Barca - Man Utd: Test of strength
Barca - Man Utd match evokes many emotions. The two teams have faced each other 13 times in European competitions. In particular, the culmination is the two finals of the Champions League 2009 and 2011, where the victory belonged to the Spanish club. In the last confrontation - the quarter-finals of the Champions League 2018-2019, Barca continued to dominate: winning 1-0 at Old Trafford and 3-0 at Camp Nou.
However, both have failed to maintain their leading position in Europe over the past few years. Barca only finished third in the group stage of the Champions League and had to play in the second division tournament on the continent. This is the second year in a row that Barca plays in the Europa League. Last year, they lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, 10 years after parting with former coach Alex Ferguson, Man Utd is still struggling to find a new identity.
The mind match between Xavi and Ten Hag is also worth waiting for. The Barca legend returned with the goal of saving the old club after Lionel Messi left. He quickly recruited a new star with Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha or Jules Kounde and brought the familiar attacking style back to Barca after his predecessor Ronald Koeman was criticized.
Barca's roots are still the philosophy founded by the legendary Johan Cruyff. At Man Utd, Ten Hag, a man from Ajax, wants to do the same. Last summer, the 53-year-old coach tried every way to convince his former player Frenkie De Jong to leave Barca but failed. De Jong still sees the Catalan team as a dream destination and this match is an opportunity for Ten Hag to shake that judgment.
"It's very good to meet Barca here. We all have ambitions to play in the Champions League. Not only that, we want to compete in that tournament, get through the group stage, get to the semi-finals, the final, even the championship. But we have to accept the fact that this is a Europa League game, it shows that both clubs need to be reset. We are both on the right track and the encounter will be beneficial for both. This is a good test. From there, we can know where we are," commented Ten Hag.
Man Utd have won 12 of the last 15 matches and lost only one. This form is beyond the imagination of some players, including Luke Shaw, who has admitted that Man Utd shows no signs of coming close to the level they desire. As for Barca, in the last 15 matches, Xavi's teachers and students won 14 and drew one.
"Changing the situation at Man Utd is not easy and Ten Hag is proving he is a good coach. They are in good spirits. To me, Ten Hag is an interesting coach who has the ability to create many variables. He It's a testament to coaches who love attacking football. It's going to be an exciting match for the fans. Both teams are in high form. I'm looking forward to an intense game and Barca want to prove us. enough level to compete in Europe," said Xavi.
Barca are without two key players Ousmane Dembele and Sergio Busquets, who have yet to recover from hamstring and ankle injuries. But the home team's important fulcrum lies in the defense, where Xavi is likely to keep the same frame that has kept 16 clean sheets in La Liga, the most in Europe's top five leagues.
Man Utd's injury list includes Donny van de Beek, Christian Eriksen, Anthony Martial, Scott McTominay and Antony. The visitors are also without Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer because of suspension. However, "Red Devils" welcome the important return of Casemiro, who missed the last two matches due to a penalty card.
