Will Barcelona crash out of Europa League vs Man United?

Manchester United and Barcelona will clash at Old Trafford on Thursday night to determine who will progress from their Europa League knockout round playoff tie.

The two continental giants – who competed in the Champions League final only 12 years ago – played out a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou last week

Away goals no longer apply, so the 2-2 draw in Spain last week means it is winner-takes-all  match.

Manchester United and Barcelona have had two vastly different campaigns thus far this season.

The Red Devils began the 2022/23 season in disastrous fashion, losing back-to-back games. But they have steadily improved and are the potential dark horses in the Premier League title race.

Erik ten Hag’s men are also in the Carabao Cup final where they will play Newcastle United.

As for the Europa League campaign, Manchester United participated in the group stage before finishing runner-up behind Real Sociedad in Group E.

On the other hand, Barcelona reached this stage after finishing third in the Champions League Group C.

Head to head record

Manchester United have only lost two of their last 11 European games at Old Trafford (W6 D3).

Both defeats came against Spanish teams: 0-1 versus Atlético Madrid in March 2022 and 0-1 against Real Sociedad in September 2022.

Barcelona are unbeaten in their last three matches against United (W2 D1 L0) and they’ve outscored the English side 6-2 during this unbeaten streak.

The Red Devils are looking for their first win in fixtures between these two sides since April 2019.

Barcelona have faced Manchester United away from home in European competition on five previous occasions.

After failing to win any of the first four (D2 L2), they won 1-0 on their most recent such trip in April 2019 (UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg).

In the second leg, they destroyed United at Camp Nou with a brace from Messi.

Barcelona have won each of their last 11 away games in all competitions, although they lost to elite teams like Bayern Munich and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena and San Siro this season.

The Catalan club failed to reach the Champions League Round of 16 for the second successive season but they have been brilliant in domestic football, winning the Spanish Super Cup while rising to the top of La Liga.

Team News

Barcelona are missing most of their midfield with Pedri injured and Gavi suspended.

Sergio Busquets is just returning from am ankle injury suffered a couple of weeks ago and might not be available for 90 minutes.

The veteran Spaniard could therefore link up with Frenkie de Jong and Franck Kessie in the midfield trident.

Gavi’s absence opens the door for Ansu Fati to start on the left, in spite of Ferran Torres’s electric display against Cadiz.

Ousmane Dembele is back in training but might not make it back in time to feature either.

Meanwhile, Casemiro’s suspension in the Premier League means he got a rest at the weekend against Leicester City but is back to play a team he played against 13 times with Real Madrid.

United will be without Antony, Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek, Harry Maguire and Anthony Martial.

However, duo of Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer are back from continental bans served in the first leg

Possible starting XI

Manchester United:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Sabitzer; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst

Barcelona:
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Alonso, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Kessie; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Fati

Prediction:

It will be a tough contest. However there are three factors that will help Manchester United sail through.

The absence of Pedri will hurt Barcelona’s ability to create chances and allow Man United to dominate the midfield.

Secondly, Marcus Rashford is in the form of his life and will be hard to contain.

Thirdly, United have an exceptional home record this season and with the crowd rooting for them, they are clear favourites to go through.