Despite Marcos Alonso's header at the back post to open the scoring in the first leg, Man United had a way to get back into the match thanks to the impressive performance of Marcus Rashford. Rashford's near-post finish was followed by a cross that led to Jules Kounde's own goal, allowing Man United to stay in the tie.
However, Barcelona showed a resurgence and ensured that the match remained wide open for the second leg at Old Trafford after Raphinha's ball into the box found the bottom corner without being touched. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag's use of the word "rubbish" to describe his team's performance in the first half against Leicester City on Sunday raised eyebrows.
Despite giving away numerous chances to Leicester City, who were unable to get past an outstanding David de Gea, Man United managed to hold onto their one-goal lead at halftime, thanks to Rashford's brace and a goal from Jadon Sancho in a 3-0 victory in the Premier League. This puts them just three points behind Manchester City in second place, and talk of a possible Premier League title charge is not unwarranted.
The Red Devils have a chance at winning four trophies this season, with the EFL Cup final against Newcastle United and an FA Cup fifth-round tie against West Ham United coming up. A season-defining period is upon Man United, with a trip to Anfield also scheduled for March 5. The team is currently on an unbeaten run of eight matches and has scored at least two goals in their last nine games.
Ten Hag's team has been dominant at Old Trafford, with 14 wins and a draw in their last 15 home matches, but both Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid secured victories at the Theatre of Dreams in 2022. Barcelona would be wise to follow their Spanish counterparts' example.
Barcelona's demotion to the second tier of European football for the second consecutive year was a disaster for the cash-strapped club. They are potentially only 90 minutes away from another premature exit from the continental competition, which may not have such dire consequences this time around.
Under the guidance of former midfielder Xavi, Barcelona has built an eight-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table and returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Cadiz over the weekend, with goals from Sergi Roberto and Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona has an impressive unbeaten streak of 18 matches, with 16 of them resulting in victories. They have won their last 11 away games in all competitions, although Bayern Munich and Inter Milan have defeated them at the Allianz Arena and San Siro this season.
Despite this, Barcelona has a history of avoiding defeat against Man United. The Red Devils have not won against Barcelona in their last five games since the 2007-08 Champions League semi-finals. However, one of the giants rising from the ashes will have to end their dreams of winning a highly coveted piece of European silverware.
POSSIBLE STARTING LINE-UPS
Manchester United's possible starting lineup:De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Sabitzer; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst
Barcelona's possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Alonso, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Kessie; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Fati
EXPERT PREDICTION
Despite the impending EFL Cup final, Man United's high-scoring team has defeated numerous opponents at Old Trafford this season. With Barcelona missing several key players, they are likely to become the latest victims of the Red Devils' dominance.Although Leicester had many chances in the first half of their recent match, they failed to convert them into goals. While Xavi's Barcelona can still pose a threat in the attacking third, Man United's ability to score multiple goals should secure their place in the last 16, leaving Barcelona to pack their bags early once again.
