Match Today: Manchester United vs Barcelona 23-02-2023 European League

Manchester United will host Barcelona today, Thursday, at Old Trafford, against the backdrop of a 2-2 draw last week in Spain.

Manchester United are in great form and will be looking to win at home to advance to the Round of 16. The Red Devils have been unbeaten in eight matches since their last loss to Arsenal in January. Their last match ended in a 3-0 victory over Leicester City.

They have achieved six wins in their eight unbeaten matches and have scored first in eight of their last 10 matches. Seven of their last ten matches have produced more than one goal, largely due to the level Manchester United have scored in nine of their last ten matches in all of them. Competitions, Manchester United scored two or more goals.

But United have only managed four clean sheets in their last 11 games. Playing at home should get Manchester United excited, as they go into this match unbeaten in their last 17 home games. In 17 home games, United have failed to win just twice - a draw 0-0 with Newcastle United and a 2-2 draw with Leeds United, United did well in the Europa League going six games without losing; They tied one and won five.

Barcelona will go into this match as underdogs but will look to maintain their fine run against Manchester United.

They are unbeaten against United in their last five encounters, winning four of them. Going into the game, they are unbeaten in their last 18. Their most recent defeat was in the Champions League, losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich back in October.

The 2-0 win over Cadiz cemented their leadership in the La Liga standings and it was the fourth time in five matches they managed to score more than one goal. You'll have to go back 19 games to find a game Barcelona failed to score - losing to Bayern Munich, in 11 away games. , they did not lose, winning nine in regular time.

It's hard right now to think of Manchester United's front line and fail to mention Marcus Rashford. The striker has scored eight goals in his last 10 games and in his last home game he scored twice.

Rashford was also a handful for Barcelona in the first leg and in his form, he will approach this match with confidence. Manchester United would also benefit from the availability of Marcel Sabitzer and Lisandro Martinez, who were suspended for the first leg, meaning United are more solid in defence. Casemiro will be the newest player in the squad. The world after he ended the three-match ban domestically.

He fell out of the win over Leicester City and is expected to replace Sabitzer in midfield. The Red Devils do not have players suspended but Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek have remained on the sidelines. Barcelona are one of the strongest defensive teams in Europe at the moment, however, they have been Scouted by United last time, they are up against a united side in fine form, and the key to the hosts' impressive progression is being able to score early and consistently.

Barcelona will be without Javi for this match. The young man received a yellow card in the first leg, which is his third in Europe this season, and he is suspended in this confrontation. Javi will join Badri on the sidelines, but Badri is absent due to injury.

He is nursing a hamstring injury and spending time in the treatment room with Ousmane Dembele, who has a thigh injury and is also out for this match. Brazilian striker Rafinha, who scored in the first leg, will be a key player to watch here. He has three goals in the last five. Matches and his link-up with Lewandowski, who scored at the weekend, made Barcelona's offensive line sharp.

Barcelona have failed to score just once in 24 matches Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 18 games, winning 15 Marcus Rashford has scored eight goals in their last 10 matches Manchester United have not lost in eight matches, winning six matches Manchester United have scored two or more goals In nine out of 10 matches, Manchester United scored first in eight of the last 10 matches, Barcelona did not lose in its last five confrontations with Manchester United.