Manchester United take on Barcelona tonight in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping for a similar performance to the one which saw them miraculously defeat PSG in the Last 16, but who will he pick in his starting XI?
Ali Akbar
Ashley Young was woeful in the first leg against Barcelona. However, since Luke Shaw is suspended and Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian are not attacking full-backs, we’ll have to make do with the 33-year-old at left-back.
Although Nemanja Matic has returned from injury, the midfield three of Fred, Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba dominated Barcelona last time around and should remain unchanged.
Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata have each been tried at right-wing but neither has had much of an impact playing in that position. Andreas Pereira, who was brilliant in the 3-1 win over PSG, should, therefore, be given an opportunity to play there instead.
Romelu Lukaku’s goals have dried up recently, but since he scored two goals in that victory at the Parc des Princes, he can be trusted with leading United’s front line at Camp Nou.
David de Gea
Diogo Dalot, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Ashley Young
Scott McTominay, Fred, Paul Pogba
Andreas Pereira, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford
Ollie Slack
Manchester United contained Barcelona’s front three really well last time out at Old Trafford. Chris Smalling bullied Lionel Messi out of the game for the majority of the 90 minutes. But for the one moment the back four switched off, the little magician and Luis Suarez punished them.
At Camp Nou, United are going to have to stay switched on throughout the entirety of the match knowing that one goal could end the tie.
With Shaw suspended, Young switches over to left-back, with Dalot dropping deeper into the back four at right-back. Rojo and Darmian do not currently have the match sharpness to face Barcelona.
I agree with Ali. The midfield was dynamic at Old Trafford six days ago, it should not change for tonight’s match.
United need to win the match, therefore they have to get at Barcelona. Whether that be on the counter-attack or by pressing them high up the pitch, the best man for the job is Jesse Lingard. If on-form, he could win this tie for the Red Devils. So could any of the next two names on the team sheet, Lukaku and Marcus Rashford. Anthony Martial did not show enough on Saturday to be trusted on such a big occasion.
David de Gea
Diogo Dalot, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Ashley Young
Scott McTominay, Fred, Paul Pogba
Jesse Lingard
Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford
Do you agree with our starting XI’s? Let us know in the comments below and tell us who you would pick tonight!