Champions League return leg: Miracle unlikely for Manchester United against Barcelona
(Baonghean.vn) - The Red Devils of Manchester are showing their determination to continue to create another great comeback like what they did against the powerful French representative PSG in the round of 16. However, against a Barca in high form and playing at the Nou Camp, MU can hardly expect a miracle to happen.
Determined to break the curse
In the past 4 years, the Catalan giant has regrettably “fallen off the horse” 3 times with the same scenario in the quarter-finals of the most prestigious arena in the old continent. The reason for those bitter defeats on the threshold of the semi-finals is that they all got bogged down when having to play away from home in the second leg.
Specifically, in the 2013/14 season, Messi and his teammates lost 0-1 in the second leg at Atletico and were eliminated with a total score of 1-2. In the 2015/16 season, that scenario was repeated when they continued to lose 0-2 also at Atletico (first leg won 2-1) and most recently was a 0-3 defeat at Roma's field last season (despite the first leg winning 4-1 at Nou Camp).
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| Barca are facing the opportunity to defeat Manchester United to break the curse of not being able to pass the Champions League quarter-finals. |
This season, Barcelona once again participates in the match for the 8 strongest teams in the continent at the moment. However, this time, coach Valverde's team is converging the factors of "heavenly time, favorable location, and harmony" when they are holding the advantage of defeating the Red Devils of Manchester with a minimum score right at the "Theatre of Dreams".
In the return match, the Spanish strategist's team will play at the Nou Camp - where they have had a record of 30 unbeaten home matches in the recent Champions League, of which 27 were wins. Currently, the Catalan team is still maintaining its unbeaten streak and is extending to 18 matches, of which 13 were wins.
Moreover, past failures are expensive lessons for the "Catalan giant". They do not want to repeat the mistakes of previous seasons. The Nou Camp team also has a quality squad and no regrettable absences. This is a great opportunity for Barca to erase the curse of not being able to pass the quarter-finals in 4/5 recent seasons.
Miracles are unlikely.
After losing the first leg at Old Trafford by a minimal score, the Red Devils' chances of progressing have become more fragile than ever. The Norwegian strategist's team traveled to the Nou Camp with a squad depleted by injuries and suspensions.
They will be without Luke Shaw due to suspension and Eric Bailly due to injury. In addition, the ability of Alexis Sanchez, Antonio Valencia and Ander Herrera to play is still uncertain as these players have just returned to training after a period of injury treatment.
Not only facing a disadvantage in terms of personnel, the Red Devils of Manchester's performance during the time coach Solskjaer officially took over is showing signs of slowing down after the previous "honeymoon period".
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| The Red Devils of Manchester are unlikely to create a miracle at the Nou Camp. |
The Norwegian strategist's team has not been able to maintain the inspiration of playing football that they showed during Solskjaer's temporary tenure. Instead, the Red Devils of Manchester are returning to their familiar image with a defensive, counter-attacking style of play similar to their predecessor Mourinho.
Looking at the way the Old Trafford team currently plays, it depends too much on the spirit and attitude of the players, especially French star Paul Pogba.
When Pogba plays well, the Red Devils will win, and vice versa, if the French star is not in the best form, it means the Old Trafford team will lose. That has been proven in the last 5 matches since Solskjaer officially took over, the Red Devils have only won 2 and suffered 3 defeats in all competitions.
Besides the players playing in the attacking line who are lacking ideas, the defense is also showing many problems and often making mistakes. In the first leg, if it weren’t for the excellence of goalkeeper De Gea, the score wouldn’t have stopped at just 1 goal.
In the last round, the 45-year-old strategist's team was boosted by an important 2-1 victory over West Ham thanks to a double from Paul Pogba. Although they won 3 points to continue to cling to the hope of the Top 4 race, what the Old Trafford team showed in that victory was worrying.
If put on the scale at the present time, the Red Devils of Manchester are showing inferiority compared to the Catalan giants. They only rely on the miracle that the Old Trafford team did in the away match against PSG in the previous round as well as what Solskjaer did when he was playing 20 years ago.
However, having to play away at the Nou Camp, where Barca often plays very well, there will be no miracles for the Red Devils of Manchester.
The match takes place at 2:00 on April 17.
Expected starting lineup:
Barcelona:Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur; Messi, Suarez, Coutinho
Man United:De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Smalling, Darmian; McTominay, Fred, Pogba; Rashford, Lukaku, Martial.
Score prediction: 2 - 1