Shaw own goal hands Barca advantage

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi celebrate after Luke Shaw’s own goal

Luke Shaw’s first-half own goal handed Barcelona the advantage as Manchester United suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Old Trafford.

The United left-back gave Barca a deserved lead on 12 minutes when he deflected Luis Suarez’s header into his own net, with the goal confirmed following a VAR review.

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United responded well to the early setback, halting Barca’s dominance on the ball, but their cause was undone by a toothless attacking display which failed to yield a single shot on target.

After overcoming a two-goal deficit to knock out Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round, United will need to produce another comeback to progress to the semi-finals when they travel to the Nou Camp on April 16.

Marcus Rashford’s fiercely-struck free-kick flashed wide inside four minutes but Barca were dominant in possession and it was not long before their precise passing unlocked the United defence.

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Messi gathered Sergio Busquet’s ball over the top and cleverly crossed to the back post for Suarez, whose header deflected in off Shaw. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but the relief inside Old Trafford was short-lived as a brief consultation with VAR found no infringement and the goal was allowed to stand.

United prevented Barca from building momentum after their opener, pressing their opponents high, and the hosts had claims for a penalty rightly rejected when Scott McTominay went to ground under a challenge from Gerard Pique on the half hour.

Lionel Messi was kept quiet by Manchester United

Another incisive Barcelona move nearly yielded a second goal on 36 minutes, but David de Gea produced a fine save with his feet to deny Philippe Coutinho after he was released in behind by Suarez.

United should have drawn level four minutes before half-time when Rashford’s cross from the right found Diogo Dalot unmarked at the back post, but the Portuguese got caught in two minds and sent an aimless header across the face of the exposed Barca goal.

Marcus Rashford battles for possession with Gerard Pique

United lacked the clinical edge in front of goal and Rashford sliced horribly wide after goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s punched clearance landed at the striker’s feet within six minutes of the restart.

After Suarez rifled a shot into the side-netting, Ernesto Valverde introduced Arturo Vidal and Sergi Roberto, and the latter nearly had an immediate impact as his mazy run into the area was halted just as he prepared to pull the trigger by a vital challenge from Shaw.

Suarez missed a good chance in the second half

Barca upped the tempo in search of a potentially crucial second, but United avoided further damage, keeping themselves in the tie ahead of Tuesday’s return in Catalonia.

Opta stats

• Manchester United have lost three consecutive Champions League knockout stage games for the first time.
• This was Barcelona’s fourth Champions League victory against Manchester United, with each one coming in a different stadium (Camp Nou, Stadio Olimpico, Wembley and Old Trafford).
• Manchester United have lost four of their last six Champions League home games, as many as they had in their previous 71 at Old Trafford in the competition (W51 D16 L4).
• Manchester United failed to have a single shot on target in a Champions League game for the first time since March 2005, in a 0-1 loss at AC Milan.
• Barcelona have won five of their last seven away games against English opponents in the Champions League (D1 L1), as many as they had in their first 17 such games in the competition (W5 D5 L7).
• Luke Shaw’s own goal was the eighth Manchester United have scored in the Champions League – no side has netted more in the history of the competition.

What’s next?

United travel to Barcelona on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final (8pm BST). Before that, United host West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday (5.30pm), while Barca look to edge closer to the La Liga title away at Huesca on the same day (3.15pm).

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