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Europa League PREVIEW: Manchester United v Barcelona

By Trambak Bhattacherjee

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 16: Alejandro Balde of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Casemiro of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off leg one match between FC Barcelona and Manchester United at Spotify Camp Nou on February 16, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 16: Alejandro Balde of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Casemiro of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off leg one match between FC Barcelona and Manchester United at Spotify Camp Nou on February 16, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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After settling for a draw at the Camp Nou last week in this two-legged knockout round, Manchester United aim to have the Old Trafford by them when they lock horns against Barcelona on Thursday in the Europa League.

What happened at Barcelona was simply a feast for the fans as four goals were scored and equally shared by the teams.

Manchester United have lost only two of their last eleven European competition games played at the Old Trafford. The two times they fell were against Spanish opposition (Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad).

United approach this match on the back of the 3-0 routing of Leicester City in the Premier League this weekend. After putting up a show against the Catalan giants, Marcus Rashford continued his red hot form this season as he grabbed a brace and posed a constant threat for The Foxes who found it hard to contain him. Jadon Sancho was on the scoresheet after returning from his injury and showed his resiliency to be back on top form in no time.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 19: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal with teammate Wout Weghorst during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on February 19, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 19: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal with teammate Wout Weghorst during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on February 19, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Though Leicester aimed to score an early goal, they failed thanks to Ten Hag’s masterful defensive tactics of soaking up pressure and hitting them on the counter. They will hope to do the same against Barcelona when they will have fully packed Old Trafford backing them.

Meanwhile, Barcelona have rarely slipped this season in the league and continited their stride on clinching the La Liga title at the end of the season by securing a comfortable win versus Cadiz over the weekend.

Goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen has kept 17 clean sheets in 22 games in the league and the Catalans boast of having the best defensive record in all of Europe this season.

Sergi Roberto and Robert Lewandowski was on the scoresheet against Cadiz as Barcelona restored their 8 point lead at the top of the Spanish league table. They are firmly on course to achieving the LaLiga title this season and they won’t mind going in hard for an European accolade.

Results from their last five matches in all competitions

MANCHESTER UNITED:

W D W D W

BARCELONA:

W D W W W

Predicted Lineups

Manchester United: De Gea; Shaw, Varane, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Fred; Fernandes, Weghorst, Garnacho; Rashford

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Balde, Christensen, Araujo, Kounde; De Jong, Kessie, Roberto; Fati, Torres, Lewandowski

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