European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter final, March, 1984: Barcelona 2 Manchester United 3 (aggregate score)
In the first leg at the Nou Camp Barca were clearly superior on the night but couldn’t overwhelm United, winning 2-0 courtesy of Graeme Hogg’s own goal and Rojo’s brilliant strike from distance.
In the return, Bryan Robson’s first-half diving header gave the Englishmen the breakthrough they needed desperately. Robson got the all-important second early in the second half and with the momentum clearly with them, United completed a stunning turnaround as Frank Stapleton blasted home the winner.
1991 European Cup Winners’ Cup final, May, 1991: Man United 2-1 Barcelona
The 1991 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Final was played at the Feyenoord Stadion in Rotterdam. It came at the end of the first season of the reintroduction of English clubs into European competition after the ban following the Heysel disaster.
The match ended 2-1 to Manchester United on the night, with both of United goals coming from Mark Hughes. Dutch bounder Ronald Koeman scored a consolation goal for Barça towards the end of the game, but it was not enough to prevent the Red Devils from becoming the first English side to win a European competition since they were banned in 1985.
The Lee Sharpe Back Heel 1994/95: Man Utd 2-2 Barcelona
This was cute but Man Utd got absolutley mauled 4-0 in the return fixture.
1998-99 Champions League Group: 3-3 (x 2)
The teams met in the group stage in 1998. The first game was a high-scoring thriller – United were 2-0 up at half-time before Barcelona pulled level. David Beckham, who could play a bit back then, scored a brilliant free-kick but Barça went and scored again for a memorable 3-3 draw.
The return was played two months later, and remarkably ended in another 3-3 draw. Rivaldo bagged a brace for Barcelona and hit the bar with a 30-yard piledriver, but United took the point they needed to finish above Barcelona in the group and eliminate them. United were back at Camp Nou later that season to win the final.
Well our good luck against Barcelona had to run out some time!