Barcelona's clash with Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs last week was undoubtedly a feast for the eyes, and judging by the performances of both sides, a draw seems like a fair result.
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, the striker, was particularly impressive, and I was impressed by his goals, which showcased his excellent shooting skills. Whenever Rashford attacks, opposing defenders are almost impossible to defend against, and United's second goal was largely due to his aggressive movement.
Overall, United's defense has become more and more solid under the command of Tannhäuser. Kasmiru's impeccable performance in the defensive midfield, Bruno Fernandes creating a number of attacking chances, and Charles McCarthy's increasingly efficient performances on the wings have kept the team balanced in both attack and defense, and the coach is undoubtedly satisfied.
I suspect that if Busquets can come back in time, Barcelona's chances of winning on the road against Manchester United will be greatly increased. His game intelligence, organization and possession grabbing ability are world class. If he doesn't return in time, I believe United will be able to control the midfield and create more scoring chances.
However, Barcelona have also shown their ability to create a threat to the United defense. Rafael Silvaroni has been unrelenting in his aggression and more threatening especially when he cuts into the middle of the pitch, so his confrontation with Lauki Coutinho will be crucial.
Roberto Lewandowski always scores when it counts, but in this game he will be without the creative support of Garvey, who is out through suspension, and Pedri, who is out through injury. With that in mind, I think it's incumbent on Barcelona's wing players to provide accurate crosses for the strikers. As in the first leg, both sides have the potential to win, but based on recent form and formations, I'm confident that United will prevail and advance to the next round.
