Barcelona
and Manchester United were in the same First Phase Group for the Champions
League in the Fall of 1994.
The
Spaniards, managed by Dutchman Johann Cruyff, had won their Fourth Consecutive
League Title and had been the losing Finalist in the previous edition of the
Champions League, as well as winning it just two years previous.
The
team contained a host of International stars such as Brazil’s Romario,
Bulgaria’s Hristo Stoichkov, Holland’s Ronald Koeman, as well as new signing
Romania’s Gheorge Hagi.
They
had lost in the offseason long-serving goalkeeper Andoni Zubizaretta to
Valencia, as well as, Julio Salinas and Juan Goicoetchea.
International
defender Abelardo was signed from Sporting Gijon.
Carlos
Busquets, who conceded two goals to Manchester United in the 1991 Cup Winners
Cup Final, was now the starting goalkeeper.
Cruff’s
son Jordi had also been promoted to the First team.
Two
Times defending English Champions Manchester United had just had one of their
best seasons by winning the Double.
Alex
Ferguson had been managing the side since 1986.
The
team was led by French star Eric Cantona and contained a host of
internationals, such as Welshman Ryan Giggs, English Midfielder Paul Ince,
Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and Ukrainian (though Russian International)
Andrei Kanchelskis.
Its
key acquisition was Blackburn defender David May, while they had transferred
out ageing players such as Bryan Robson and Mike Phelan.
The
first leg, on October 19th, was played in Manchester’s Old Trafford Stadium.
Eric
Cantona was still suspended from European play from the previous season’s
sending off vs. Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Manchester
were missing Giggs through injury, Lee Sharpe started in his position.
Steve
Bruce was omitted, as Ferguson believed that the Bruce-Pallister central defense
partnership would not work against Romario.
Paul
Parker was given the task of marking Romario.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, October 25, 1994
(Bakero between Parker, Pallister and May) |
Paul
Ince captained Manchester United in Cantona and Steve Bruce’s absence.
Due
to foreign player restrictions, Romania’s Gheorge Hagi also did play for Barcelona.
Barcelona
was missing defender Albert Ferrer through injury and midfielder Guillermo Amor
was on the bench.
Both
teams played in a 4-4-2 formation.
Manchester
United scored first in the 19th minute, when Mark Hughes scored off
a header from a cross by Sharpe from the left.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, October 25, 1994
(Hughes and Koeman) |
Barcelona
tied the match in the 34th minute, after Bakero sent Romario clear
to score one on one vs. Schmeichel.
Eusebio
replaced the ineffectual Luis at halftime.
Barcelona
went ahead early in the second half, after Koeman’s cross from the right was
chested and volleyed home by Bakero.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, October 25, 1994
(Paul Parker and Romario) |
Manchester
tied with 11 minutes remaining, from a brilliant back heel by Sharpe from a
cross by Keane on the right after some good work by Ince.
David
May’s booking in the 57th minute for a foul on Stoichkov meant that
he would miss the November 2nd Match.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, October 25, 1994
(Manchester United players celebrating a goal) |
He
was also substituted and replaced by Steve Bruce in the 69th due to
injury.
Nadal’s
booking for Barcelona also meant that he would miss the November 2nd
clash.
On
leaving the field, Stoichkov was heard to tell Jordi Cruyff that he had given
him two good balls and missed both; therefore he would receive no more.
October 19, 1994
Manchester
United Football Club (England) 2- Fútbol Club Barcelona (Spain) 2
Champions
League- First Phase, Group A, Matchday 3
Venue: Manchester-Old Trafford
Attendance: 40,064
Referee: Ion Craciunescu (Romania)
Goalscorers: (Manchester United): Mark
Hughes 19, Lee Sharpe 79
(Barcelona): Romario 34, Jose Maria Bakero 49
Lineups:
Manchester
United:
1-Peter
Schmeichel (Denmark), 4-David May (12-Steve Bruce 69th), 2-Paul
Parker, 6-Gary Pallister, 3-Dennis Irwin (Republic of Ireland), 5-Nicky Butt
(15-Paul Scholes 66th), 9-Roy Keane (Republic of Ireland), 8-Paul
Ince, 11-Lee Sharpe, 7-Andrei Kanchelskis (Russia), 10-Mark Hughes (Wales)
Coach:
Alex Ferguson (Scotland)
Booked:
David May 57th
Other
Subs:
13-Gary
Walsh
14-Gary
Neville
16-Simon
Davies (Wales)
Team
Captain: Paul Ince
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro
Shirt
Sponsor: Sharp
Uniform
Colors: Red Shirts, White
Shorts, Black Socks
Barcelona:
1-Carlos
Busquets, 2-‘Ablelardo’ Fernandez, 4-Ronald Koeman (Holland), 5-‘Sergi’
Barjuan, 7-Luis Cembranos (15-‘Eusebio’ Sacristan 46th), 9-Miguel
Angel Nadal, 6-Jose Maria Bakero, 3-Josip Guardiola, 11-Aitor Beguiristain
(14-Jordi Cruyff (Holland) 66th), 10-Romario (Brazil), 8-Hristo
Stoichkov (Bulgaria)
Coach:
Johann Cruyff (Holland)
Booked:
Miguel Angel Nadal 55th
Other
Subs:
12-Sanchez
Jara
13-Julen
Lopetegui
16-Guillermo
Amor
Team
Captain: Jose Maria Bakero
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Kappa
Shirt
Sponsor: None
Uniform
Colors: Light Blue Shirts, Light Blue Shorts , Light Blue Socks
The
second leg, on November 2, was played in Barcelona’s Nou Camp Stadium.
Eric
Cantona was still suspended for Manchester United and due to foreign player
restrictions; Alex Ferguson chose to select Gary Walsh instead of Peter
Schmeichel in goal.
Schmeichel
sat next to Cantona in the stands.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, November 8, 1994
(Cantona and Schmeichel in the stands) |
David
May’s suspension paved the way for Steve Bruce to start and captain Manchester
United.
Ryan
Giggs was also back and started ahead of Sharpe.
For
Barcelona, Albert Ferrer was back in defense and Amor in midfield and Jordi
Cruyff was selected ahead of Beguiristain.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, November 8, 1994
(Guillermo Amor) |
Barcelona
completely dominated and won 4-0 to inflict Manchester United one of its heaviest
defeats.
For
the First goal in the 8th minute, Jordi sent a through ball for
Romario that forced Walsh out, he crossed for Amor who mis-hit and Ince
deflected the ball back to Jordi who crossed across for Stoichkov whose volley
took a bounce before going in.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, November 8, 1994
(Jordi Cruyff and Paul Parker) |
Just
before halftime, Stoichkov sent a long ball from the halfway line for Romario
who chested it down and dribbled across and fired a low a low shot into the net
with Pallister and Walsh unable to stop him.
In
the 53rd minute, Stoichkov scored after a one -two with Romario.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, November 8, 1994
(Romario between Pallister and Parker) |
A
few minutes before the end, Albert Ferrer crossed across the goalmouth from the
right that was deflected back to Ferrer himself by Pallister and he scored from
the rebound.
Alex
Ferguson called this match as his biggest disaster as Manchester United Manager
up to that point.
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 70, November 1994
(Romario between Nicky Butt and Steve Bruce) |
Manchester
United did not have one shot on target in the entire match.
Ferguson
maintained defiant in his decision to start Walsh ahead of Schemichel as his
tactic was to isolate Stoichkov and had no regrets in his selection policy.
Many
view this match as the reason Fergsuon abandoned the 4-4-2 for European Cup
Matches.
Barcelona
qualified to the quarterfinals from this group along with IFK Gothenburg and
Manchester United was eliminated. Barcelona themselves were eliminated in the
quarterfinals by Paris St. Germain.
November
2, 1994
Fútbol
Club Barcelona (Spain) 4-Manchester United Football Club (England) 0
Champions
League- First Phase, Group A, Matchday 4
Venue: Barcelona-Nou Camp
Attendance: 114,432
Referee: Joel Quiniou (France)
Goalscorers: (Barcelona): Hristo
Stoichkov 8, 53, Romario 45, Ferrer 87
(Manchester United): None
Lineups:
1-Carlos
Busquets, 2-Albert Ferrer, 5-‘Ablelardo’ Fernandez,, 4-Ronald Koeman (Holland),
11-‘Sergi’ Barjuan, 7-Guillermo Amor, 6-Jose Maria Bakero (15-Sanchez Jara 77th),
3-Josip Guardiola, 9-Jordi Cruyff (Holland) (12-Ivan Iglesias 63rd),
10-Romario (Brazil), 8-Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria)
Coach:
Johann Cruyff (Holland)
Booked:
Ronal Koeman 2nd
Other
Subs:
13-Jesus
Angoy
14-Aitor
Beguiristain
16-Luis
Cembranos
Team
Captain: Jose Maria Bakero
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Kappa
Shirt
Sponsor: None
Uniform
Colors: Blue and Burgundy Vertical Striped Shirts, Blue Shorts , Blue and Burgundy
Horizontally Striped Socks
Manchester
United:
1-Gary
Walsh, 4-Steve Bruce, 2-Paul Parker, 6-Gary Pallister, 3-Dennis Irwin (Republic
of Ireland), 5-Nicky Butt , 9-Roy Keane (Repoublic of Ireland), 8-Paul Ince,
11-Ryan Giggs (Wales) (16-Paul Scholes 80th), 7-Andrei Kanchelskis
(Russia), 10-Mark Hughes (Wales)
Coach:
Alex Ferguson (Scotland)
Booked:
Paul Ince 75th, Paul Parker 76th
Other
Subs:
12-Gary
Neville
13-Kevin
Pilkington
14-David
Beckham
15-Simon
Davies (Wales)
Team
Captain: Steve Bruce
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro
Shirt
Sponsor: Sharp
Uniform
Colors: Black Shirts, Black
Shorts, Black Socks
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