Barcelona v Manchester United: UEFA Champions League quarter-final – live! | Soccer

For fans of Manchester United, the last few months have been the most inspiring since Alex Ferguson's retirement and the arrival of winter. A bar down, certainly, but nevertheless: where there was Jose, now there is hope.

But is there really? If you think that ends well, then you are not paying attention. Never before has there been a season that, at this advanced stage, retains the ability to suffer such a multiple horror – in truth, the night is dark and full of terror. And in the end, Manchester City could win a national hat-trick, which Manchester United has never managed; or they could win the actual triples, which Manchester United has managed; or they could win absolutely everything.

Liverpool could also win its first league in 29 years, perhaps thanks to United's boost; or Liverpool could win its first league in 29 years, perhaps thanks to the help of United, then to the sixth European Cup; or Liverpool could share each trophy with City, a series culminating in the European Cup final which, for United fans, will forever be known as Battle of the Bastards.

And yet the question is: does United want to win tonight? You might think it's a silly question, but stay with me. What happens if their reward is a pumping from Liverpool, who then claims Ol Big Ears? Or what if, in one way or another, they also sneak into Liverpool, to be brutally murdered by City, who will play a quadruple hunt in the final, their own wedding red? Some old wounds never really heal and bleed again at the slightest word.

Of course, these are all the worst-case scenarios. It is more likely that United will slowly lower tonight and then hope that Ronaldo and Messi will, between them, limit the season to a worse season. The field of Nou Camp is wide and it is difficult to see how United can cover everything, while keeping Messi, Suarez and Dembele calm, while allowing themselves to score a goal or two.

But at 1-0, they are not quite out of place: leave a wolf alive and the sheep are never safe. The fact is that although the Barca are good, they are not – the same problems that make them unreliable, also make them slightly vulnerable. Their defense is far from being the tightest, their midfielder is slow, and Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford, United have players capable of bothering any team – on a good day. Today will have to be their best day. Dracarys!

Coup de l'envoi: 20h local time