Barcelona vs Man Utd - Europa League: TV channel, team news, lineups & prediction
Barcelona and Manchester United met twice in Champions League finals in the space of three years just over a decade ago, back when both were among the very best in Europe.
This week, their encounter will be slightly different as they go head to head in the Europa League knockout round play-offs.
Both clubs have significantly fallen from their former peaks. Yet each appears to have come through the worst of their respective issues and instead this is now two promising teams on the up.
Even though it is in UEFA's secondary competition, this could actually be the pick of the games anywhere in Europe this week.
Where are Barcelona vs Man Utd playing?
- Location: Barcelona, Spain
- Stadium: Camp Nou
- Date: Thursday 16 February
- Kick-off Time: 17:45 GMT / 12:45 EST / 09:45 PST
- Referee: Maurizio Mariani (ITA)
- VAR: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
Barcelona vs Man Utd H2H Results (Last Five Games)
- Barcelona: 4 wins
- Man Utd: 1 win
- Draws: 0
Current Form (Last Five Games)
- Barcelona: WWWWW
- Man Utd: WDWWW
How to watch Barcelona vs Man Utd on TV and live stream
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | BT Sport 2 |
United States | Paramount +, ViX + |
Canada | DAZN |
Barcelona team news
Sergio Busquets, who is Barcelona's only survivor from their 2009 and 2011 Champions League final wins over United, could return from injury in time for the second leg but not here.
Ousmane Dembele is also out for this one and could be missing until March.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Man Utd
Barcelona starting 11 (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Alba; De Jong, Kessie, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Gavi.
Man Utd team news
United fans will be relieved to see the return of Casemiro, who is well accustomed to facing Barcelona after years at Real Madrid. The Brazilian enforcer has been serving a suspension in the Premier League that doesn't apply to European competition.
There is likely to be a European debut in United colours for January arrivals Wout Weghorst. But Marcel Sabitzer is carrying a suspension, as it Lisandro Martinez. Anthony Martial, Antony and Scott McTominay are expected to remain sidelined with longer-term absentees Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek.
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Barcelona
Man Utd starting 11 (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.
Barcelona vs Man Utd score prediction
Barcelona have had the upper hand when it comes to games against Manchester United in recent times. The latter haven't won a game between them since a memorable Paul Scholes piledriver at Old Trafford in a Champions League semi-final in 2008.
The Catalans have won the last four in a row, including Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011. The most recent games saw back-to-back Barcelona wins over two legs in a quarter-final in the same competition, during which United didn't actually score.
On home soil, top of La Liga and with a surprisingly ironclad defence - goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has kept 17 clean sheets this season - Barcelona will go into this one as favourites. The important thing for Erik ten Hag's United will not be losing the tie before the second leg.
Prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Man Utd