Barcelona vs Man United – Betting Preview
On Thursday, Barcelona will play host to Manchester United in a matchup for the ages in the Europa League.
The fact that this most glamorous of matches is taking place within the boundaries of Europe’s secondary club championship explains some of the hardships that each squad has faced, but it does not entirely explain everything.
Both Barca and United do appear to be on the rise. With an eleven-point cushion over Real Madrid, Xavi’s team leads LaLiga, and Erik ten Hag has United playing some of their greatest football in a long time.
Even the Europa League environment cannot dim the intensity of a match between two of the continent’s top teams, which was just over ten years ago a Champions League final!
Barcelona Preview
They come into this game unbeaten in their last 16 competitive games, with their last loss in fact coming in Europe, when they lost 3-0 to the eventual group winners of their Champions League group, Bayern Munich.
Barca is having a fantastic season and is poised to win La Liga once more, but manager Xavi needs to caution his team against becoming complacent.
It seems unlikely that Dembele and Busquets, who missed the Villarreal match due to injuries, will play against the Red Devils.
Man United Preview
While Erik ten Hag’s team looks to build on a 2-0 victory against Leeds United, a home victory should be taken into account given that the in-form Catalans have transformed their Camp Nou into a true fortress.
Lisandro Martinez is suspended for the game, but Casemiro has been reinstated following a domestic suspension.
Manchester United missed out on top spot in their Europa League group to Real Sociedad, only winning 1-0 in their final group game against them, needing just one more goal in that game to have topped Group E, but instead must play in this knockout round play-off!
1×2 Betting Odds
Let’s have a look at the odds in the 1×2 market for match result.
Barcelona are yet to lose at home this season and boast the best defence in Spain. While United have come on leaps and bounds of late, it’s a huge ask to go to Camp Nou and win.
So naturally, given the home advantage, the market thinks Barcelona will prevail with market favourites odds of 1.86.
Now Man United and Barcelona are two clubs with so many parallels that can be drawn on their recent ascend. And when the two clubs will meet in Spain, United to win stands @ 4.85.
The possibility of a draw and then United take the challenge to Old Trafford, stands @ 4.15.
Total goals over/under
Let’s see what the over/under market has for us in this game
The odds that the total number of goals scored will be over 2.5, stands @ 1.82.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 2.23.
These two sides have a wide array of attacking players that can score goals. Plus given their recent form and results, its hard to imagine this one having less than 2.5 goals.
Hence even the market is tilted towards a high scoring contest.
