topped a thrilling first meeting at Old Trafford as they shared another six goals, with Barca crashing out of the competition despite the best efforts of a seemingly super-human Rivaldo. The Brazilian scored two equalisers, hit the bar from 30 yards and produced a superb near-assist for Giovanni late on in a performance for the ages, but United ultimately went through alongside Bayern.

2. Manchester United 0-2 Barcelona, UEFA Champions League, Final, 2009

United started their second successive Champions League final like a team possessed, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading their charge as Barca was pinned back in their own half at the Stadio Olimpico. Samuel Eto’o gave Barcelona the lead at 10 mins when he cut in from the right and poke it past Van Der Sar, at the near post. Xavi and Andres Iniesta then took over in midfield, with hopeless opponent Michael Carrick remarking afterwards that the Spanish pair seemed to be playing their "own private game". The champions of Spain were dominating play and rarely gave the defending Champions a sniff at goal. It was all over when Messi headed in a 2nd from Xavi’s cross in the 70th min. This was the beginning of the Guardiola era.

1. Manchester United 1-3 Barcelona, UEFA Champions League, Final, 2011

In the 2009 Champions League, final  Man United got first-hand experience of what it was like to be utterly dominated by a Pep Guardiola team. It was his first season in charge of Barcelona and they won every trophy in sight. When they met in the final again two years later. The Catalan club secured an even more commanding victory at Wembley. In one of the most one-sided finals of the modern era, Pep Guardiola's side gave United a footballing lesson from the first minute to the last. . Barcelona was dancing past their opponents and there was nothing United could do about it. Even Ferguson was well and truly humbled by the defeat, as he described Guardiola's Barca as "the best team I have ever faced".