Barcelona and Manchester United collide in the Europa League on Thursday adding some heavyweight power to the competition.
EUROPA LEAGUE BETTING – SPORTPESA
While the pair have been famous for their matches in the Champions League, they will now add their blockbuster names to the tournament one rung below after some poor form (Barcelona) and poor seasons (Manchester United).
BET NOW – BARCA ARE FAVOURITES
Barcelona and Manchester United are both building under exciting coaches in Erik ten Hag and Xavi Hernandez and aiming to return to Europe’s elite imminently.
The teams last met in 2019 when United’s harsh decline in the barren decade after Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign was in full swing and Barcelona’s deep slide was about to begin.
Five-time Champions League winners Barca won the quarterfinal clash 4-0 on aggregate, but their only player from their starting line-ups then likely to face United at Camp Now is goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona have conceded just seven goals in LaLiga this season, keeping 16 clean sheets from 21 matches, and Xavi’s side are unbeaten in 16 games across all competitions.
The coach, who starred for Barcelona in midfield in their 2009 and 2011 Champions League final victories over Ferguson’s Red Devils, is returning his side to their former glory.
Barcelona beat Real Madrid to win the Spanish Super Cup in January and will face their eternal rivals in the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Manchester United, who signed Real Madrid’s defensive midfield lynchpin Casemiro in the summer, along with Ajax duo Antony and Lisandro Martinez, have rapidly improved under coach Erik ten Hag.
The Dutch coach started work at Old Trafford last summer and after a rocky start, including a 4-0 thrashing by Brentford and a fractious relationship with club legend Cristiano Ronaldo, has turned things around.
The Portuguese forward parted ways with United during the World Cup and Ten Hag’s side have only been beaten once in their last 17 matches – a 3-2 defeat by Premier League leaders Arsenal.