Predicted XI: [4-2-3-1] Casemiro back for United, paired with Fred in the midfield? Rashford to be the next United player to score at the Camp Nou?

The first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off between Manchester United and Barcelona will be held at the Camp Nou on Thursday night. Barcelona and United have faced off in both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, but this will be their first meeting in the UEFA Europa League. Barcelona had six victories in their previous six games, which is a strong run of form. In their last six games, United has five victories and a tie.

The victor of this play-off round advances to the competition’s round of 16, making this a crucial game for United if they want to remain in the Europa League this season.13 times in European competition, United and Barcelona have faced off, with United winning three times, drawing four times, and losing six times. United has lost all four of their previous encounters—two of them in the UEFA Champions League final and the other two in the competition’s knockout rounds.

The Europa League meetings against Barcelona this Thursday and next Thursday, the Premier League encounter against Leicester City at Old Trafford in between, and the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United coming just three days after the second leg game make this a crucial time for United. United will fight to remain in the top four this season and to win one of them at this period, while also trying to advance in the others.

Predicted Manchester United Starting XI – 4-2-3-1

De Gea;

Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Shaw, Malacia;

Casemiro, Fred;

Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford;

Weghorst

Goalkeeper: De Gea

During Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road, David De Gea recorded his 179th clean sheet for United. He also made his 400th Premier League appearance, breaking the previous mark for a non-British player with that many games for a single club. The Spanish goalkeeper had a fantastic weekend. Barcelona, on the other hand, will make this week crucial for United, who are still the only English team battling on four fronts.

Although De Gea will have Tom Heaton and Jack Butland available in case he needs a break, he ought to be revved up for the challenge of preserving their European participation this season for this encounter against Barcelona.The remainder of February will see United try to advance into the round of 16 stage of the Europa League, keep their top four hopes in the Premier League alive, and try to win the Carabao Cup. This will be the biggest game of the season for United.

De Gea and United have had a successful season, and the fact that he has 400 Premier League appearances and is just one clean sheet away from tying Peter Schmeichel’s record should motivate him and United for the rest of the campaign. I am sure that De Gea will want to win trophies as this could be his final season with United, unless he agrees to new terms as part of a new contract, which would steer United into another new era at goalkeeper level.

Defenders: Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Shaw, Malacia

Due to Lisandro Martinez’s suspension for receiving three yellow cards in the group stages of the Europa League this season, United’s defense will be weakened for the first leg against Barcelona. He will be able to participate in the second leg at Old Trafford, but for United to have a solid chance of moving on to the round of 16, they will need to perform well in this game. Given his stellar performances this season, Aaron Wan-Bissaka may start at right-back.

Diogo Dalot made his return from his most recent thigh injury on Sunday against Leeds United, but it might be too soon for him to start against Barcelona a few days later.If United needs defensive freshness late in the game, which is likely, he might enter and add that. Tyrell Malacia will probably start at left back on the left side, while Luke Shaw will probably play in the same central position as he did for the whole of the game against Leeds.

With Martinez suspended for this game, Raphael Varane and Shaw would be the strongest candidates to team in the center of the defense. If more players are required later in the game, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, and even Tyler Fredricson—who has yet to receive a cap in a senior role for United—may be able to contribute. If Dalot is required to fill the right-back position and contribute, United may use him.

Casemiro

Midfield: Casemiro, Fred

Casemiro returned for United missed both of the games against Leeds United due to his suspension, but he won’t play against Leicester City on Sunday at Old Trafford in the Premier League. That game will mark the end of his suspension. We should be grateful that he received adequate rest in preparation for the match against Barcelona. It will be wonderful to have the Brazilian back since he brings a fresh perspective to the midfield. He might be paired with Fred, if that’s the case.

Having received three yellow cards while representing Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League this season, Marcel Sabitzer is also suspended for this game and his suspension has been carried over to the Europa League.Casemiro and Sabitzer won’t play together in the midfield until the return leg at Old Trafford. Scott McTominay is also sidelined with an injury for this game, and Erik ten Hag fully anticipates that he will be out until later this month.

Fred would then be the lone other available midfielder to partner with his countryman against Barcelona in the middle of the midfield. Given some of Barcelona’s midfielders’ skill, it will be a tall order for United, but that does not imply Barcelona has already won this game before a single ball has been kicked. This season, Fred and Casemiro have performed well together, and Fred is far more effective playing with Casemiro than with Christian Eriksen.

Jadon Sancho

Attacking Midfield: Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford

The majority of United’s goals this season have come from this region. Marcus Rashford has contributed to 28 goals with 21 goals and 7 assists. Jadon Sancho has contributed five goals with four goals and one assist, while Bruno Fernandes has contributed 13 goals with seven goals and six assists. There were 46 goals contributed, for a total of 32 goals and 14 assists. Rashford is currently in good form and will have the best chance of scoring against Barcelona.

Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole scored the last goals for United against Barcelona at Camp Nou during the treble-winning 1998–1999 campaign.Ten Hag will be attempting to help United break their curse of failing to score at the Camp Nou. But it won’t be a simple task. With Antony out of action for the foreseeable future, Sancho has lately returned in fantastic shape and will be looking to drastically step up his performance.

In contrast to the midfielders who started the 2018–19 season with players like Fred, Paul Pogba, and Scott McTominay playing for the club, Fernandes’ inclusion in the United team will improve the game. There will also be an impact from the significant changes made in the team’s defense.This United team will be better against Barcelona and they will be seeking to keep their season alive in the Europa League.

Weghorst

Forward: Weghorst

Wout Weghorst has scored one goal and provided one assist so far this season, but based on video evidence, he should have scored against Leeds. However, VAR disallowed it. Despite this, he has contributed favorably to United since joining on loan from Burnley in January. Some people criticize the player for doing nothing, but if you see what he is doing, he has opened up the strategy on the field, giving United another attack-oriented dimension.

Anthony Martial suffered another injury shortly after recovering from his last one, making it nearly appear as though his time at United will come to an end in the summer.United will need a new striker and backup if the next seasons of his contract continue the same way because they cannot depend on him to be there. If he can’t stay healthy for a season, it’s not because he’s unlucky; it’s because he’s unfit. Martial ought to be superior to this.

Against Barcelona, Weghorst will venture into uncharted area; whether he succeeds or fails may depend on how it goes. He is a physical presence, which United needs, and the goals currently coming from other areas of the field are a good thing. Although there are plenty more forthcoming games for him to be playing in, I would want to see him score more goals this season.One goal and one assist is a good start but there is room for improvement for the Dutchman.

Alejandro Garnacho

Substitutes: Heaton, Butland; Lindelof, Maguire, Dalot, Fredricson; Iqbal, Mainoo; Pellistri, Elanga, Garnacho, McNeill

United will be allowed to designate up to 12 substitutes in the Europa League, utilizing five of them. It will give United three additional alternatives, which, given their current injury situation, hasn’t made them much better off. Christian Eriksen won’t be available until later in the season, and Donny van de Beek won’t be available for the rest of it. Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, and Antony will be sidelined for some time. Additionally suspended is Lisandro Martinez.

Both Tom Heaton and Jack Butland might end up on the goalie bench, if only to round out the roster.Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot, and Tyler Fredricson, the latter of whom has yet to make his entire Old Trafford club debut, could all be available in defense. For this game, United would have more alternatives if it weren’t for injuries and suspensions, but it helps to keep players like Martinez healthy for the weekend matchup with Leicester City.Due to Zidane Iqbal and Kobbie Mainoo’s potential availability in the midfield due to injury, players like Casemiro and Fred would need to produce on the field and last the full 90 minutes since they would be asked to accomplish a lot against a side like Barcelona due to their relative inexperience.Charlie McNeill, Facundo Pellistri, Anthony Elanga, and Alejandro Garnacho might be available for an attack. It’s also possible that there won’t be as many as 12 guys on the bench.