Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows all about overturning Champions League deficits at the Nou Camp.
Twenty years after scoring a last-gasp winner there for Manchester United in the final against Bayern Munich, Solskjaer will be back in Barcelona’s stadium on Tuesday looking to mastermind an unlikely comeback from the touchline.
United lost 1-0 to Lionel Messi’s Barcelona at Old Trafford last week, yet that was the scoreline facing them in 1999 after Mario Basler put Bayern in front in the sixth minute in what proved to be one of the most dramatic football matches in a generation.
United engineered the turnaround with two goals in injury time – the first from Teddy Sheringham, and the second from Solskjaer with one of the last kicks of the game.
During his four months as United manager, the former Norway striker has made a point of reminiscing about the old days at the club, so it didn’t come as a surprise that, straight after the first leg, Solskjaer said: “We’ve scored goals at the Nou Camp before from corners and crosses … we can do it, no doubt about it.”
United have beaten Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain away in this season’s Champions League but Solskjaer said getting past Barcelona would be a “greater achievement.”
But there is one bizarre statistic that will be giving Red Devils fans hope as they make their way to Spain.
Messi, to many the greatest player ever, hasn’t scored in his past 12 games at the quarter-final stage – stretching back to 2013.
Elsewhere, Juventus are favourites to see off Ajax after a 1-1 first-leg draw in Amsterdam.
Ajax have gun midfielder Frenkie de Jong in doubt for Tuesday’s return in Turin with a hamstring problem.
Without an away goal from the first leg in London, Manchester City will be in trouble should Tottenham score at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Leading 1-0, Spurs are without injured striker Harry Kane, but have managed good results without him in recent seasons.
City could be without midfielder Fernandinho through injury.
Mohamed Salah looks back to his best after brilliant goals in successive weeks in the Premier League and he’ll be looking for more in the second leg against Porto.
The last time the teams met in the Estadio do Dragao, Liverpool won 5-0 with Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino scoring all the goals.
Porto captain Hector Herrera is back from suspension for the hosts, as is centre back Pepe.
