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Barcelona vs Man Utd - Europa League: TV channel, team news, lineups & predictionBarcelona and Manchester United met twice in Champions League finals in the space of three years just over a decade ago, back when both were among the very best in Europe. This week, their encounter will be slightly different as they go head to head in the Europa League knockout round play-offs. Both clubs have significantly fallen from their former peaks. Yet each appears to have come through the worst of their respective issues and instead this is now two promising teams on the up. Even though it is in UEFA's secondary competition, this could actually be the pick of the games anywhere in Europe this week. Barcelona vs Man Utd H2H Results (Last Five Games)Current Form (Last Five Games)CountryTV channel/live streamUnited KingdomBT Sport 2United StatesParamount +, ViX +CanadaDAZNBarcelona team newsSergio Busquets, who is Barcelona's only survivor from their 2009 and 2011 Champions League final wins over United, could return from injury in time for the second leg but not here.
Barcelona vs Manchester United is on BT Sport in the UK. Brit abroad? Use a VPN to watch the Europa League with your subscription (opens in new tab) from anywhere. In the first leg of what is undoubtedly the standout tie of the Europa League knockout round play-offs, Manchester United travel to Barcelona. With the two clubs boasting eight Champions League / European Cup titles between them and both contesting their domestic leagues' title races this season, it's an uncharacteristically heavyweight clash for the second-tier continental competition. While it's not where they (or Barca) ultimately want to be, United have reached the final in two of their last three Europa League campaigns, lifting the trophy in 2017 under Jose Mourinho.
They finished as group runners-up this time around, albeit only due to their head-to-head record with winners Real Sociedad. Barca, meanwhile, dropped into the Europa League after crashing out in the Champions League for the second season running. Their European fortunes have contrasted starkly with their domestic exploits this term, though: Xavi's side have an 11 point lead over arch-rivals Real Madrid at the La Liga summit. Kick-off is at 5:45pm GMT. Team newsUnited boss Erik ten Hag will have to make do without at least seven players. In addition to injured quintet Anthony Martial, Antony, Christian Eriksen, Scott McTominay, and Donny van de Beek – who's out for the season – Lisandro Martinez and January arrival Marcel Sabitzer are both suspended after picking up three bookings in Europe this term.
Barcelona have had the upper hand when it comes to games against Manchester United in recent times. The latter haven't won a game between them since a memorable Paul Scholes piledriver at Old Trafford in a Champions League semi-final in 2008. The Catalans have won the last four in a row, including Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011. The most recent games saw back-to-back Barcelona wins over two legs in a quarter-final in the same competition, during which United didn't actually score. On home soil, top of La Liga and with a surprisingly ironclad defence - goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has kept 17 clean sheets this season - Barcelona will go into this one as favourites. The important thing for Erik ten Hag's United will not be losing the tie before the second leg.
Xavi has an almost fully fit Barca contingent to call upon, although his two confirmed injury absentees are both big misses: Ousmane Dembele and skipper Sergio Busquets. FormThese are two of the most in-form teams in Europe, having failed to win just six times between them since the World Cup. Barca enter this encounter on an eight-match winning streak in all competitions; they last lost at the end of October, going down 3-0 at home to Bayern Munich – the result which knocked them out of the Champions League. United, meanwhile, have lost only one of their last 17 games in all competitions (3-2 away to Premier League leaders Arsenal last month) and head to the Camp Nou having won five of their last six, drawing the other. RefereeMaurizio Mariani of Italy will be the referee for Barcelona vs Manchester United.