Manchester United proved a boot cut above Barcelona and turned the Levi's Stadium into their very own Theatre of Jeans with a convincing win.
United continued their winning run in the US last night with victory over Champions League winners Barcelona, ahead of their own return to Europe's top table next season.
Skipper Wayne Rooney and substitutes Jesse Lingard and Adnan Januzaj scored the goals that gave Louis van Gaal's side another win in the States, following earlier wins over Club America and San Jose Earthquakes.
Victory over Luis Enrique's Treble winners was the perfect way for United to prepare for their final warm-up game before the new season, against Paris St Germain in Chicago on July 30.
Ahead of the game Van insisted the performance level was far more important than the result, but he knows how much belief this win will give his squad ahead of the new campaign.
![[Image: Wayne-Rooney-of-Manchester-United-and-Ge...celona.jpg]](http://i1.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article6139599.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Wayne-Rooney-of-Manchester-United-and-Gerard-Pique-of-FC-Barcelona.jpg)
But it was Barca who came out of the blocks and could have been 2-0 up inside five minutes. Luis Suarez beat David De Gea with a curling free-kick in the third minute, but the ball came back off the United keeper's left-hand post.
Two minutes later and Sergi Roberto found himself one-on-one with De Gea, after being put through on goal by Rafinha, but his tame shot was smothered by the United keeper.
![[Image: a_suarez_400.jpg]](http://espndeportes-assets.espn.go.com/2003/photos2015/0725/a_suarez_400.jpg)
After that nervy start, United looked as though they would have their work cut out against the recently-crowned Champions League winners, who were missing talisman Lionel Messi, as well as Neymar and Javier Mascherano, following their involvement in the Copa America with Argentina.
But it was United who took the lead in the eighth minute, Rooney getting away with a blatant shove to the back of Adriano, before planting a header beyond Marc Andre Ter Stagen from an Ashley Young corner.
It was Rooney's first goal for United since April 4, ending a barren run of eight games, going back to a 4-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Rooney had drawn a blank in United's first two games here in the US, but finally got off the mark here with a long overdue goal.
![[Image: Champions-Cup-2015-match-between-Manches...celona.jpg]](http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article6139438.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Champions-Cup-2015-match-between-Manchester-United-and-Barcelona.jpg)
Although a sell-out, the 68,500-capacity Levi's Stadium was only two-thirds full at the start, with traffic problems in and around the Santa Clara arena blamed for the great swathes of empty seats around the ground, home of the San Francisco 49ers and venue for next year's Super Bowl 50.
United could have gone 2-0 up just before the half-hour mark, Juan Mata and Matteo Darmian combining, with the latter spreading the ball out wide to Young on the left.
With Luke Shaw dragging full-back Adriano out of position with his run on the overlap, Young was afforded enough time and space to fashion a shot, but his effort was saved by Ter Stegen.
Suarez hit a post for a second time three minutes before the break, curling a left-footed shot beyond the reach of De Gea, although the Uruguayan was foiled once again by the frame of the goal.
United continued their winning run in the US last night with victory over Champions League winners Barcelona, ahead of their own return to Europe's top table next season.
Skipper Wayne Rooney and substitutes Jesse Lingard and Adnan Januzaj scored the goals that gave Louis van Gaal's side another win in the States, following earlier wins over Club America and San Jose Earthquakes.
Victory over Luis Enrique's Treble winners was the perfect way for United to prepare for their final warm-up game before the new season, against Paris St Germain in Chicago on July 30.
Ahead of the game Van insisted the performance level was far more important than the result, but he knows how much belief this win will give his squad ahead of the new campaign.
But it was Barca who came out of the blocks and could have been 2-0 up inside five minutes. Luis Suarez beat David De Gea with a curling free-kick in the third minute, but the ball came back off the United keeper's left-hand post.
Two minutes later and Sergi Roberto found himself one-on-one with De Gea, after being put through on goal by Rafinha, but his tame shot was smothered by the United keeper.
After that nervy start, United looked as though they would have their work cut out against the recently-crowned Champions League winners, who were missing talisman Lionel Messi, as well as Neymar and Javier Mascherano, following their involvement in the Copa America with Argentina.
But it was United who took the lead in the eighth minute, Rooney getting away with a blatant shove to the back of Adriano, before planting a header beyond Marc Andre Ter Stagen from an Ashley Young corner.
It was Rooney's first goal for United since April 4, ending a barren run of eight games, going back to a 4-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Rooney had drawn a blank in United's first two games here in the US, but finally got off the mark here with a long overdue goal.
Although a sell-out, the 68,500-capacity Levi's Stadium was only two-thirds full at the start, with traffic problems in and around the Santa Clara arena blamed for the great swathes of empty seats around the ground, home of the San Francisco 49ers and venue for next year's Super Bowl 50.
United could have gone 2-0 up just before the half-hour mark, Juan Mata and Matteo Darmian combining, with the latter spreading the ball out wide to Young on the left.
With Luke Shaw dragging full-back Adriano out of position with his run on the overlap, Young was afforded enough time and space to fashion a shot, but his effort was saved by Ter Stegen.
Suarez hit a post for a second time three minutes before the break, curling a left-footed shot beyond the reach of De Gea, although the Uruguayan was foiled once again by the frame of the goal.
