Manchester United vs Barcelona Prediction, Odds, Lineups – Europa League Playoffs Leg 2
- Manchester United plays host to Barcelona in the second leg of the Europa League Playoffs on Thursday
- The first leg ended 2-2 at Camp Nou. The Manchester United vs Barcelona odds in leg two favor more goals once again
- Who advances? Find the odds, preview, and Manchester United vs Barcelona prediction below
It comes down to Thursday’s second leg of the Europa League Playoffs as Manchester United welcomes Barcelona to Old Trafford with a spot in the Round of 16 on the line. Kick-off is scheduled for 3 PM ET here. Keep reading for the Manchester United vs Barcelona prediction.
The return fixture last week was full of excitement at Camp Nou, ultimately ending 2-2. Both sides come into this clash in good form as well, each grabbing important wins domestically over the weekend.
Manchester United vs Barcelona Odds
| Matchup | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Manchester United | +130 |
| Barcelona | +210 |
| Draw | +260 |
Man United is sitting at +130 in the Europa League odds for Thursday’s massive encounter, while Barca comes back at +210. The Red Devils however have -150 odds to advance at DraftKings. The over 2.5 goals sit at -120 odds and the under at -105. If the first leg is any indication, the goals could be flowing once again as we look into the Europa League best bets for this match,
Odds as of February 21st at DraftKings.
Manchester United vs Barcelona Preview
United showed a ton of guts last Thursday in Spain against a Barcelona side that barely concedes. After Marcos Alonso scored early in the second half, Marcus Rashford continued to flourish with an equalizer before serving as the catalyst for their next goal when he smashed a cross off Jules Kounde which deflected into the net. While Raphinha did draw level, the Red Devils showed well versus the La Liga leaders.
A BIG night at Old Trafford awaits! 👊💫#MUFC || #UEL pic.twitter.com/XXTBwDOXa4
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 21, 2023
Erik ten Hag side’s then extended their unbeaten run to eight games on Sunday, smashing Leicester City 3-0. By no surprise, Rashford was on target again, netting a brace while Jadon Sancho scored the third. The Red Devils have now bagged at least two goals in nine straight games. Plus, they’ve tasted defeat just twice on home soil this term. The confidence will be high for this must-win fixture.
Barca is playing flawless football in league action in 2022-23, sitting eight points clear at the top of the table and allowing a mere seven goals in 22 games. In Europe, it’s been a different story though. Xavi’s men conceded 12 in the Champions League group stages before failing to advance, hence why they’re now in Europa for the second consecutive season.
The Catalans flaunted their brilliance in the opening tie against United but even their backline couldn’t handle Rashford, arguably the most in-form striker in the world right now. Although Barcelona did manage to stay alive with the draw, they lost Pedri to a thigh injury, which is a crushing blow. Plus, Gavi is unavailable due to an accumulation of yellows. Now, the La Liga outfit faces a tall task to come out on top in the Manchester Untied vs Barcelona picks: Beating the Red Devils at the Theatre of Dreams.
Man United vs Barcelona Projected Lineups & Injuries
Manchester United Projected Lineup: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Sabitzer; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst
Injuries & Absences: Eriksen, van de Beek, Maguire, Antony, Martial
Barcelona Projected Lineup: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Alonso, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Kessie; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Fati
Injuries & Absences: Dembele, Gavi, Pedri
Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek remain long-term absentees for United, while Harry Maguire, Antony, and Anthony Martial are doubtful to feature because of injuries.
Aside from Gavi and Pedri being unavailable, Ousmane Dembele is also battling a thigh issue for the visitors.
Manchester United vs Barcelona Key Stats
| 5-1-1 | 2022-23 Record in UEL/UCL | 2-2-3 |
| 12 | Goals Scored | 14 |
| 5 | Goals Conceded | 14 |
| WDWDW | Form in Last Five Games | WWWDW |
Manchester United vs Barcelona Prediction
Gavi was out for the first leg, but Pedri did play and as per usual, he served as a key part for Barca in the engine room. Although I don’t believe his absence is the main reason the Red Devils will prevail here in the Manchester United vs Barcelona prediction, it’s definitely a factor. Also, the hosts are just simply firing on all cylinders lately and can’t be stopped, especially at Old Trafford. Expect lots of goals as well.
Manchester United vs Barcelona Picks: Manchester United (+130), Over 2.5 Goals (-120)
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Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
