Barcelona vs Man United history: Head-to-head matches, last meeting, team records ahead of Europa League clash

Man United face a battle to stay in the 2022/23 Europa League as they head to Barcelona for a Round of 16 playoff.

After finishing second in Group E, United must now navigate a tricky playoff against the Catalan giants, as Erik ten Hag looks to avoid an early European exit this season.

United’s record against Barcelona leaves fans with bad memories in recent years after Pep Guardiola’s side ruthlessly beat them in two Champions League finals.

Despite their upcoming meeting coming outside of the Champions League, the focus on both sides is massive, as United look to gain a slight revenge.

MORE: UEFA Europa League playoffs fixtures: Complete schedule, dates and times for all 2022/23 knockout qualifiers

Barcelona vs Man United history

In total, Barcelona and Manchester United have faced each other 13 times, with Barcelona winning six, compared to United’s three, alongside four draws.

Within the list, there has been 10 Champions League clashes, from 1994 to 2019, and three previous meetings in the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Despite some positivity for United in their early skirmishes with Barcelona, the La Liga superpower have dominated during the Premier League era, with success in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals.

Both finals were painted as the two best teams in Europe going toe-to-toe, in Rome and London respectively, but United were blown away in both showpiece games.

United’s double final woe – Messi the King of London and Rome

Samuel Eto’o’s early goal set the tempo in the 2009 Champions League final, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, but Lionel Messi’s late winner went down as the iconic moment, as United’s European title defence fell short.

Xavi’s inch perfect cross freed the Argentinian, and despite his diminutive size, he netted a superb header past the towering Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar.

🔵🔴 #OTD in 2009, Barcelona become champions in Rome 🏆

⚽️ Eto’o, Messi #UCL | @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/8WHw06NKWO

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 27, 2020

The 2011 meeting at Wembley was viewed as United’s chance at payback, after winning the Premier League by a nine-point margin, as Barcelona edged out Real Madrid in La Liga.

But again, Guardiola’s all conquering side were too much for Sir Alex Ferguson’s United, as they stormed home at Wembley.

Pedro’s early goal was cancelled out by Wayne Rooney’s superb leveller, before Messi slalomed through to put Barcelona back in front, and David Villa wrapped it up late on.

🔵🔴 Barcelona claim their 4th European crown #OTD in 2011 🏆

⚽️ Pedro Rodríguez, Messi, Villa #UCL | @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/6QR9TWP8ZK

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 28, 2020

Barcelona vs Man United head-to-head

Two final defeats underlined the gap between Barcelona and United — and the rest of Europe — at the time and Messi again turned on the style to dump United out of the 2018/19 Champions League, with a superb double at the Camp Nou in the quarterfinals.

Recent history does not have much positivity for United, but they have enjoyed their moments, including Paul Scholes’ 2008 bullet at Old Trafford which knocked Barcelona out and put United on course for glory in Moscow.

⏪ Manchester United v Barcelona: A spectacular strike by Paul Scholes in 2008! #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/rGlCHBWDhf

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 15, 2019

And despite not facing Barcelona, the Camp Nou was the venue for United’s greatest ever European night, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stole the show against Bayern Munich to seal a 2-1 win.

🎙️ “Beckham, into Sheringham… AND SOLSKJÆR HAS WON IT!” 🎙️

1⃣9⃣9⃣9⃣🏆

Happy 46th birthday to Manchester United legend and current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær! 🥳🥳🥳#UCL | @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/7Z6448ehYu

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 26, 2019

Last Barcelona vs Man United match

United had to wait eight years to face Barcelona again, after the Wembley final loss in 2011, with Messi and co squeezing out a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the quarterfinal first leg.

Solskjaer’s side travelled to Catalonia with a chance of turning the tie on its head in April 2019, but they ran into Messi in ruthless mood yet again, as his quickfire double set Barcelona on course for a 3-0 home win, and a spot in the semifinal.

Barcelona vs Man United Europa League betting odds