Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen scored braces as Man Utd demolished Barnsley in the Carabao Cup, winning 7-0 at Old Trafford.
The same night Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Liverpool opened their Champions League campaigns, focus was on League One opposition as they started their quest for a third trophy under .
Man Utd dominated from kick-off against Barnsley and cruised to a third-round victory at Old Trafford, where braces from Garnacho, Rashford and Eriksen complemented Antony’s spot-kick.
It was comfortably Ten Hag’s largest win since taking charge in 2022, with the previous best being 4-1 victories against Real Betis in the Europa League and Chelsea in the Premier League.
Summer signing Manuel Ugarte and academy product Toby Collyer – who captained the Under-21s to victory at Barnsley 28 days ago – made their first United starts as Ten Hag made eight alterations.
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Midfielder Collyer was targeted by the Tykes at times in the first half having been deployed as a makeshift left-back, giving away a couple of free-kicks that the visitors were unable to punish.
Barnsley – cheered on by an impressive away support – always looked to be facing an uphill battle and the incline increased in the 16th minute.
Rashford had already seen several shots blocked before he drove towards the box having been found by a Garnacho diagonal ball, then continued to cut past Marc Roberts and laser home.
Ten Hag’s men were dominating possession and continued in the ascendancy, with referee Gavin Ward pointing to the spot after Gabriel Slonina was adjudged to have brought down Antony in the box.
The Brazil winger took the resulting spot-kick, with a stuttered run-up followed by a fierce strike out of the Barnsley goalkeeper’s reach in the 35th minute.
United grabbed a third in first half stoppage time as Garnacho reacted quickest to a loose ball, then he rubberstamped progress in the 49th minute.
The 20-year-old was sent racing behind by a clever Eriksen pass, with the academy graduate following a driving run with a cool, low finish past Slonina.
Rashford saw a free-kick saved soon after and was not denied for long, firing United further ahead in the 58th minute having been played in by Garnacho.
Ten Hag began making changes with a place in next week’s fourth-round draw assured.
