Barcelona host Manchester United Thursday in a match-up which has twice graced the Champions League last however this week has the relative ignominy of happening within the Europa League play-off spherical.
The Catalans crashed out of Europe’s premier competitors on the first hurdle, whereas Manchester United completed runners up of their Europa League group, main their paths to cross.
Regardless of the tie’s diminished stature, each fallen giants are on the rise and among the many groups in the very best type throughout the continent.
Barcelona and Manchester United are each constructing underneath thrilling coaches in Erik ten Hag and Xavi Hernandez and aiming to return to Europe’s elite imminently.
The groups final met in 2019 when United’s harsh decline within the barren decade after Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign was in full swing and Barcelona’s deep slide was about to start.
5-time Champions League winners Barca received the quarter-final conflict 4-0 on combination, however their solely participant from their beginning line-ups then more likely to face United at Camp Nou is goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona have gone via a profound squad renewal since — with their spending final summer season growing the criticism they acquired after dropping into the Europa League.
In Robert Lewandowski the Catalans signed a deadly striker, whereas Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen have established themselves as key parts of Europe’s greatest defence.
Barcelona have conceded simply seven objectives in La Liga this season, holding 16 clear sheets from 21 matches, and Xavi’s facet are unbeaten in 16 video games throughout all competitions.
The coach, who starred for Barcelona in midfield of their 2009 and 2011 Champions League last victories over Ferguson’s Purple Devils, is returning his facet to their former glory.
Barcelona beat Actual Madrid to win the Spanish Tremendous Cup in January and can face their everlasting rivals within the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Final season he took over in November and led the crew from mid-table to a second-place end. Barcelona haven’t received La Liga since 2019 however stretched their lead over rivals Actual Madrid within the present marketing campaign to 11 factors on Sunday.
“It’s over a yr now since Xavi got here and plenty of issues have modified, in all probability additionally the mentality and the best way we defend,” stated Ter Stegen this week.
“(Xavi) has a plan, perhaps it’s taken longer than he anticipated, however you see outcomes step-by-step. We have now a greater concept of what to do on the pitch and that is key to success.”
– Purple Devils rising –
Manchester United, who signed Actual Madrid’s defensive midfield lynchpin Casemiro in the summertime, together with Ajax duo Antony and Lisandro Martinez, have quickly improved underneath coach Erik ten Hag.
The Dutch coach began work at Outdated Trafford final summer season and after a rocky begin, together with a 4-0 thrashing by Brentford and a fractious relationship with membership legend Cristiano Ronaldo, has turned issues round.
The Portuguese ahead parted methods with United in the course of the World Cup and Ten Hag’s facet have solely been overwhelmed as soon as of their final 17 matches — a 3-2 defeat by Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Ten Hag has helped striker Marcus Rashford discover his greatest type, with 13 objectives in his final 15 video games, and the crew has climbed to 3rd within the desk.
“The supervisor’s a pleasure to work with,” stated Rashford in October, even earlier than his spectacular run of type started.
Ten Hag additionally guided Manchester United into the EFL Cup last and the FA Cup fifth spherical, maximising their possibilities of incomes their first silverware since successful the Europa League in 2017.
Bruno Fernandes, who has additionally recovered his greatest type, additionally praised Ten Hag’s influence.
“The thought of the supervisor is (imprinted) on the crew, you may see it,” defined the midfielder.
“Confidence was low (earlier than) and that creates uncertainty however clearly I believe this season the primary factor is the outcomes. You get extra assured.”
Each Barcelona and Manchester United arrive with excessive morale however after they butt heads one will likely be condemned to undergo one other bruising European exit, their revival set again.
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