Europa League Play-off 1st Leg

Barcelona 2:2 Manchester United

Camp Nou

Kick-off
Thu, 16 February 2023 @ 5:45pm GMT
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    So glad Casemiros back for this one. Score might be a bit reasonable.
     
    Red_Aaron said:
    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
    Click to expand...
    Is martinez injured? I’d play rashford up top with garnacho and sancho out wide. Wout will be no use in this game against a Barca team that keep the ball on the ground. We need pace to run at them and into the space they’ll leave.
     
    Exciting game. The Spanish league is not what it once was, it's probably the worst it's been in a long time, but beating Barcelona over two legs just sounds like a massive deal. I'm a little bit ambivalent, obviously, I want to win it all, but fewer games now would not hurt this fairly limited squad and there's little shame in losing to any Barcelona side. However, I think I want to see the fixtures piling up and see how far ETH can push this team. Top three/hint of a title race alongside a domestic and European title would be dreamland. Bring it the feck on.

    calodo2003 said:
    That’s as silly as someone getting a red card in the league cup semifinal but not missing the final.
    Click to expand...

    Yeah, seems weird Maguire was only suspended in the League Cup but Bruno Guimaraes can play in the final.
     
    With what is available, the team picks itself really...only option EtH has to make is to play Weghorst up front and Rashford LW, or play Rashford up front and bring in Garnacho/Sancho LW
     
    Martinez and Sabitzer both suspended.

    DDG
    AWB - Varane - Shaw - Malacia
    Bruno - Casemiro - Fred
    Sancho - Weghorst - Rashford
    ​
     
    How I'd line up, assuming no injured players return.

    DDG
    AWB, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw
    Casemiro, Fred
    Sancho, Bruno, Garnacho
    Rashford
    ​
     
    calodo2003 said:
    That’s as silly as someone getting a red card in the league cup semifinal but not missing the final.
    Click to expand...

    Yeah its funny when you think about it...the most bizarre example of this was Ronaldo serving a 2 game ban in Saudi for hitting the phone out of a kids hand in Everton :wenger:
     
    Think this will be where we drop out of the 4 competitions thing. They're playing really well right now whereas we have dropped a little bit and must be nackered. Unfortunately reckon they'll do us 2-1 or 3-1 at camp nou, and then at OT maybe we'll get a draw.
     
    We are getting beat at Camp Nou, and I am not really bothered. It's all about finishing top 4 this season.
     
    Wish we had all options available for this. Want to do these badly.
     
    Any idea how much importance Barcelona are putting into the Europa League? It could be bottom of their priorities. As it is with us. Honestly, with the divide in money and talent between La Liga and Premier League nowadays I do not fear Barcelona.
     
    Raiden Shogun said:
    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.
    Click to expand...
    Thanks for this post.

    Didn't realise that Busquets would be missing, that 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 with Frenkie & him at the base, Gavi on the wing and Pedri behind Lewa looked really well in terms of control.
     
    Not sure what to expect. They've been rather poor in the CL and Europa for years yet we've struggled against them while others have easily dispatched them no bother.

    They're doing well in La Liga and have lots of good players that should be doing better in Europe. Its one of those big occasion games where their previous problems will disappear and we might have to just get through unscathed as we've played more matches than anyone so far.
     
    I’m surprised at the lack of interest for this game. For me it is the biggest utd game in years and quite comfortably Ten Hag’s biggest test yet.

    I’m hoping for a victory but I wouldn’t be surprised if they beat us thoroughly. Spanish teams usually makes us look like amateurs and playing a team like barca with the combined talent they have is quite frightening.

    They have a bigger squad, score more goals, concede less goals and have more control over games than utd.
    But I go for 1-2 to utd!
     
    Raiden Shogun said:
    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
    Click to expand...

    I think he will put Araujo from RB and Koundé from CB. Xavi usually does this against teams that have fast players in the winger.


    KiD MoYeS said:
    Any idea how much importance Barcelona are putting into the Europa League? It could be bottom of their priorities. As it is with us. Honestly, with the divide in money and talent between La Liga and Premier League nowadays I do not fear Barcelona.
    Click to expand...

    Barcelona will put the best possible team. Xavi said Barcelona have to fight for all the titles.
     
    wangyu said:
    I’m surprised at the lack of interest for this game. For me it is the biggest utd game in years and quite comfortably Ten Hag’s biggest test yet.

    I’m hoping for a victory but I wouldn’t be surprised if they beat us thoroughly. Spanish teams usually makes us look like amateurs and playing a team like barca with the combined talent they have is quite frightening.

    They have a bigger squad, score more goals, concede less goals and have more control over games than utd.
    But I go for 1-2 to utd!
    Click to expand...
    Because everyone is expecting us to get a hiding from this lot.

    And only naive fans will be surprised if it happens.
    If they have an off night and we get a draw a scrappy win, will take it, but over 2 games, it's tough to see us win it all.
    That's not to say I don't believe in Ten Hag pulling out a master plan, but better to temper expectations so it doesn't sting too much.
     
    What Id like to see:

    AWB Varane Martinez Shaw

    Casemiro Sabitzer

    Antony Sancho Garnacho

    Martial

    With the short turn around against Leicester, gives Fred, Bruno and Rashford a rest where they’re more than likely to start. It seems that ETH hasn’t ruled out Antony or Martial for a return against Barca, so here’s hoping they can make a return.
     
    wangyu said:
    I’m surprised at the lack of interest for this game. For me it is the biggest utd game in years and quite comfortably Ten Hag’s biggest test yet.

    I’m hoping for a victory but I wouldn’t be surprised if they beat us thoroughly. Spanish teams usually makes us look like amateurs and playing a team like barca with the combined talent they have is quite frightening.

    They have a bigger squad, score more goals, concede less goals and have more control over games than utd.
    But I go for 1-2 to utd!
    Click to expand...
    Barca aren’t that good despite the table, really. Not sure both teams can be bothered with the tie, if you secretly offered both a heroic exit I think both managers would take it
     
    Giggsy13 said:
    What Id like to see:

    AWB Varane Martinez Shaw

    Casemiro Sabitzer

    Antony Sancho Garnacho

    Martial

    With the short turn around against Leicester, gives Fred, Bruno and Rashford a rest where they’re more than likely to start. It seems that ETH hasn’t ruled out Antony or Martial for a return against Barca, so here’s hoping they can make a return.
    Click to expand...

    Both banned I think ?
     
    Raiden Shogun said:
    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.
    Click to expand...
    Top post that! Thanks for the input.

    It is disappointing that both sides are without multiple big players. We can enjoy the game for what it is, but as said already, if we go out it won't be the end of the world. Hopefully we can take one of the other trophies we're after!
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Marcus Rashford image Marcus Rashford 72% of 300 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

6.6 Total Average Rating

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Compiled from 277 ratings.
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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.
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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

Man Utd Lineup

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