Barcelona came from behind to draw 2-2 with Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round playoff at Camp Nou on Thursday night.

Marcos Alonso sent the home side ahead early in the second period before Man United turned the match around, with Marcus Rashford levelling before an own goal from Jules Kounde sent the visitors ahead.

However, Barcelona equalised in the 76th minute through Raphinha, leaving the tie delicately poised ahead of the return fixture at Old Trafford next Thursday

Man United made a bright start and had a half-chance inside the first minute when Bruno Fernandes broke down the right before delivering a cross towards Fred, but the Brazilian could not make contact on the stretch.

Rashford started as the centre-forward for the Red Devils, with Wout Weghorst playing as the number 10 in a bold move from Erik ten Hag, who went with a back four at Camp Nou, with Luke Shaw joining Raphael Varane in the middle of the defence.

Barcelona had Alonso in the middle of their defence, meanwhile, with Franck Kessie operating in central midfield, as Sergio Busquets missed out with an ankle sprain.

Man United had another two half-chances in the seventh minute when Rashford delivered a low cross into the box, but Fernandes and Tyrell Malacia both had efforts blocked in quick succession.

Barcelona’s first chance of the match came in the ninth minute when Robert Lewandowski broke into the Man United box, but the striker’s effort was well saved by David de Gea.

Alonso sent a free kick over the Man United crossbar in the 13th minute, with the home side starting to find their feet after a bright opening from the 20-time English champions.

Barcelona had another half-chance in the 19th minute, with Pedri firing over De Gea’s goal, but Man United continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack.

Sancho had a shot deflected just wide of the Barcelona post in the 27th minute after meeting a cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was contributing in the final third of the field.

Weghorst had a golden chance to send Man United ahead in the 28th minute when he was played into a one-on-one situation with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but the Barcelona goalkeeper came out on top, before the German kept out a header from Casemiro during a strong spell for the visitors.

Casemiro had another headed chance from a corner in the 33rd minute, before Ter Stegen made a smart save to keep out an effort from Rashford one minute later.

Down the other end, De Gea had to keep out an effort from Jordi Alba after the left-back had broken into the penalty box, with Wan-Bissaka just doing enough to put off the Spaniard.

Barcelona were forced into a change in the closing stages of the first half, with Pedri unable to continue, which led to Sergi Roberto being introduced in midfield.

The visitors had an opportunity early in the second half, with Raphinha turning outside the box before striking towards goal, but the ball flew just wide of the Man United goal.

Sancho then had a brilliant chance down the other end, with the Englishman firing wide at the far post after a Wan-Bissaka had delivered low into the Barcelona box.

The home side took the lead in the 50th minute, with Alonso heading into the back of the net from a Raphinha corner after escaping the attentions of Fred inside the box.

Casemiro struck over the Barcelona crossbar as Man United looked for an instant response, and it came in the 53rd minute through Rashford.

The England international raced onto a pass from Fred before squeezing his effort past Ter Stegen at his near post, with Ten Hag’s side only behind for three minutes at Camp Nou.

Rashford had another half-chance in the 54th minute, with the forward having an effort blocked inside the Barcelona box, before De Gea kept out a powerful Raphinha effort down the other end

Man United then took the lead in the 59th minute through an own goal from Kounde; Rashford brilliantly worked the space down the right before delivering low into the penalty box, and the ball eventually hit Kounde before dropping into the back of the net.

Wan-Bissaka had one deflected wide of the Barcelona past in the 62nd minute, before Rashford had a shout for a penalty two minutes later after breaking clear of the home side’s defence once again; replays showed that the contact was outside the box, but it should have been a free kick in a dangerous area.

Lewandowski lifted a free kick over the Man United crossbar in the 67th minute, before Fred fired one wide of the post down the other end of the field.

Barcelona managed to level the scores in the 76th minute when Raphinha’s whipped cross found a route into the bottom corner, with Lewandowski not making contact despite being in close proximity.

Rashford struck wide of the target in the 79th minute, with Man United responding impressively to the disappointment of the leveller

De Gea then had to keep out a header from Raphinha after Shaw had failed to deal with a long kick from Ter Stegen, before Ansu Fati curled one wide of the Man United goal 10 minutes from time.

Barcelona wanted a penalty for a Fred handball in the latter stages, before Casemiro struck against his own post, with Man United failing to deal with a free kick into the box.

De Gea then made a smart save to deny Fati, with the home side pressing for a winner at Camp Nou, but Man United were dangerous on the counter-attack through Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

Rashford forced Ter Stegen into a save in the final minute, before Alejandro Balde fired over the Man United crossbar in stoppage time; Fati then had one deflected wide of De Gea’s post, with Barcelona searching for a third, but the visitors held on to claim a draw in Spain.

Next up for Barcelona is a home La Liga contest against Cadiz on Sunday, while Man United will resume their Premier League campaign against Leicester City at Old Trafford on the same day.