UEFA Europa League: Champions League royalty Barcelona and Manchester United conflict in playoff first leg

The new era of soccer followers tuning into the Europa League blockbuster playoff between conventional European powerhouses Manchester United and Barcelona could also be excused in the event that they discover it tough to consider that these two golf equipment fought for the Champions League title within the 2009 and 2011 finals. Since then, United haven’t reached one other UCL remaining whereas Barcelona claimed its final crown in 2015 towards Juventus. Since then, it has all been downhill for each golf equipment.

The fall from grace has been gradual with United failing to win a trophy since 2017 – which satirically was the Europa League itself – and although Barcelona gained the Spanish league in 2018-19, their latest type in Europe leaves loads to be desired.

HIGHLIGHTS | Pedri, Barça declare all three factors at Villarreal!#LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/yHeDiJXPUm

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 14, 2023

Since successful the UCL in 2015, Barcelona’s Champions League type has gone from dangerous to worse. In the following three editions, they have been eradicated within the quarterfinals. In the 2018/19 season, they misplaced 0-4 at Anfield within the second leg of the semifinals having gained the first leg at Camp Nou 3-0.

The subsequent season can be one of many darkest reminiscences for any Barcelona fan once they have been demolished 8-2 by Bayern Munich in a single match. After that, they’ve misplaced to PSG within the Round of 16 and within the final two editions, didn’t even cross the group phases.

United have been in freefall for the reason that legendary supervisor Alex Ferguson left in 2012 after successful them their twentieth and until now, their final Premier League title. They couldn’t even qualify for the Champions league this season. Since Ferguson left, United have reached the quarterfinals twice, been eradicated on the last-16 stage twice and didn’t make it out of the group on two events.

Ready for an additional week of graft 👊#MUFC pic.twitter.com/B0S242sV6D

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 14, 2023

However, a ray of hope for followers of each golf equipment is their latest home type. After working by way of a revolving door of coaches, United appear to have lastly settled on Dutchman Erik ten Hag, who after a moderately shaky begin to the season with losses to Brentford and Brighton, has actually turned United round. They even have an out of doors likelihood of creating the Premier League title race a triple menace, sitting in third place, simply 5 factors off league leaders Arsenal.

Their star striker Marcus Rashford is lastly fulfilling his potential having a sizzling run of type for the reason that World Cup break. Against Barcelona, anticipate ten Hag to deploy Rashford up entrance in an effort to exploit the chinks within the Catalan outfit’s defensive armour. They will, nonetheless, miss their trusty defender Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer resulting from suspensions. Casemiro, who is aware of a factor or two about going through Barca, shall be hoping to search out holes in a Barcelona midfield bereft of Sergio Busquets. However, United will miss the providers of the injured Christian Eriksen in midfield.

Red-hot type

Barcelona, in the meantime, are on a 11-match unbeaten streak, with their 1-1 draw towards Espanyol in December the one match they’d didn’t win. They have opened up an 11-point hole on the prime of the league desk on Real Madrid after the latest 1-0 win towards Villarreal, courtesy of a Pedri purpose. With the Spanish wonderkid combining expertly with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, United defenders and midfielders can have their arms full. Frenkie de Jong, who used to play for United supervisor ten Hag in Ajax, can even have a reunion together with his former gaffer, having turned down the possibility to affix him at Manchester United in the summertime. Barca have saved 16 clear sheets in 21 league matches this season with Jules Koundé, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araújo and Alejandro Balde in distinctive type.

A conflict of titans awaits us this Thursday evening as the 2 European heavyweights combat for the early benefit within the 1st leg at Camp Nou.