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Recommended bets
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Match preview
After a thrilling first leg at Camp Nou, these two European juggernauts will go head-to-head again, and this time it’s winner takes all.
The breakthrough a week ago came just after half time, when an inexplicably free Marcos Alonso nodded home at the back post, completely unmarked.
But, in the space of nine minutes, Manchester United had turned the tie around, first through, who else, Marcus Rashford, before an unfortunate own goal by Jules Koundé.
Nevertheless, Barça did avoid a damaging defeat when Raphinha’s cross evaded everybody, including Robert Lewandowski, and found the bottom corner.
2-2 it finished in Catalonia so, with the away goals rule a thing of the past, this is now essentially a one-off cup tie.
Barcelona are currently eight-points clear at the top of La Liga, following Sunday night’s routine 2-0 home victory over Cádiz.
The Blaugrana won their most-recent trip to Old Trafford in 2019, but that is their only victory in five visits.
As for Manchester United, their excellent form continued at the weekend, swatting aside Leicester 3-0, despite a dodgy first 20 minutes, in which David de Gea was at his brilliant best.
Erik ten Hag’s team are third in the Premier League, five points below the leaders, and have this weekend’s Carabao Cup Final to look forward to.
Before then though, expect a huge night at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils hoping to rediscover former European glories.
Will Man United make home advantage count and dump out the run-away Spanish league-leaders?
Manchester United team news
Casemiro’s three-game domestic ban is now over, just in time for the League Cup Final, but this does mean the Brazilian is fresh for this tie.
Meantime, Lisandro Martínez and Marcel Sabitzer are both available, after sitting out the trip to Camp Nou suspended.
At the other end of the field, Wout Weghorst was deployed in a number ten role in Catalonia, something that seemed to surprise everyone, including possibly himself.
It remains to be seen if that’ll be the same again but, either-way, Marcus Rashford will remain Man United’s main goal threat.
He’s now scored 16 times since the World Cup, with 17 of his 22 this season coming at Old Trafford.
Predicted XI: (4-3-3): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martínez, Shaw; Casemiro, Sabizter, Fernandes; Sancho, Rashford, Weghorst.
Barcelona team news
Pedri is also out, after sustaining a knock in the first leg, while Ousmane Dembélé is also sidelined long-term.
Given that, it was a massive blow that Gavi picked up a yellow card in the 73rd minute that means he’ll miss this tie too.
Short of midfielders, Sergio Busquets could start, featuring for the first time in 18 days, alongside Frenkie de Jong and Franck Kessié, with forgotten man Sergi Roberto the alternative.
In better news, Ferran Torres was excellent on Sunday, so has surely earned a start, with Raphinha on the other flank.
Marc-André ter Stegen has kept 17 clean sheets in just 22 La Liga matches so far, remarkable, but has conceded 55 goals in his last 32 appearances in UEFA competition.
At the back, Andreas Christensen has established himself as Ronald Araújo’s partner, with Alejandro Balde usurping Jordi Alba as the first-choice left-back.
Robert Lewandowski has scored against 111 different clubs during his career, looking to add Manchester United to this extremely long list.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Koundé, Christensen, Araújo, Balde; Busquets, de Jong, Kessié; Raphinha, Torres, Lewandowski.
Manchester United vs Barcelona: Head to head statistics
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