Manchester United Beat Barcelona 2-1 in the Europa League Round of 16

Manchester United have won an incredible European night at Old Trafford with a thrilling victory over Barcelona. This victory puts Manchester United back on track for a place in the Champions League.

Ten Hag's side battled back after going behind in the first half, scoring two second-half goals to seal an incredible win for them.

Team news

Manchester United have advanced to the Europa League round of 16 with a thrilling 2-1 victory against Barcelona on Thursday. Manager Erik ten Hag and his team achieved an incredible triumph that could potentially propel them towards four trophies this season - making it one of the biggest victories in European soccer's top five leagues.

On Thursday night, Liverpool are back in action against Barca and face a formidable challenge. The Red Devils have gone unbeaten in their last 10 matches and can take comfort from being the second highest scoring team among Europe's five major leagues.

Recent form has given Manchester United a great chance of catching leaders Arsenal and second-placed Manchester City in the title race, plus they have an FA Cup fifth round clash at home against West Ham United on March 5. But if they want to make it all the way to Budapest and claim four trophies this season, they'll need to keep up the pressure.

United have made great strides this season, including a draw at West Ham, an emphatic 3-0 win against Leicester and an emphatic 2-1 triumph over Cadiz. With these results in hand, United appear on track to secure their third consecutive title and bring an end to four years of absence from the Champions League. A meeting with Newcastle in the League Cup final could prove the clincher in securing this historic trophy triumph.

It promises to be an exciting battle between both teams, with key players missing from either side due to injury or suspension. Anthony Martial remains injured after suffering a hip problem against the Foxes; however Wout Weghorst should provide cover up front, just as he did against Leicester; Jadon Sancho has also shown promise down the left flank.

Barcelona will be without Pedri and Gavi due to injury or suspension, while Captain Sergio Busquets, Franck Kessie and Jordi Alba are expected to start at Old Trafford.

Predictions

Barcelona will look to book their place in the next round of Champions League when they take on Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday night. To do so, they must overcome a 2-2 draw from the first leg at Old Trafford; with a win here likely sending them through to the last 16 stages of competition.

Xavi Hernandez's side are not without injury issues, with Ousmane Dembele and Sergio Busquets both nursing injuries. Nevertheless, Dembele is expected to return this week following a hamstring issue while Busquets has a thigh strain.

When it comes to attacking options, Xavi has no shortage of players to choose from. Robert Lewandowski is the main option in the front three, while Raphinha and Gavi can also be included. The latter could potentially play on left alongside Ferran Torres or Ansu Fati.

This match could feature a range of players with unique qualities, from midfielders Franck Kessie and Frenkie de Jong to forwards Jadon Sancho and Wout Weghorst. The former could start on the left wing while the latter may take up a right midfield role; though Franck Kessie seems most likely to start as one of these two.

As for the defense, Xavi has been impressive this season in his efforts to limit opponents' opportunities. In fact, Barcelona have only failed to keep a clean sheet in four of their last 10 matches across all competitions.

However, United must be wary of Xavi's defense in this match. Therefore, United will be hoping to capitalize on their impressive goal-scoring form this season which saw them score six times in their 2-0 victory against Leicester City last Sunday.

Marcus Rashford has scored 16 goals in 17 matches for Manchester United this season, his goal against Barcelona in the first leg of their match last week being a particular highlight. At +170 odds for this game, Rashford presents an attractive betting option.

Line-ups

Manchester United and Barcelona will meet for the first time since last season's Champions League final when they clash in the quarter-final of the Europa League. Both teams have been in excellent form thus far, so this clash promises to be an exciting one.

United have taken eight points from their last four matches and have become a dominant force in the Premier League this season, led by Erik ten Hag. After their 3-0 victory against Leicester City on Sunday, United can amp up their intensity even more with home support behind them; as such, they should be heavy favorites to win this match.

Barcelona are a formidable force in the league and have won seven of their last nine matches, with only a goalless draw against Real Sociedad to show for it. But they remain without Pedri and Gavi due to injury, so this will be an uphill struggle for Xavi's men.

Valverde's side at Camp Nou still boasts plenty of quality players despite any absences, and will be buoyed by their win against Atletico Madrid last week. Furthermore, they have the added advantage of playing in the Champions League next week which should add an extra layer of confidence ahead of this game.

Barca must make this game count, as they sit 11 points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid in La Liga and aim to secure a place in the semi-finals of Europe's premier club competition. After drawing 2-2 with United in the first leg, Barca will need to be at their best against an opponent unbeaten at Old Trafford this season.

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo are just three of United's attacking options; Robert Lewandowski has scored a brace in each of the past three matches. But it appears likely that United will opt for a 3-4-2-1 formation with Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Nemanja Matic making up part of a midfield trio.

Live stream

Last week, Manchester United and Barcelona played out an exciting 2-2 draw at Camp Nou in the first leg of their Europa League playoff match. On Thursday night, both teams will try to advance to the round of 16 in 2022-23 with this crucial decision.

Barcelona are on a roll, their unbeaten run now stretching across 18 matches in all competitions. Manchester United have won eight games this season in all competitions and will look to extend it against Barcelona on Thursday evening. After defeating Leicester 3-0 in the Premier League this weekend, United will be confident of another victory against Barca on Thursday evening.

With both teams riding high in their domestic leagues, this could be one of the most entertaining European encounters this season. You can watch this crucial Europa League playoff game live with just a few clicks of your mouse!

Begin your Paramount Plus experience with a free seven day trial of access to all UEFA Europa League and Champions League matches. After the trial period ends, you'll be charged $5 a month for full access to the service.

You can also use a VPN to access the service while abroad, but be aware that some services may block you if they detect that you're from another country. ExpressVPN is an ideal option for streaming due to its extensive security features and 30-day money-back guarantee.

The service is accessible on all devices, such as your computer, iPhone, Android phone and PlayStation. You can even stream directly to your TV using Apple TV, Roku or Amazon Firestick.

Manchester United vs Barcelona will be broadcast live on BT Sport in the UK, starting at 7pm GMT with an 8pm kick-off. BT Sport 2 will provide exclusive live coverage of this game.

Both teams are missing several players due to injury, with Anthony Martial, Wout Weghorst and Christian Eriksen all facing issues ahead of the match. You could also see Jadon Sancho make his debut as a replacement for Raphael Varane.