Europa League Play-off 1st Leg

Barcelona 2:2 Manchester United

Camp Nou

Kick-off
Thu, 16 February 2023 @ 5:45pm GMT
Status

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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    Lucky McLuckerson

    The saviour of our season (ask Maradona10)
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    vH2jsFU.png
    .......................VS..........................
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    Date: Thursday, February 16 2023
    Kickoff Time: 1745 Hrs GMT
    Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain


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    Europa League Form Guide

    Manchester United: WWWWW
    Barcelona: N/A


    Previous Meetings in the Europa League

    N/A


    All-Time Record in the Europa League

    Manchester United wins:
    Barcelona wins:
    Draws:


    Pre-Match Pressers

    Erik ten Hag




    Xavi Hernández





    Team News

    Manchester United

    Donny van de Beek, Christian Eriksen, Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, Lisandro Martínez and Marcel Sabitzer ruled out. Antony doubtful.

    Barcelona

    Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembélé ruled out.


    Know the Opposition

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    Futbol Club Barcelona, commonly referred to as Barcelona and colloquially known as Barça (and nicknamed Blaugrana), is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football. The team was founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, English, German and Catalan footballers led by Joan Gamper. FC Barcelona quickly emerged as one of the leading clubs in Spain, competing in the Campeonato de Cataluña and the Copa del Rey. In 1902, the club won its first trophy, the Copa Macaya in 1901–02, and also played in the first Copa del Rey final. In 1910, the club participated in their first European competition, and in the late 1920s, Barcelona co-founded the Primera División, the top-tier in Spanish football, along with a string of other clubs (and is one of the select few to have never been relegated from the top division since its inception, along with Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid).

    Domestically, Barcelona has won a record 76 trophies: 26 La Liga, 31 Copa del Rey, fourteen Supercopa de España, three Copa Eva Duarte, and two Copa de la Liga titles, as well as being the record holder for the latter four competitions. In international club football, the club has won 22 European and worldwide titles: five UEFA Champions League titles, a record four UEFA Cup Winners' Cups, a joint record five UEFA Super Cups, a record three Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, a joint record two Latin Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups. Barcelona players have also won a record twelve Ballon d'Or awards.

    There is often a fierce rivalry between the two strongest teams in a national league, and this is particularly the case in La Liga, where the game between Barcelona and Real Madrid is known as El Clásico (The Classic)). From the start of national competitions the clubs were seen as representatives of two rival regions in Spain: Catalonia and Castile, as well as of the two cities. Barça's local rival has always been Espanyol. Blanc-i-blaus, being one of the clubs granted royal patronage, was founded exclusively by Spanish football fans, unlike the multinational nature of Barça's primary board. Games between the two are dubbed El derbi Barceloní (The Barcelonian derby). Barcelona plays its home games at Camp Nou.


    Familiar Faces

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    Referee

    Maurizio Mariani​
     
    DDG
    AWB - Varane - Shaw - Malacia
    Casemiro - Fred
    Sancho - Bruno - Rashford
    Weghorst​
     
    God I hope Weghorst isn't starting but he probably will be. At least Casemiro is back.

    In fact, based on what he showed after the subs I wouldn't even mind Weghorst starting that much if this was the front 4:

    Bruno Weghorst Sancho
    Rashford
    He absolutely can't play striker again though.
     
    Looking forward to seeing that beautiful Brazilian in midfield again

    Oh and Casemiro
     
    De Gea
    AWB - Varane - Shaw - Malacia
    Casemiro
    Fred - Sabitzer
    Bruno - Rashford - Sancho

    1-1.
     
    Suspended: Martínez, Sabitzer Injured : Antony, Mctominay, De Beek, Martial, Eriksen.

    I'll be attending the 2nd leg in Old Trafford hopefully the tie is still alive for it.
     
    Here we feckin' go.

    Going to be very difficult scoring against their defence. Would take a draw back to Old Trafford.
     
    de Gea
    Wan-Bissaka Varane Shaw Malacia
    Sabitzer Casemiro Fred
    Bruno Rashford Sancho
    --------
    Heaton; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof; Zidane; Elanga, Garnacho, Pellistri, Weghorst​

    A few changes, hopefully McTominay & Antony are back but I'm assuming we'll still be missing most of the same players for this.

    It will still feel and no doubt be a big game when we start building up to this, but given where both sides are in their domestic season, I actually feel like both clubs would probably not be too bothered about dropping out of Europe right now... Haven't seen many people discussing that from Barcelona's perspective.
     
    De Gea
    AWB - Varane - Shaw - Martinez
    Casemiro - Fred
    Sancho - Bruno - Garnacho
    Rashford​
     
    DDG
    AWB - Varane - Shaw - Malacia
    Casemiro - MCT
    Antony - Bruno - Sancho
    Rashford
     
    Playing vs Barca at Camp Nou should be exciting, even if it's Europa. But it'll take a lot of energy from us for Leicester and Newcastle games and those 2 are more of a priority for us.
     
    Avoid defeat. Or just 1 goal defeat and we have a chance in the home leg with players back.

    De Gea
    Wan Bissaka Varane Shaw Malacia
    Casemiro
    Bruno Fred
    Sancho Rashford Garnacho​

    Unfortunately, Weghorst will almost surely start in place of Sancho or Garnacho. But this is what I'd go for.

    Edit: Forgot Sabitzer suspended. So the only variable is which winger will be in if Weghorst starts.
     
    Last edited:
    Playing vs Barca at Camp Nou should be exciting, even if it's Europa. But it'll take a lot of energy from us for Leicester and Newcastle games and those 2 are more of a priority for us.

    Agreed. Priority should be the newcastle game, we desperately need a trophy! I'd be Ok with ETH resting players for the barca matches.
     
    Ddg
    AWB Varane Shaw Malacia
    Casemiro Fred
    Bruno Weghorst Sancho
    Rashford
    Weghorst did pretty good today closer to midfield in the second striker position. I like Sancho more on the left and Rashford play much better today in the striker position.

    Bruno will have a free role were he will help the midfield
     
    ............... De Gea

    Bissaka - Varane - Shaw - Malacia

    ......... Casemiro - Fred

    Dalot - Fernandes - Rashford

    ............ Weghorst

    Subs:
    Fernandes > Sancho
    Rashford > Garnacho
    Fred > Sabitzer

    (Dalot > Pellistri)
    (Weghorst > Elanga)
     
    ETH will field a strong line up although I’m sure many would be happy if we simply fold it in at this stage. Top 4 along with a domestic trophy will do but the occasion of playing Barca will force ETH to play a strong team when it may not be wise to do so.
     
    Make it tight in the centre like the City game. They should be missing Dembele and Busquets, the latter would be key imo. As long as we don't stay open, FdJ won't be allowed to roam around
     
    Their season is like a tale of two cities. On the one hand, they are walking the league, having only conceded 7 goals in 20 matches, and on the other hand, they were pants in their CL group. Their current form is top notch.

    I don't see us going to the Nou Camp and getting anything, the way we've been playing lately and with our injuries in mind. I think we should play a balanced team with an eye towards the weekend because the league is more important at this point.

    De Gea

    Malacia
    Lindelof
    Varane
    AWB

    Casemiro
    Sabitzer

    Garnacho
    Bruno
    Sancho

    Weghorst

    If we can keep it close, bring Rashford on at the end to try to steal a goal, but I'd rather he be held back for Leicester.

    I think Barca take this 2-0
     
    De Gea
    Wan Bissaka Varane Shaw Malacia
    Casemiro Fred
    Sancho Fernandes Rashford
    Weghorst

    You need an impact player on the bench so would keep Garnacho on there, and hopefully we can stay in the tie ahead of the second leg.
     
    de Gea
    Wan-Bissaka Varane Shaw Malacia
    Sabitzer Casemiro Fred
    Bruno Rashford Sancho
    --------
    Heaton; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof; Zidane; Elanga, Garnacho, Pellistri, Weghorst​

    A few changes, hopefully McTominay & Antony are back but I'm assuming we'll still be missing most of the same players for this.

    It will still feel and no doubt be a big game when we start building up to this, but given where both sides are in their domestic season, I actually feel like both clubs would probably not be too bothered about dropping out of Europe right now... Haven't seen many people discussing that from Barcelona's perspective.

    As a Barca fan I'm not really interested in Europa - last season it was something new but top clubs want to be playing CL we all know that. La Liga is priority #1 but seeing as Madrid keep fecking up in the league, a Europa run could be good for this young, inexperienced Barca and Xavi's experience as a manager.

    ter Stegen
    Kounde-Araujo-Christensen-Balde
    Frenkie-Kessie
    Pedri
    Raph-Lewa-Gavi

    Is what we'll likely line up as. Been critical of him in big European games but Busquets is a huge miss; he and Frenkie were forming a great understanding in the double pivot. Dembele will miss both ties which is the biggest problem for us, Raphinha can't really compare despite having more of an affect in recent games. Both teams are missing some key players which is a massive shame for the spectacle.

    I'm very confident in our defence but it's our offense that bothers me, I can't see where the goals come from unless Lewa has a change in form. If United play defensive we really struggle to break teams down this season.

    Expecting a tight game, I will go for 1-0 at Camp Nou and a 1-1 at Old Trafford. Really can go either way.

    As you say though, don't think either team will be that bothered exiting. Both clubs will be looking ahead to CL next season.
     
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    Reactions: Penna
    Martinez is a huge loss. Shaw has been a great understudy and I expect him to play at CB but malacia isnt good enough going forward to understudy for Shaw

    I think AWB may get the nod over dalot given their relative match sharpness

    Expect Sancho to start with Garnacho replacing late on

    DDG
    AWB Varane Shaw Malacia
    Fred Casemiro Bruno
    Sancho Wout Rashford
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Marcus Rashford image Marcus Rashford 72% of 300 votes

Runners-up

Player Ratings

6.6 Total Average Rating

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 277 ratings.

Score Predictions

55,94,84
  • Man Utd win
  • Barcelona win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 27% Barcelona 1:1 Man Utd
  • 16% Barcelona 2:1 Man Utd
  • 12% Barcelona 1:2 Man Utd
  • 12% Barcelona 2:0 Man Utd
  • 6% Barcelona 0:1 Man Utd
  • 5% Barcelona 1:0 Man Utd
  • 4% Barcelona 0:0 Man Utd
  • 4% Barcelona 2:2 Man Utd
  • 4% Barcelona 3:1 Man Utd
  • 3% Barcelona 3:0 Man Utd
  • 3% Barcelona 0:2 Man Utd
  • 1% Barcelona 1:3 Man Utd
  • 1% Barcelona 0:3 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 4:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 1:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 5:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 0:9 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 5:1 Man Utd
  • 0% Barcelona 9:1 Man Utd
Compiled from 233 predictions.
Show more results Score Predictions League Table

Match Stats

  1. Barcelona
  2. Man Utd
Possession
61% 39%
Shots
18 18
Shots on Target
8 5
Corners
8 5
Fouls
10 12

Referee

Maurizio Mariani