Manchester United’s first leg against Barcelona was an even game in many ways. The two teams drew the game at the Camp Nou with a 2-2 scoreline.
Both teams felt they should have won the game, and had complaints about the referee. Erik ten Hag felt Ronald Araujo should have been sent off after a foul on Marcus Rashford, while Xavi argued that Barcelona should have had a penalty after a Fred handball.
Both managers made their feelings clear to officials during and after the match, and there will be a real spotlight on the referee for this week’s second leg.
UEFA have assigned the referee for this week’s match, it will be French official Clement Turpin.
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Clement Turpin to referee Manchester United v Barcelona
Manchester United and Barcelona both have bad memories of Clement Turpin refereeing games they have suffered painful defeats in. For one of them, history will repeat itself.
Manchester United’s misery
Clement Turpin has refereed Manchester United three times. The Red Devils have won only once.
The most recent was the most painful defeat. He was the referee for the Europa League final in 2021 when Manchester United drew 1-1 with Villarreal and then lost in an agonising penalty shootout.
The other two games were a 1-0 extra time win in the Europa League quarter-final over Copenhagen the same season, with Bruno Fernandes scoring the winner.
He also refereed the first leg against Sevilla in Spain in 2018 which ended in a 0-0 draw. United have never won a game in 90 minutes when Turpin has refereed.
Barcelona’s meltdown
Barcelona have also been officiated by Turpin three times. They have two wins, against Dinamo Kiev and Borussia Dortmund in group stage matches.
The one game Barcelona had Turpin as referee in a knockout game ended in a truly epic meltdown, and is a game which still haunts the La Liga side.
Turpin was referee in 2018 when Barcelona crashed to a 3-0 loss away at Roma in the Champions League quarter-finals. They had been 4-1 up from the first leg and were eliminated on away goals.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets remain from the side which started that night in Rome.
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