Europa League Play-off 2nd Leg

Manchester United 2:1 Barcelona

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Thu, 23 February 2023 @ 8:00pm GMT
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    Robindinho said:
    I'd go with this, looking to dominate midfield...

    De Gea

    Dalot Varane Martinez Shaw

    Sabitzer Casemiro Fred

    Bruno Weghorst Rashford
    ​

    With the options of Antony/Sancho/Garnacho off the bench.
    Click to expand...
    If we could only stick a fit and in-form Martial in there and that is actually an awesome looking team!
     
    We have a knack of screwing up big european ties on home turf so this better be a game where we put the past behind us.
     
    Its just like the early 90s again, a league cup final and a win against the cheats................... Bring it on baby
     
    I'm optimistic about tonight, but nervous at the same time.

    Old trafford will be rocking. I hope we go at them and score early. I do believe we are better than them, especially without Gavi, Perdi and Dembele.
     
    Looking forward to tonight, OT will be rocking.

    I think we'll beat them by 2 or 3 to be honest, I wasn't impressed with them at all at their place. We'll be more solid in defence with Martinez and Casemiro, not giving away cheap goals, and we'll kill them in attack with their lackadaisical, comedy defending. They'll fall right in to our trap of punishing them in behind.
     
    I think we should beat them than worrying about players fatigue. Casemiro is fully rested that's the only player we should worry about when it comes into fatigue and maybe Bruno but he's a maniac anyway. In fact we should beat them convincingly, by 2 or 3 goals while playing a good football. That will lift the mood of the squad and the fans and making Newcastle (and Karius) shit themselves in anticipation. That matters a lot going to the final.
     
    Extremely confident going into tonight. We've pretty much got everyone fit barring Martial and Barca have their two best midfielders missing. Honestly think we're going to smash them by 3 or 4. It's nice for a change going into a game with Barca that we're the favourites and not the other way round. OT will be bouncing tonight :drool:
     
    I think us Man Utd fans know full well what EtH is going to field up against Barcelona tonight in the EL. I just wish he doesn't play Fred in midfield because that's plan for disaster. He gives the ball away too many times and we struggle. Especially when he is deep and De Gea chooses to find him, he immediately looses possession and we are under threat. We need a midfield 3 of Sancho, Sabitzer and Casemiro with Bruno on the right. It seems to be working and Bruno tracks back a lot which is fantastic. Barcelona have a few key players missing but that wouldn't make a huge difference anyway. We need to keep the morale high as it is and start attacking from minute 1. Aaaahhhh how happy it feels for once to wait for such a huge game expecting us to do well. Thanks you Erik Ten Hag. Long may you continue as a Man Utd manager.
     
    Last edited:
    Think we’ll see Antony wide to keep them deeper on that flank. They have no pace so getting the ball forward from deep should play into our pressing
     
    ETH has spoken. " It's not about the credit, it's about the trophies." Salute.
     
    I would like to see:

    DDG
    Dalot-Varane-Martinez-Shaw
    Casemiro-Sabitzer
    Anthony-Bruno-Sancho
    Rashford

    But I think we will see:

    DDG
    AWB-Varane-Martinez-Shaw
    Casemiro-Fred
    Anthony-Bruno-Rashford
    Weghorst
     
    OleTheGreat said:
    I don't think us Man Utd fans know full well what EtH is going to field up against Barcelona tonight in the EL. I just wish he doesn't play Fred in midfield because that's plan for disaster. He gives the ball away too many times and we struggle. Especially when he is deep and De Gea chooses to find him, he immediately looses possession and we are under threat. We need a midfield 3 of Sancho, Sabitzer and Casemiro with Bruno on the right. It seems to be working and Bruno tracks back a lot which is fantastic. Barcelona have a few key players missing but that wouldn't make a huge difference anyway. We need to keep the morale high as it is and start attacking from minute 1. Aaaahhhh how happy it feels for once to wait for such a huge game expecting us to do well. Thanks you Erik Ten Hag. Long may you continue as a Man Utd manager.
    Click to expand...
    Fred's been largely excellent lately and deserves to play this game.
     
    MadMike said:
    I would like to see:

    DDG
    Dalot-Varane-Martinez-Shaw
    Casemiro-Sabitzer
    Anthony-Bruno-Sancho
    Rashford

    But I think we will see:

    DDG
    AWB-Varane-Martinez-Shaw
    Casemiro-Fred
    Anthony-Bruno-Rashford
    Weghorst
    Click to expand...

    I think Rashford will indeed be the main striker. He's done very well there lately and drifts wide naturally anyway. I think Bruno will be wide, where he's also done well. Sancho being back solves another issue in the wide areas too, so there is less need for Rashford to play there.
     
    LawCharltonBest said:
    I think Rashford will indeed be the main striker. He's done very well there lately and drifts wide naturally anyway. I think Bruno will be wide, where he's also done well. Sancho being back solves another issue in the wide areas too, so there is less need for Rashford to play there.
    Click to expand...

    If you think Rashford will be up top, Bruno right and Sancho left... who do you think will be at #10?
     
    Raven said:
    Fred's been largely excellent lately and deserves to play this game.
    Click to expand...
    Revaulx said:
    Yeah that’s just the trouble. He’s due a game where he constantly gives the ball away.

    Let’s hope he doesn’t.
    Click to expand...
    Both the first half against Barca and Leicester he was absolutely atrocious and giving the ball away all the time.
     
    Buzzing for this game tonight. I reckon we will go with the same front four we had against them last week in the first leg with all four players interchanging with each other. Martinez and Sabitzer come in for Malacia & Fred in the starting XI. Happy to have Antony back and good option to bring off the bench along with a few others depending on how the game goes. After last week’s showing, feeling confident we can finish the job off tonight although just please get through the game in 90 mins with no injuries!

    De Gea

    Wan-Bissaka - Varane - Martinez - Shaw

    Casemiro - Sabitzer

    B.Fernandes - Weghorst - Sancho

    Rashford​

    Heaton, Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Malacia, McTominay, Fred, Mainoo, Antony, Pellistri, Elanga, Garnacho

    Manchester United 2-1 Barcelona.
     
    Raven said:
    Fred's been largely excellent lately and deserves to play this game.
    Click to expand...

    Has he? He was abysmal against Leeds in the first game, motm in the second. So so in the first half against Barca, great in the second. Terrible in the fist 25-30 mins against Leicester, great after the first goal and until he was subbed. He's been Jekyl & Hyde as per usual, but his Jekyl side has been of a higher standard lately.

    He's very good if we want to break up play and drive counters, but if we want to control the game he's not our man. He's better against tired legs and as the game opens up, hence he often does better in the second half of games. I personally would start Sabitzer in MF and avoid Fred's usually chaotic first 30 mins, but I think ETH will start him which is why he took him off at 60' against Leicester and not Sabitzer.

    EDIT: There's also the fact that Casemiro and Sabitzer have not played even a single competitive minute together yet, to consider. And I doubt ETH wants to start such an important game with an untested midfield partnership.
     
    Last edited:
    I'm expecting something along the lines of a two nil win tonight.
    I don't get the posts saying we have a knack of messing up home games in Euro competitions. This is a new manager who got done by a poor ref's decision at the start of his time here and has looked more and more promising since.
     
    the nagging doubts are fading for me

    have a feeling this will be a great night - Old Trafford will be bouncing and we will put in an energetic performance - reckon we will be well up for this
     
    Revaulx said:
    Yeah that’s just the trouble. He’s due a game where he constantly gives the ball away.

    Let’s hope he doesn’t.
    Click to expand...
    Nah. That tends to happen when he's asked to be something he isn't. Doesn't usually happen with Casemiro in, doesn't usually happen in big games where we take more of a counter attacking system as is likely tonight.
     
    MadMike said:
    I would like to see:

    DDG
    Dalot-Varane-Martinez-Shaw
    Casemiro-Sabitzer
    Anthony-Bruno-Sancho
    Rashford

    But I think we will see:

    DDG
    AWB-Varane-Martinez-Shaw
    Casemiro-Fred
    Anthony-Bruno-Rashford
    Weghorst
    Click to expand...

    No way Antony starts. He just got back from a couple of weeks of injury/recovery.
     
    sglowrider said:
    No way Antony starts. He just got back from a couple of weeks of injury/recovery.
    Click to expand...

    It was a couple of weeks, not a couple of months. But who knows, you might be proven right. Who do you think will start at #10? Weghorst?
     
    Not confident for this one with our recent record at home to Spanish teams. Also my record going to games this season has been dodgy - 1 win, 1 draw and 1 defeat.
     
    Robindinho said:
    I'd go with this, looking to dominate midfield...

    De Gea

    Dalot Varane Martinez Shaw

    Sabitzer Casemiro Fred

    Bruno Weghorst Rashford
    ​

    With the options of Antony/Sancho/Garnacho off the bench.
    Click to expand...

    That's what I expect to see.

    Really looking forward to that midfield.
     
    MadMike said:
    It was a couple of weeks, not a couple of months. But who knows, you might be proven right. Who do you think will start at #10? Weghorst?
    Click to expand...

    Probably. Gives us tactical flexibility.

    Besides, Antony wasn't in the best form nor confidence level anyway.
     
    MadMike said:
    It was a couple of weeks, not a couple of months. But who knows, you might be proven right. Who do you think will start at #10? Weghorst?
    Click to expand...
    It's really hard to tell imo.

    WW as a #10 is effectively a DM there which imo is a bit redundant when we have Case back. Might sound crazy but imo McT or Fred would be even better there. After all the whole point of this tactic is our #10 trying to be the most annoying possible to their midfield. And both McT and Fred are actually a lot faster and are better on the ball than WW. And both have enough stamina to play the role.

    WW as a true #9 would simply kill most of our attacks as he's so off the pace and he could't even finish his chances as shown in the previous matches. So imo not this.

    Imo if Antony is fit enough he'll start, Bruno will be back to the #10. If not we'll see one of WW/McT/Fred as the #10. Garnacho has been better from the bench and Elanga has been poor.
     
    sglowrider said:
    Probably. Gives us tactical flexibility.

    Besides, Antony wasn't in the best form nor confidence level anyway.
    Click to expand...

    Indeed he wasn't. But I wouldn't call what Weghorst has been in as good form or confidence, either. Antony is a bit of right wing specialist in terms of tactics, whenever he's been available he was ETH's first choice there. We'll see I guess.
     
    I think ETH is going to spring a surprise tonight.
    I think he will play Casemiro, Sabitzer and Fred with Fred following Frenkie. and being substituted for Sancho.
    Bruno will play right with Rashford in the middle and Antony as an orthodox left winger
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Fred image Fred 50% of 410 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

7.0 Total Average Rating

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Compiled from 373 ratings.
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Score Predictions

195,21,15
  • Man Utd win
  • Barcelona win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 42% Man Utd 2:1 Barcelona
  • 14% Man Utd 3:1 Barcelona
  • 13% Man Utd 2:0 Barcelona
  • 6% Man Utd 3:2 Barcelona
  • 5% Man Utd 1:2 Barcelona
  • 4% Man Utd 1:0 Barcelona
  • 3% Man Utd 1:1 Barcelona
  • 3% Man Utd 3:0 Barcelona
  • 3% Man Utd 2:2 Barcelona
  • 1% Man Utd 5:0 Barcelona
  • 1% Man Utd 0:1 Barcelona
  • 1% Man Utd 0:2 Barcelona
  • 1% Man Utd 4:2 Barcelona
  • 1% Man Utd 2:3 Barcelona
  • 0% Man Utd 6:0 Barcelona
  • 0% Man Utd 0:0 Barcelona
  • 0% Man Utd 1:3 Barcelona
  • 0% Man Utd 0:3 Barcelona
  • 0% Man Utd 4:1 Barcelona
  • 0% Man Utd 0:5 Barcelona
Compiled from 231 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Man Utd
  2. Barcelona
Possession
42% 58%
Shots
12 6
Shots on Target
5 3
Corners
1 2
Fouls
13 12

Referee

Clement Turpin

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

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