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Manchester United beat Barcelona last night by two goals to one, in a memorable European match at Old Trafford.
The victory secured United’s passage to the next round and gave Erik ten Hag his 28th win of the season.
The significance of the number is that United have now won more games than any other club in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
.@ManUtd pic.twitter.com/XNBvPBgCgw
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 23, 2023
Real Madrid’s impressive victory over Liverpool on Wednesday left them level with United, but last night’s success puts the Reds on top.
Napoli trail just behind Madrid with 26 wins, with Barcelona and PSG tied on 25 apiece, to form the top five.
Given the start of United’s campaign, it’s a small miracle to see Erik ten Hag’s side on the list, let alone top it.
Back-to-back Premier League defeats at the start of the season, combined with fan unrest surrounding the property and a broken dressing room, meant Ten Hag had an unenviable job on their hands.
Since then, the Dutch coach has restored order and control to the club and found a way of playing that has catapulted United to the top of the table.
Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham have all been swept away by Ten Hag’s men, who are also the only team in Europe fighting on four fronts.
With progression to the next round in the Europa League assured, United will add another two games to their schedule as they continue their trophy hunt.
Silverware is exactly what’s on offer for United’s next outing: a trip to Wembley to face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.
Erik ten Hag will be desperate for win number 29 to give him the number one trophy and provide a springboard for what could be a special 2023 for the club.
