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Manchester United and Barcelona are poised to satisfy of their second-leg Europa League conflict at Previous Trafford this Thursday.
The primary leg was a hotly contested battle between Xavi Hernandez and Erik ten Hag’s males, ending in a 2-2 draw.
In line with Sport journalist Jordi Gil, all indicators point out that Xavi will play with 4 midfielders to take management of the center of the park (by way of Sport).
This technique will make sure the Catalan giants can shortly snuff out any United counter-attacks, who’ve proved to be lethal throughout transitions.
A brand new beginning eleven
Barcelona will take to the pitch with out the injured Pedri and the suspended Gavi.
Of their place, Sergi Roberto and Franck Kessié are anticipated to affix the beginning eleven to marshal the midfield alongside Sergio Busquets and Frenkie De Jong.
Whereas Xavi could also be with out Pedri and Gavi, he can be given a lift by his captain’s return. Busquets had beforehand been out with an ankle harm.
Gil writes that Sergi Roberto, Kessié, and Busquets will begin with De Jong, who will take up a job just like Pedri on the left of midfield. By comparability, Kessié will possible function extra in the direction of the correct flank.
Relating to the remainder of the beginning eleven, the one actual query marks revolve round Jules Koundé and Ronald Araújo.
The Uruguayan defender began within the first leg. Nonetheless, Marcus Rashford proved problematic, forcing Xavi to shuffle issues on the again within the final 20 minutes.
On Thursday, Xavi might play his ordinary line-up of their most pure positions.
Holding Rashford below wraps
Rashford is a person in kind and may’t cease scoring. Regardless of this, Xavi can not arrange his workforce to maintain Rashford from firing on all cylinders.
In any case, Ten Hag has proven that he’s a grasp tactician with contingency plans that Barça can not pre-empt.
Youth on the bench
Barcelona’s bench options many starlets, together with Casadó and Pablo Torre. The duo are the one pure midfielders obtainable in its place.
Xavi has deployed substitute Jordi Alba on the left flank up to now, which can be an choice relying on how the sport develops.
The absence of Ousmane Dembele is an enormous blow to the Catalan giants. Nevertheless, Xavi can nonetheless name upon Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres if he wants a pair of recent legs up entrance.
Crew Ten Hag
Ten Hag will possible subject a workforce with fewer modifications than his Spanish counterpart. The suspended Lisandro Martínez is more likely to return as centre-back.
It will permit Shaw to play at his favoured left-back place and, sadly, push Malacia again onto the bench in its place.
The supply of Antony and Harry Maguire has additionally given United a lift. Nevertheless, the trio of Anthony Martial, Christian Eriksen, and Donny Van de Beek are nonetheless unavailable.
Each groups have all of it to play for. Followers in all places can stay up for a soccer feast of 90 minutes that includes two of Europe’s giants.
