Will Barcelona prevail at Old Trafford?
Manchester United vs FC Barcelona – what sounded for many years like great football between two absolute heavyweights in Europe’s top division is in the present merely a duel in the Europa League play-offs. Which does not mean that there is less explosiveness and excitement in this encounter. After the bookmakers surprisingly clearly favoured the Spaniards in the first leg, the odds of the best bookmakers for a Manchester United vs Barcelona bet in the second leg on English soil point slightly in the direction of the English.
An assessment that can be shared after the 2:2 at the Camp Nou. Erik ten Hag’s team has been strong for weeks, especially in the home games. Xavi’s team, on the other hand, seems to be lacking the final polish for the big European tasks this season, despite investing heavily in the squad. In the top flight, they have already lost in Milan and Munich.
And at Old Trafford, too, FC Barcelona now face another extremely tricky task. The last home defeat for the Red Devils was at the beginning of September, also against a Spanish team, Real Sociedad San Sebastian. However, ManUnited’s performances in the early days under Erik ten Hag are hardly comparable to their current performances. Under ten Hag, the Red Devils have made great strides in recent months, which also plays a decisive role in the Manchester United vs. Barcelona prediction.
Manchester United – Statistics & current form
After missing out on Champions League qualification via the national championship last season, the English record champions have to make do with the Europa League this year. Before the season, a new coach, Dutchman Erik ten Hag, was hired to lead the English record champions back to a better future after years of gloom.
At least the upcoming second leg in the Europa League play-offs already feels a bit like the Champions League – at least from the name of the opponent. Many betting companies give the Red Devils the better chances of advancing. The Manchester United vs. Barcelona odds are slightly in the direction of the English team.
Will United continue to dance on four tongues?
After not going well at all at the beginning of the season, Man United have been in top form for weeks. Even their only two defeats this season were way back in late summer last year. Since then, the Ten Hag eleven has played a strong season and even still has title chances in a total of four competitions.
A decisive building block for this year’s success was certainly the signing of Casemiro, who proved to be a stabiliser in midfield. Man United also strolled through the Europa League preliminary round with five victories, despite an opening defeat against Real Sociedad.
In order not to bury their first title dream on Thursday, they will have to overcome the hurdle of Barcelona. In the home game at Old Trafford, the odds are even slightly better than the bookmakers’.
Since we at least assume that the Red Devils will not lose the match against Barcelona, the Manchester United vs Barcelona tip goes as a draw no-bet bet on the home team. This tip still yields good value and reduces the risk in this knockout match, in which extra time is certainly also conceivable. In the end, however, Manchester United should prevail in this duel thanks to their home advantage.
Last matches of Manchester United:
Premier League
19/02/2023 – Manchester United 3 – 0 Leicester
Europa League Final Stage
17/02/2023 – FC Barcelona 2 – 2 Manchester United
Premier League
12/02/2023 – Leeds 0 – 2 Manchester United
09/02/2023 – Manchester United 2 – 2 Leeds
04/02/2023 – Manchester United 2 – 1 Crystal Palace
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
After the transfer offensive of the financially struggling club, hopes were high among the Catalans’ entourage to play a bigger role again this season, both nationally and internationally. At least nationally, this plan seems to be working. After the 22nd matchday, Barca already has an eight-point lead over rival Real Madrid and is looking forward to the Spanish championship.
In addition, the Catalans won the Super Cup final a few weeks ago, also against the Royals, and were thus able to secure their first title of the current season. Away from home, they are also extremely strong in La Liga, winning ten of their eleven away games (10-0-1). In the process, ter Stegen only conceded six goals. This is probably one of the reasons why the Manchester United vs. Barcelona odds are only slightly in favour of the Red Devils.
Proof of European top class missing
But the fact that the Spanish league no longer has the strength of earlier days and that the grapes hang higher in Europe was then shown in the preliminary round of the Champions League. Barca only managed to win both games against Viktoria Pilsen from the Czech Republic. In the games against Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, however, the Spaniards were clearly shown their limits.
Only one point was earned against those opponents, and both matches were lost away from home. At Old Trafford, the Blaugrana now face an opponent of a similar calibre, who mercilessly exposed Barca’s weaknesses in the first leg. The fact that Xavi will have to do without his creative midfield axis Gavi and Pedri at Old Trafford does not exactly play into his hands.
At the Camp Nou, the Red Devils proved once again that they are very difficult to beat at the moment. At least Barcelona managed to salvage a draw at the Camp Nou after going behind and thus travels to Manchester with a somewhat better starting position. Nevertheless, we are not making any Manchester United vs. Barcelona predictions on a win or progress for the Blaugrana.
The air is getting thin for the Xavi team on the international stage, as was already clear in this year’s Champions League group stage. While Barca are once again dominating nationally, they have not yet reached the level of the great Barca teams of the past in Europe. And although Man United are also not yet back among the big teams in Europe, we underline the bookmakers’ assessment and also see the Red Devils as favourites to advance.
Last Barcelona games:
La Liga
20/02/2023 – FC Barcelona 2 – 0 Cadiz
Europa League Final Stage
17/02/2023 – FC Barcelona 2 – 2 Manchester United
La Liga
13/02/2023 – FC Villarreal 0 – 1 FC Barcelona
06/02/2023 – FC Barcelona 3 – 0 FC Sevilla
02/02/2023 – Real Betis 1 – 2 FC Barcelona
Manchester United – Barcelona Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
Manchester United and Barcelona have faced each other 14 times so far. The overall record is led by seven victories. Only three times Man United won, four times no winner could be determined. The goal difference of 25:15 goals in this comparison is also clearly in favour of Barcelona. However, the Catalans could only celebrate one of the seven victories at Old Trafford, in four of the five guest games at the “Theatre of Dreams” there was no full success for the Blaugrana (1-2-2).
Manchester United – Barcelona Tip
Even before the round of 16 in the Europa League, a big name will have to say goodbye to the competition after this duel. After the draw in the first leg, everything is still open. In the dress rehearsal for the decisive knockout match in the Europa League, both teams celebrated commanding mandatory victories in their national leagues last weekend. The bookmakers see the English record champions in the lead for a Manchester United vs Barcelona bet. We agree with this opinion and, with the home advantage behind them, predict a place for the Red Devils in the last 16 of the Europa League. Barca have only won once in five attempts at Old Trafford.
Even in the first leg, both teams showed their qualities in the offensive, but also their vulnerability in the defensive area. The spectators were treated to a lively encounter between Manchester United and Barcelona. A prediction of over 2.5 goals also makes sense in the decisive second leg, because both teams are under pressure.
Therefore, it can be assumed that the teams will act offensively in order to decide this knockout duel in their favour. Especially since a prolonged draw for both teams carries the danger that the opponent in the final phase of the game with a lucky punch abruptly ends the Europa League season for the opponent.
