Carabao Cup: Manchester United rout 3rd-division Barnsley 7-0 to progress ahead

Manchester United delivered an outstanding performance at Old Trafford, defeating Barnsley 7-0 in the Carabao Cup third round. Key players Rashford, Garnacho, and Eriksen shone as United secured their biggest victory under Erik ten Hag.

In Short

• Manchester United thrash third-division Barnsley 7-0
• Rashford, Garnacho, and Eriksen each scored twice
• Manager Ten Hag was pleased with the complete performance

Manchester United produced a dominant performance at Old Trafford on Tuesday, thrashing third-division Barnsley 7-0 in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Erik ten Hag's side, led by standout performances from Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Christian Eriksen, booked their place in the competition's last 16 with their biggest victory under the Dutch manager.

Rashford, Garnacho, and Eriksen each bagged a brace, while Antony added another to complete a commanding display that delighted the home crowd. This emphatic win surpassed United's previous highest margin under Ten Hag, surpassing the 4–1 wins against Real Betis and Chelsea from last season.

Manager Erik ten Hag was pleased with his side's complete performance, describing it as the "perfect night." "Not for me, but for the team, this is the perfect night. We won, scored some great goals, entertained the fans, and worked on our game model," Ten Hag said, emphasizing his satisfaction.

RASHFORD RETURNS TO FORM

Rashford, who struggled last season with just nine goals, continued his resurgence, following up his recent strike against Southampton with a double on Tuesday. The England international opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a powerful finish after cutting inside Barnsley's Marc Roberts, and later netted again in the 58th minute, marking his first multi-goal game since February 2023.

"Football is football. Sometimes you have ups and sometimes downs, but we have to use these games to build momentum and consistency," Rashford said post-match, acknowledging his recent dip in form.

GARNACHO, ERIKSEN SHINE

Teenager Alejandro Garnacho also grabbed attention, scoring twice-once just before halftime and again shortly after the break. His performance highlighted his growing importance in the team, as he now has three goals in his last two matches.

Christian Eriksen, introduced late in the second half, added to Barnsley's misery with two goals in quick succession in the final 10 minutes, sealing a resounding victory.

Antony's penalty conversion in the 35th minute rounded out United's first-half dominance, while the second half saw Barnsley completely overwhelmed by United's relentless attack. Barnsley, who entered the match hoping to pull off a giant-killing, were simply outclassed by the Premier League giants.

The victory will give Ten Hag's side a confidence boost as they continue their push for silverware across multiple competitions this season. United fans will also be encouraged by Rashford's return to form and Garnacho's development as they look ahead to the next round of the Carabao Cup.

United will now eagerly await the draw for the last 16, confident after this statement win.