12:12 – Juventus v NantesJuve have got Nantes, admittedly not quite as exciting as Barca v United. 12:11 – Barcelona v Man UtdOh my! It’s Barcelona v Manchester United. WOW! 12:10 – Draw underway! Here we go, will Erik ten Hag’s United be making a trip back to Ajax in Amsterdam? 12:07 – Zoltan Gera in the houseFormer Fulham and West Brom player Zoltan Gera will make the draw, along with, yes you guessed it, UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti.
Barcelona vs Man United Prediction and Preview | The AnalystBarcelona and Man United meet at the Camp Nou on Thursday evening in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League knockout round tie. We preview the game and reveal who our Opta predictor thinks will win. Barcelona vs Man United: The Quick Hits Barcelona have won four of the last five times these two teams played, and have a whopping 54. 1% chance of victory once again. Robert Lewandowski has scored 45 goals in his last 37 games in European competition but this is his first time playing Manchester United. Man United have won five Europa League games in a row. Match Preview There was a time when Barcelona vs Man United was a fixture reserved exclusively for Champions League nights.
But Casemiro is our player to watch here as he is set to reignite his rivalry with the old foe once again just six months after leaving Real Madrid. He has played against Barcelona 13 times picking up five wins, three draws and three defeats. Four of the last five games were victories for Real and Casemiro. Aside from giving United defensive solidity and nous at the base of midfield, he has also scored four goals and provided five assists during his 30 games at the club. Some turned their nose up at the money United paid for the 30-year-old in the summer but United would have gladly paid twice the fee had they known just how influential the midfielder would be.
12:15 – Ajax v Union BerlinIt’s a good raw for Ajax, who face Union Berlin – a team that have never reached the knockouts of the Europa League. 12:14 - Shakhtar Donetsk v RennesShakhtar Donetsk v Stade Rennes is next. 12:13 – Sporting Lisbon v MidtjyllandSporting v Midtjylland it is. The Portuguese side were so close to making the last 16 of the Champions League, instead they have a Europa League play-off to contend with.
Europa League 2022 play-off draw LIVE: Who will Manchester United and Barcelona face in knockout game? 12:35: That’s a wrap! It’s also what I’m having for lunch, but for more on the Europa League draw, and the Champions League draw that took place earlier, do check out our stories below. Until next time, have a great week! Europa LeagueTen Hag speaks out on De Jong transfer saga ahead of reunion in Barcelona10 HOURS AGOLiverpool draw Real Madrid in CL last 16, PSG v Bayern, Spurs v AC MilanMan Utd to face Barcelona in blockbuster Europa League play-off12:30 When are the Europa League play-offs? The next “Thursday nights are Europa nights” (if you know, you know) will be on February 16 for the first leg of the play-offs, with the second leg on February 23.
The runners-up in each group, including Manchester United, have an extra match to play which will be up against the teams that have come from the Champions League (those that finished third in their group). Teams from the same country cannot face each other too. Got that? Hopefully you have because it means I have explained it well. 11:45 – Europa League draw just around the cornerHello again! You’ve probably just joined us from the Champions League draw, now it’s time for the Europa League play-off draw. We’ll be building up to see who Manchester United, Barcelona and the rest of the 14 teams draw.
Why only 14? We’ll explain that in a minute. The draw for the play-offs of the Europa League will take place in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday, November 7. The ceremony begins at 1pm CET, which is 12pm in the UK. The draw will include Barcelona, Manchester United, Juventus and former Europa League winners Sevilla. The first-leg play-off matches will be played on February 16; the second legs will be played on February 23. The draw for the last 16 will be on February 24. The final will take place on May 31 2023 at Budapest's Puskas Arena. Who is in the draw for the Europa League play-off? SEEDED TEAM (Second in Europa League group)COUNTRY Manchester UnitedEnglandFC MidtjyllandDenmark NantesFranceMonaco France PSV EindhovenNetherlandsRennes France Roma ItalyUnion Berlin GermanyUNSEEDED TEAM (Third in Champions League group)COUNTRY AjaxNetherlandsFC BarcelonaSpainBayer LeverkusenGermany JuventusItaly RB SalzburgAustriaSevillaSpainShakhtar DonetskUkraineSporting CPPortugalWhen will the ties be played? The first-leg play-off matches will be played on February 16, with the second legs played on February 23.
Manchester United vs Barcelona - UEFA Europa League 23
He was immense against Villarreal at the weekend and just keeps getting better. Araujo’s presence allows Xavi to implement one of the key features of his team’s shape. Jules Kounde plays right-back but pushes forward into attack and he can do it safe in the knowledge that Araujo can cover large swathes of space behind with his NBA-like body and Olympic-like speed. He is only 23 and there’s more to come but expect the ‘Araujo is one of the best centre-backs in the world’ opinion to become more mainstream in the coming months. Manchester United: Casemiro Marcus Rashford is on a tear with eight goals in nine games in the Premier League. Bruno Fernandes is flourishing under Erik ten Hag’s excellent guidance and is the leading chance creator from open play in the Premier League this season (55).
12:02 – Barca look to Europa League againAfter a disappointing, and potentially expensive, elimination in the group stages of the Champions League Barcelona look to the Europa League to save them again. Last season, they found themselves in the same position but lost to eventual champions Frankfurt in a dramatic quarter-final tie. First, they must get through the play-off, before thinking about going deep into the competition.
FC Barcelona vs Manchester United | Thu Feb 16 2023
Manager departures, mismanagement in the transfer market and misadventures both on and off the field have left Manchester United and Barcelona in a perpetual state of rebuilding. But for the first time in a long time, it feels like both teams have found managers in Xavi and Erik ten Hag who can bring sustained success to their clubs. Barcelona lead LaLiga (and we give them a 93. 2% chance of staying there come the end of 2022-23) while Manchester sit third in the Premier League (we give them a 61.
This would be his first appearance against Manchester United. Erik ten Hag has Manchester United fans dreaming of Premier League glory once again. This year might be a stretch with Arsenal and Manchester City setting the pace but there is definitely a more positive vibe around the team and club. Things have really turned around, ironically, since Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview criticising the way the club was ran and his subsequent departure.
He suffered an abductor injury that saw him miss the majority of the first half of the season and the World Cup. There was talk that Uruguay might expedite his recovery to get him back in time for the tournament. That didn’t happen and Barcelona are benefitting now from a recovered and refreshed Araujo.
They haven’t lost since October but there is an underwhelming feeling to their recent run of success. Xavi Hernandez has proven less idealistic than he intoned prior to taking the role but nobody can doubt that he has been getting results. While Barcelona’s defense has been airtight in recent months, their most potent attacker has suffered mediocre form in recent weeks. Robert Lewandowski was downright poor against Villarreal on Sunday and had been suspended since a red card against Osasuna prior to that. He has scored one goal in six games in LaLiga. But the Pole loves European football. Lewandowski has scored 45 goals in his last 37 games in European competition, while he has been directly involved in nine goals across his last three appearances against English clubs: two goals against Spurs in October 2019, one goal and two assists against Chelsea in February 2020, and another two goals and two assists against Chelsea in August 2020.
Barcelona vs Manchester United: Preview | UEL 2022/23
This is very much a team in the mould of the calm and collected Dutch manager on the bench now. Manchester United’s last group stage match saw them triumph 1-0 over Real Sociedad at Reale Arena, their fifth Europa League victory in a row this season. Alejandro Garnacho was the sole player to score in the win. Entering Thursday’s match, they are undefeated in their last six games in all competitions (W5 D1 L0). Players to Watch: Barcelona: Ronald Araujo One of the reasons Barcelona find themselves in the Europa League is because Ronald Araujo was injured during key games in the Champions League group stage – he missed three of the five games Barça played.
Both teams would prefer to test their new-found competence in the biggest European competition but, for now, it’s Thursday night football for the two. It provides a very realistic chance for silverware for both managers in their first full seasons in charge of their clubs. This is the ‘Sleeping Giants Derby’ but both of these behemoths of yesteryear are showing signs of waking up. Barcelona and Manchester United have faced each other 13 times in all competitions (six Barcelona wins, three Man Utd wins, three draws).
Manchester United v FC Barcelona - Europa League 2022-2023
11:55 – Who could Man Utd face? With no English teams dropping from the Champions League to the Europa League, Manchester United can face any of the eight unseeded sides. They are: Ajax, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Salzburg, Sevilla, Shakhtar Donetsk and Sporting Lisbon. 11:49 – Why is it called the play-offs, not the last 32? Great question! That’s because the eight group winners, which include Arsenal, are automatically through to the last 16.
The draw for the last 16 will be a day after that on February 24. Then, the last 16 itself will take place on March 9 and March 16, where Arsenal and the other group winners will face those that come through the play-offs. 12:25 - Scenes is the word I'd use12:21 – Europa League play-off draw in fullOne tie stands out, not sure which though. It might be at the top of the list…Barcelona v Man UtdJuventus v NantesSporting Lisbon v MidtjyllandShakhtar Donetsk v Stade RennesAjax v Union BerlinBayer Leverkusen v MonacoSevilla v PSV EindhovenSalzburg v Roma12:18 – Salzburg v RomaAnd lastly it’s Salzburg v Roma, another fascinating tie. 12:17 – Sevilla v PSV EindhovenSix-time Europa League champions Sevilla have been drawn with PSV. 12:16 – Bayer Leverkusen v MonacoThat will be a close tie Bayer Leverkusen v Monaco.
Barcelona join race for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo?