Barcelona v Manchester United is the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 play-offs and is played on Thursday at 18:45: predictions.
A few seasons ago, even imagining such a challenge in a context such as the Europa League, the continent’s second biggest event, would have caused chills. But both Barcelona and Manchester United, two clubs belonging to the elite of European football – in the not too distant past they have twice crossed paths in the Champions League final – are now coming to terms with the harsh reality.
And if the objective of both is to return to their rightful place as soon as possible, they cannot think of taking this competition lightly. Of snubbing it. Their rebirth will also depend on circumstances such as this. They were certainly not lucky in the draw, which pitted them against each other in the play-offs for the round of 16, where the teams that came first in their respective groups are. The Red Devils, who finished second behind Real Sociedad despite having the same points in the standings, did not make it: the defeat suffered in the direct clash cost them dearly. Barcelona find themselves in the Europa League because they finished third in the Champions League group behind Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. An incredible disappointment for Xavi and his men, who are making up for it in the league anyway.
The cynicism of Xavi’s ‘new’ Barça
Compared to last autumn, Barça look like a different team. The tactical adjustments decided by the blaugrana coach have helped to armour a defence that has only been perforated seven times in La Liga. In 2023 Lewandowski and his team-mates have always won between the league and the Copa del Rey, even winning a trophy – the Spanish Super Cup – against arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Rashford and ten Hag
Thanks to last Sunday’s success at home to Villarreal – the Catalans recorded their sixth clean sheet in their last seven games – they have now moved to +11 on the Merengues, making a real breakaway. Over the past few months, Manchester United have also moved up a level, having started to grind out points again, especially since the Ronaldo telenovela came to an end. After the break for the World Cup, Erik ten Hag’s team found the continuity of results that had been lacking in the first months, and the only defeat came against the leading Arsenal. On Sunday, the Red Devils brought home another victory, beating Leeds 2-0 to take their solitary third place, +7 from fifth-placed Tottenham. It is perhaps too late to get back into the title race, but ahead of them both Arsenal and City are slowing down: the last is not yet said.
As for the formation, Xavi has clear ideas: having to do without Dembelé and Busquets, he will give space to ex-Milan player Kessié, who will complete the midfield with Gavi, Pedri and de Jong. On the other side, ten Hag has to do without Lisandro Martinez, McTominay, Eriksen, Sabitzer and Martial. He will, however, get Casemiro back, who was disqualified in the league.
The Prediction
A very good stress test for a Barcelona side that is literally dominating in La Liga, especially thanks to an increasingly watertight and rock-solid defence. The Blaugrana are still unbeaten at the Camp Nou and are likely to get a positive result in the first leg of this noble play-off with Manchester United. For their part, the Red Devils find the way of the goal very often: they should be able to do so in Catalonia in a match in which they are likely to score both goals.
Barcelona v Manchester United matchday squad
- BARCELONA (4-4-2): ter Stegen; Koundé, Araújo, Christensen, Balde; de Jong, Kessié, Gavi, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski.
- MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelöf, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
