Barcelona versus Manchester United. Your first thought upon reading that? Well, it probably relates to the latter stages of the Champions League. It is a fixture synonymous with that.
As recently as 2011, and two years prior, United faced the Catalans in the final of Europe's premium competition. In 2008, a semi-final between the sides saw United progress to face and beat Chelsea in the Champions League final.
The Camp Nou has similar connotations too. It was, of course, the stage of United's historic comeback against Bayern Munich to seal the treble in the 1999.
United's trip to the Camp Nou to face Barca on Thursday night, however, had a vastly different edge. It was the first leg of a Europa League playoff tie between two greats in transition, vying to get back to the top of European football.
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Barca dropped out of the Champions League after failing to beat Bayern Munich in either meeting, only picking up a single point against Inter Milan too. United failed to even make the Champions League, finishing second in their Europa League group behind Real Sociedad, albeit contentiously after an unjust penalty awarded to La Real at Old Trafford.
However, while two European giants meeting at this stage in Europe's second-string competition could be considered an embodiment of their respective demises, they are each emerging from spells of a downward trajectory.
It was a narrative-laden meeting between two sides on the upward side of states of flux, on the way back up and starting to blossom again. Irrespective of the stage at which the match was being played, it was an exciting prospect.
For Xavi and Erik ten Hag - both managers orchestrating rebuilds with distinct parallels - the tie is more of a beneficial marker of their sides' progress than an inconvenient early knockout match-up against another side beginning to turn a corner and purr again.
Barca have been a revitalised force in La Liga this term, holding an eight-point lead over a Real Madrid side that finished 13 points clear of them last season. High possession and control associated with Barca has returned, while Xavi has created a defensive structure and commitment to pressing to behold.
Their defensive record is the best in Europe in terms of league performance, with a mere seven concessions after only 21 games seeing Xavi's side on track to concede the fewest goals of any club in the history of Europe's 'top five' leagues.
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While the Europa League might not necessarily be the be-all and end-all for either Barca or United given their domestic positions of strength in terms of qualifying for next season's Champions League, neither manager showed any signs of taking things easy.
Neither team would be looked upon with shame if they were to exit once the second leg is concluded next week, and that contributed to the high-volume spectacle that ensued at the Camp Nou. A seeming lack of pressure on both sides added to the spectacle if anything.
"It was like a Champions League game," Ten Hag remarked post-match - an indictment of the replenishing quality of the two sides, both on the pitch and on the sidelines.
There were lapses from both sides (related to imperfections due to their states of rebuild) that maybe quashed Ten Hag's sentiment somewhat and added a frenetic element to the affair, but their upward trajectories were clear. It made for an enthralling watch.
There was innovation in abundance from both managers, which emphasised the new dynamic added to the sides from the sidelines. The extent of the tactical battle was exemplified by Xavi's choice to switch Ronaldo Araujo to right-back and move Jules Kounde - regularly at right-back - to centre-back.
This switch from Xavi was supposed to be so that probably his best defender was able to nullify Marcus Rashford's threat from the left. Ten Hag had other ideas, though, and played Rashford through the middle with Jadon Sancho to the left.
Wout Weghorst was dropped to the No.10 role that he completed the win over Leeds United in at the weekend, where his involvement could be greater and his presence more felt. Out of possession, he had duties akin to a midfielder, often even deeper than Fred. His physicality and defensive intensity made him an effective agent of chaos, much like Marouane Fellaini.
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Both sides also lined up with left-backs at centre-back, with Lisandro Martinez's suspension - in part due to the yellow card received for the dubious penalty call that meant United had to play this match - seeing Luke Shaw there again for United, while Marcos Alonso played the role for Barca.
Shaw shackled Erling Haaland efficiently in the recent Manchester derby, and he looked wholly comfortable up against Robert Lewandowski at the Camp Nou. It is getting to a stage where a calling a centre-back role 'out of position' is almost disingenuous to Shaw.
The fearlessness shown by Shaw up against such a high calibre striker epitomised the approach that United went to Spain with. They were expressive from the outset, not going into their shell and instead taking the game to Barca.
There were some flaws, such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka finding himself targeted by the double act of Jordi Alba and Gavi. But United showed their resolve to problem-solve and overcome the issues endured.
Wan-Bissaka was another to display United's confident, positive approach with a run down the right and cut-back into the penalty area, from which Sancho came close. There were further chances for Weghorst, who found himself denied by an in-form Marc-Andre ter Stegen when one-on-one, and Rashford, who similarly saw an attempt saved.
United also threatened from dead ball situations, with some good routines that troubled the Barca defence.
Ten Hag credited his side's chance creation post-match, but he viably criticised United's lack of a clinical edge. "When you create the chances you have to finish them," he said.
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Even amid wastefulness, there was the consolation that United's intent was highly positive against such a top side - something that wouldn't always have been the case in recent seasons.
But there was a sense that they should have taken advantage of being the dominant side, and moments after Sancho missed a good opportunity early in the second half, they were left to rue to the opportunities that had passed.
Alonso wasn't picked up by either Tyrell Malacia or Fred from a corner, with the latter not challenging for the eventual header, which was put past David de Gea by the Barca defender, who arrived unmanned at the far post to give his side the lead.
However, United didn't allow for this to be a blow to them. They responded with the same intent they had shown prior to conceding, maintaining their front-footed approach and promptly equalising.
Fred's pass through to Rashford opened up the Barca defence, with Rashford looking as though he had taken the ball wide but still beating Ter Stegen at his near post with power from an angle. It marked Rashford's 14th goal in 16 games, and the levelling of his career-best single-season scoring record of 22 goals.
That wasn't the end of Rashford's involvement, either. Within 10 minutes of Barca taking the lead, United found themselves ahead. And Rashford was front and centre again, driving past Raphinha after Shaw's short corner, then playing a powerful low ball across, which was turned into his own goal by Kounde following a nick off Bruno Fernandes.
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United attacked with poise and found ways to unlock one of Europe's strongest defensive lines, disjointing them with a mixture of intricate and incisive football. The tempo on display and pace in transition caused real issues for Barca, with the only real blemish the lack of execution in front of goal at times.
Collectively, Ten Hag's side operated at a high intensity with and without the ball, often depriving their opposition of time. From front to back, there was a commitment to hard work, with United dispossessing Barca high up the pitch on a few occasions.
On the whole, United defended well. But they ultimately found themselves pegged back by a Raphinha cross which managed to find its way through the entire United defence, who were deceived by an accidental feint from Lewandowski, and past De Gea.
Casemiro's return after domestic suspension had a positive influence on United, although he was culpable for giving the ball away in advance of the concession to Raphinha. Couple that with the poor marking for Alonso's goal, and United could feel only coming away with a draw from the Camp Nou was a harsh result given the preventability of their concessions.
Ten Hag was also displeased that United "should have scored a minimum four goals" and only scored twice, with chances being taken possibly seeing them take a lead into the second leg. All of this said, after a frantic climax, during which Casemiro managed to hit his own post, United will probably be relieved to not head to Old Trafford with a deficit.
There was also an argument that Kounde was fortunate to avoid a sending off after seeming to foul Rashford as the last man after a breakaway from United, and Ten Hag's remonstrations earned him a booking. But nothing resulted from that, and United themselves possibly got away with one after Fred appeared to commit a handball in the 18-yard box.
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Failure to come away with a win did elicit some disappointment for United. But their positive approach was a massive plus point, with the affair thoroughly entertaining, with both sides playing with the shackles off.
United probably did deserve to win, but that should be taken as a positive rather than something to rue given the pedigree of their opposition. They had the better of things, and if that can be carried into the second leg, then they are in good stead in terms of chances of progressing.
Barca will now be without Pedri, who picked up an injury, and the suspended Gavi for next week's meeting, joining Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembele on the sidelines. All of that gives an advantage to United, who have been strong at Old Trafford this term.
Only six months ago, United were losing 4-0 away against Brentford. Whatever may happen in the second leg next Thursday, dominating Barca on their own turf signifies marked development for Ten Hag and his side.
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