Europa League

The two legendary clubs square off in the opening leg of the Europa League Play-off on Thursday.

Last season, they made it as far as the quarterfinals in the Europa League, before losing Eintracht Frankfurt. Like Barca, ManU is making their case to play in the UCL in 2023-24. Manchester United had a disappointing 2021-22 campaign that saw them finish outside the top four in the English Premier League, keeping them out of the UCL. Barcelona and Manchester United are arguably two of the most iconic sporting franchises in the world. Barcelona qualified for the Champions League, but their seven points in the group stage knocked them out of the tournament. For Barcelona, it is the second-straight season where they failed to make it out of the opening stage of the UCL.

The heavyweight tie from this week's Europa League matches is Barcelona's welcome of Manchester United. Both sides are in great form coming into Thursday's ...

Shakhtar are playing at home - 937 miles away from Donetsk - in Warsaw, crisis-hit Juventus bid to avoid a shock at Nantes, while Arsenal are among teams with ...

For them to now be playing in the Europa League highlights their misfortunes. Yet the Europa League is their playground. If you back them to see off Ajax, go with a couple of 1-0 scorelines. SEVEN things to look out for in the Europa League's return The war-hit side from Ukraine played all three of their Champions League matches at the home of Legia Warsaw in the Polish capital after agreeing to a deal at the start of the season following the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. [Manchester United](/sport/teampages/manchester-united.html) and [Barcelona](/sport/teampages/barcelona.html) who face off in a tie worthy of a Champions League final and will be the highlight of the evening's action.

BAR vs MUN: All you need to know about the Europa League knockout round first-leg clash between Barcelona and Manchester United at the Camp Nou Stadium.

“Rashford is one of the most dangerous strikers,” Xavi said. The England forward, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona in the past, has scored 13 goals in his last 15 games and 21 all season. Ten Hag has had to contend with his own absences but has still been able to put United in a position to compete for the league title. With Sancho back, Rashford can be switched from the left wing into a central position, where he has managed to score from in each of United’s last two games when moved there during the match. It is in the Europa League because it couldn’t win a group game against either Bayern or Inter Milan. Spain internationals Pedri and Gavi are driving the midfield, while Raphinha is filling in nicely for Dembélé.

The Europa League returns on Thursday as the knockout round play-offs get under way with Manchester United versus Barcelona the standout tie kicking off ...

[Wout Weghorst](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/wout-weghorst) drop out in favour of a more mobile front three with [Marcus Rashford](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/marcus-rashford) through the middle. With the Bayern Munich loanee needing to drop out, Casemiro is expected to return to a midfield comprising of compatriot [Fred](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/fred) and [Bruno Fernandes](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/bruno-fernandes) in a more advanced role. It would be a surprise were [David de Gea](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/david-de-gea) not to remain an ever-present presence between the sticks in this competition. [United](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-united-fc)'s first experience of this recently introduced round, which pits the runners-up from the [Europa League](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/europa-league) group stage with the third-placed teams dropping down from the [Champions League](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/uefa-champions-league) group stage, [Barcelona](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/barcelona-fc) do have previous from last season. [Erik ten Hag](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/erik-ten-hag)'s team travelling to the Catalan capital means it is consecutive European away trips to Spain after concluding Group E with a visit to Real Sociedad. [Raphael Varane](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/raphael-varane) is on the cards at the expense of captain [Harry Maguire](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/harry-maguire), but, aside from that, the defence is anticipated to stay the same, with [Luke Shaw](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/luke-shaw) partnering the former Real Madrid centre-back as [Diogo Dalot](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/diogo-dalot) and [Tyrell Malacia](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/tyrell-malacia) flank the pair. The only change that could come is Jordi Alba replacing the teenage Balde at left-back. Franck Kessie replaced Busquets at El Madrigal on Sunday and is again expected to line up alongside Pedri and Frenkie de Jong if Gavi is positioned further forward. The in-form centre-forward would then be flanked on either side by [Jadon Sancho](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/jadon-sancho) and [Alejandro Garnacho](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/alejandro-garnacho). Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembele are set to be injury absentees for the hosts after missing the weekend win over Villarreal. [Casemiro](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/casemiro) made available, but [Lisandro Martinez](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/lisandro-martinez) and [Marcel Sabitzer](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/marcel-sabitzer) not as they serve one-match suspensions for yellow card accumulation. [Leeds United](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/leeds-united-fc) player Raphinha on either side of Robert Lewandowski.

This will be Barcelona's second successive season in the Europa League playoffs and they come into the match following a 16-game unbeaten run across all ...

The quarter-finals will take place in April while the semi-finals are played in May although the exact dates are currently unknown. Additionally, highlights will appear across BT’s social media accounts and highlights of the fixtures will then be available to watch on BT Sport’s YouTube channel following the final whistle. BT broadband is not required to purchase the monthly pass. The Europa League will be shown exclusively live on BT Sport. Advertisement This will be Barcelona’s second successive season in the Europa League playoffs and they come into the match following a 16-game unbeaten run across all competitions, including nine wins in their last 10 La Liga matches.

Unbeaten in their last 16 matches since losing to Bayern Munich in Champions League, Xavi's side has passed every challenge in their path so far, but Erik ten ...

Ousmane Dembele won't be ready to go for this match but this is a good game for Raphinha to start due to being familiar with Manchester United. Anthony Martial is still ruled out while the match will also likely come too soon for Antony which could see Alejandro Garnacho be handed a start on the wing in a critical matchup. Barcelona: With close to a clean bill of health, Xavi has quite a few options to play with in the match. Barca have more of a team attack, but United's defense will still have their hands full with Robert Lewandowski in the match. After finishing second in Group E, the Red Devils are treated with facing the La Liga leaders in a Barcelona side that is on a roll. The Europa League returns with a massive clash between Barcelona and Manchester United in the first leg of the knockout round playoffs on Thursday.