Barcelona handed injury blow as TWO players set to miss Man United clash in Europa League

Barcelona will be missing two key players as Manchester United travel to Spain for the first leg of their Europa League round-of-32 clash next week.

Erik ten Hag’s men will be keen to test themselves against Xavi’s side, who currently sit at the top of La Liga, eight points clear of Real Madrid in second place.

United have been in fine form in recent months, losing just one game since early November, and will see this as a chance to show their true level against top-level European opposition. Something they wouldn’t have expected to face so early in their Europa League journey this term.

The Reds will be boosted by the latest injury news of their upcoming opponents, however, as both Ousmane Dembele and Sergio Busquets are expected to be ruled out of the visit to the Spanish capital.

Dembele fell to injury two weeks ago with a thigh problem. Various sources have confirmed that he will be out of action for another three weeks at the least, meaning he will miss both games against United.

Meanwhile, Busquets was forced off in the eighth minute of Barcelona’s win against Sevilla on Sunday.

Relevo journalist Toni Juanmartí reported after the game that the defensive midfielder will be unavailable for a couple of weeks, ruling him out of the first leg and possibly the reverse fixture at Old Trafford.

United will also not be at their strongest, however, with Lisandro Martinez unavailable for the opening fixture at Camp Nou through suspension after receiving three yellow cards in the group stages of the competition.

Despite receiving a red card against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Casemiro’s three-match ban is for domestic fixtures only, meaning he will almost certainly start for United in the heart of midfield against Barca.

The Reds remain the only team in English football still fighting in four competitions.

They have reached the final of the Carabao Cup, which they will play just three days after the second leg against Barca. In the FA Cup, they have also reached the fifth round following victories against Everton and Reading.

After Manchester City’s loss against Tottenham Hotspur, Ten Hag’s side are now only three points behind the current Premier League title holders and eight behind Arsenal in first place.