(CNN)Barcelona and Manchester United played a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou in the first leg of their Europa League knockout playoff match, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford.
In a fixture that fans are accustomed to seeing in the Champions League instead of the Europa League, the two teams nonetheless produced a brilliant night of European football.
Prior to kick off, managers Xavi and Erik ten Hag both said the match would be a test of each team's progress under relatively new management and both will be pleased with the exciting attacking football their charges displayed. However, they will also rue the poor finishing that stopped either side from scoring more.
"In a game when you create five or seven chances you have to finish more," Ten Hag said after the game.
"We should have won this game. We need to be more clinical, finish our chances. In such a game we created many chances and there is a disappointment that we did not finish them."
After an open first half in which either side could have taken the lead, it was the home team who opened the scoring in the 50th minute when Marcos Alonso headed home from a corner. The former Chelsea man celebrated by honoring his father -- a former Barça player -- who passed away last week.
Just minutes later the match was level. Star forward Marcus Rashford finishing under keeper Marc-André ter Stegen from a tight angle.