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Tag: barcelona vs manchester united

  • Barca protection have to be cautious of Marcus Rashford at peak of his prowess in Round of 16 sport at Old Trafford

    Manchester United vs Barcelona (Thursday, 1.30 AM)

    Days after locking horns within the first leg of the Europa League Round of 32 at Camp Nou, fallen giants Barcelona and Manchester United will renew hostilities as soon as once more. Their battleground this time: The legendary Old Trafford.

    Last week, United have been like a group possessed once they dragged out a 2-2 draw towards the Catalan membership even after going 0-1 all the way down to former Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso’s pinpoint header. If it was the Manchester United of the previous few seasons, they might roll over and concede a couple of instances extra with out even having the composure or penetrating energy to get again within the match. But this United underneath Erik Ten Hag is a special beast altogether.

    Channeling the never-give-up spirit of the Red Devils of yore, United ripped by Barcelona’s protection and went 2-1 up in a jiffy, courtesy of a scorching Marcus Rashford and an personal objective from Barca defender Jules Kounde. They would in the end concede from a Raphinha marvel objective however didn’t give an inch to their adorned opponents all through the remainder of the match.

    Barcelona would have a flurry of assaults proper on the loss of life with the Spanish facet coming very near wrapping up the match however by some means, United survived that onslaught.

    Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, centre, celebrates after scoring his facet’s second objective throughout the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Leicester City on the Stamford Bridge stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

    United have a close to good residence file within the Europa League with the one blip being their loss towards Real Sociedad again in September. Barcelona, in the meantime, have misplaced 2 away video games and gained 1 in Europe this season.

    To make issues worse, the Blaugrana need to journey to England with out their midfield generals Gavi and Pedri, with the previous out because of suspension and the latter coping with an damage which he suffered within the first leg. These are simply the most recent addition of gamers within the sidelines for Barca with Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembele each more likely to be unavailable once more after lacking out on the earlier encounter.

    United however can rely on the providers of World Cup profitable defender Lisandro Martinez and on-loan midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, each of whom needed to sit out the Nou Camp match because of suspensions. Playmaker Christian Eriksen would be the solely enormous miss for the Red Devils with the midfielder out until early April however the group have a correct substitute within the type of Sabitzer.

    Barcelona’s Andreas Christensen, left, Ronald Araujo, middle, and Gavi are seen after the tip of the Europa League playoff first leg soccer match between Barcelona and Manchester United on the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. The sport ended 2-2. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

    The United outfit is brimming with confidence in the mean time which has been translating into the performances of the primary man Marcus Rashford. Playing with a spring in his step after a really very long time, Rashford is a person reborn underneath Ten Hag. The composure and the precision he confirmed whereas scoring United’s opening objective, that too from a close to inconceivable angle, is a ability solely a participant with the utmost assuredness may even try, not to mention rating. Coming into Thursday’s conflict with one other match profitable efficiency towards Leicester City over the weekend, the place he scored a brace, Barcelona protection have to be cautious of a participant functioning on the peak of his powers.

    United had saved Robert Lewandowski uncharacteristically quiet within the Nou Camp however they are going to be delusional to be complacent. Along with Raphinha, the one participant who really regarded harmful coming towards the united backline within the first leg, the Polish striker will look to translate his La Liga kind to his European outings sooner fairly than later.

  • Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford is likely one of the most harmful gamers now in Europe: Barcelona boss Xavi

    Barcelona supervisor Xavi has hailed Marcus Rashford as some of the harmful gamers in Europe in the intervening time forward of Barca’s conflict with Manchester United within the UEFA Europa League. Rashford has been in beautiful kind for the reason that World Cup restart for the Red Devils.

    New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 15, 2023 23:44 IST

    Xavi showered reward on Rashford and Ten Hag (Courtesy: Reuters)

    By India Today Web Desk:

    Barcelona supervisor Xavi has hailed Manchester United ahead Marcus Rashford as some of the harmful gamers in Europe in the intervening time forward of the primary leg of the UEFA Europa League knockout spherical playoff conflict.

    Rashford has been in beautiful kind for the reason that World Cup restart, scoring his thirteenth aim in 15 video games throughout United’s 2-0 win over Leeds. It was the 25-year-old’s twenty first aim of the season, a stark distinction to his 2021-22 season with the Red Devils.

    Speaking forward of the Europa League conflict, as quoted by BBC Sport, Xavi mentioned that Rashford is a menace in transition and hailed him as some of the harmful gamers in Europe in the intervening time

    “In the transition he is very, very dangerous so we need to take care of all of them, but especially Rashford,” mentioned Xavi.

    “He’s one of the most dangerous players now in Europe.”

    Manchester United have loved an enormous change in fortunes underneath Erik ten Hag. After a shaky begin, Ten Hag has rejuvenated the Red Devils they usually presently sit third on the Premier League and have an EFL Cup last to look ahead to.

    Speaking about his counterpart, Xavi hailed the Dutch tactician as an incredible coach. The Barcelona boss mentioned that in his thoughts, reversing the fortunes of United wasn’t a simple process and Ten Hag is engaging in it.

    Xavi mentioned that the United supervisor is somebody who modifications issues and it will likely be a tricky rival for his group on Thursday.

    “Ten Hag is a great coach,” Xavi mentioned.

    “In my mind I believe that somehow [reversing] the situation of United was no easy task and he’s accomplishing it.

    “They are excited once more, the membership, the fanbase and likewise the way in which they play does lots.

    “He changes things offensively, defensively, everyone’s working very well, so it’s a tough rival for us and he’s a very interesting coach,” mentioned Xavi.

    Published On:

    Feb 15, 2023

  • UEFA Europa League: Champions League royalty Barcelona and Manchester United conflict in playoff first leg

    The new era of soccer followers tuning into the Europa League blockbuster playoff between conventional European powerhouses Manchester United and Barcelona could also be excused in the event that they discover it tough to consider that these two golf equipment fought for the Champions League title within the 2009 and 2011 finals. Since then, United haven’t reached one other UCL remaining whereas Barcelona claimed its final crown in 2015 towards Juventus. Since then, it has all been downhill for each golf equipment.

    The fall from grace has been gradual with United failing to win a trophy since 2017 – which satirically was the Europa League itself – and although Barcelona gained the Spanish league in 2018-19, their latest type in Europe leaves loads to be desired.

    HIGHLIGHTS | Pedri, Barça declare all three factors at Villarreal!#LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/yHeDiJXPUm

    — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 14, 2023

    Since successful the UCL in 2015, Barcelona’s Champions League type has gone from dangerous to worse. In the following three editions, they have been eradicated within the quarterfinals. In the 2018/19 season, they misplaced 0-4 at Anfield within the second leg of the semifinals having gained the first leg at Camp Nou 3-0.

    The subsequent season can be one of many darkest reminiscences for any Barcelona fan once they have been demolished 8-2 by Bayern Munich in a single match. After that, they’ve misplaced to PSG within the Round of 16 and within the final two editions, didn’t even cross the group phases.

    United have been in freefall for the reason that legendary supervisor Alex Ferguson left in 2012 after successful them their twentieth and until now, their final Premier League title. They couldn’t even qualify for the Champions league this season. Since Ferguson left, United have reached the quarterfinals twice, been eradicated on the last-16 stage twice and didn’t make it out of the group on two events.

    Ready for an additional week of graft 👊#MUFC pic.twitter.com/B0S242sV6D

    — Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 14, 2023

    However, a ray of hope for followers of each golf equipment is their latest home type. After working by way of a revolving door of coaches, United appear to have lastly settled on Dutchman Erik ten Hag, who after a moderately shaky begin to the season with losses to Brentford and Brighton, has actually turned United round. They even have an out of doors likelihood of creating the Premier League title race a triple menace, sitting in third place, simply 5 factors off league leaders Arsenal.

    Their star striker Marcus Rashford is lastly fulfilling his potential having a sizzling run of type for the reason that World Cup break. Against Barcelona, anticipate ten Hag to deploy Rashford up entrance in an effort to exploit the chinks within the Catalan outfit’s defensive armour. They will, nonetheless, miss their trusty defender Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer resulting from suspensions. Casemiro, who is aware of a factor or two about going through Barca, shall be hoping to search out holes in a Barcelona midfield bereft of Sergio Busquets. However, United will miss the providers of the injured Christian Eriksen in midfield.

    Red-hot type

    Barcelona, in the meantime, are on a 11-match unbeaten streak, with their 1-1 draw towards Espanyol in December the one match they’d didn’t win. They have opened up an 11-point hole on the prime of the league desk on Real Madrid after the latest 1-0 win towards Villarreal, courtesy of a Pedri purpose. With the Spanish wonderkid combining expertly with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, United defenders and midfielders can have their arms full. Frenkie de Jong, who used to play for United supervisor ten Hag in Ajax, can even have a reunion together with his former gaffer, having turned down the possibility to affix him at Manchester United in the summertime. Barca have saved 16 clear sheets in 21 league matches this season with Jules Koundé, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araújo and Alejandro Balde in distinctive type.

    A conflict of titans awaits us this Thursday evening as the 2 European heavyweights combat for the early benefit within the 1st leg at Camp Nou.

  • LaLiga: FC Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele injured weeks forward of Europa League conflict vs Manchester United

    Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele was pressured to stroll off the pitch within the first half of the staff’s 1-0 win in opposition to Girona. While Barcelona prolonged their lead on the prime of LaLiga, they took an enormous hit with the in-form participant’s harm.

    New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 29, 2023 12:09 IST

    File photograph of Ousmane Dembele in motion for FC Barcelona. (Reuters Photo)

    By India Today Web Desk: FC Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele was pressured to hobble off the pitch within the first half of the staff’s LaLiga recreation in opposition to Girona on Saturday night, 28 January. Dembele couldn’t proceed past the 26-minute mark within the recreation and requested to be substituted. It was an enormous blow for Barcelona who’re pushing for the LaLiga title this season and are to tackle Manchester United within the Europa League on 16 February.

    “Test this evening on Ousmane Dembélé have revealed that he has strained the rectus femoris muscle in his left thigh. It means he is side-lined until the can recover from the injury,” the membership mentioned in a press release.

    After 26 minutes he was changed by Pedri, who went on to attain the one purpose of the sport.

    “The Frenchman has displayed exceptional form in the 27 games that he played in this season, scoring six goals and delivering seven assists. He has been one of the consistently picked players by Xavi Hernández,” the membership assertion lauded the consistency of the French winger who was additionally a livewire for the nationwide staff through the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

    LATEST NEWS | Tests carried out this night on Ousmane Dembélé have proven that he has a rectus femoris harm in his left thigh. He is out and his restoration will decide his availability. pic.twitter.com/hG8WskAla3
    — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 28, 2023

    FC Barcelona presently have 47 factors from 18 matches and are 6 factors away from Real Madrid who’re within the second place. The defending champions have performed 17 matches and are to play the reverse fixture in opposition to the league leaders in March.

    Edited By:

    Kingshuk Kusari

    Published On:

    Jan 29, 2023