Ones to watch: Barcelona vs Manchester United (Europa League)

Manchester United will look to snatch a win as they visit Barcelona at the Nou Camp for the first leg of the Europa League knockout round playoffs on Thursday.

Erik ten Hag‘s squad will be keen to carry on their momentum after defeating Leeds United at Elland Road last weekend. Each game will have a special degree of importance as they are the only side in Europe currently playing in four different competitions.

Manchester United‘s Spanish counterpart is also in fine form, as they managed to beat Villarreal (familiar foes for United) in the previous matchday of La Liga. The Blaugrana are currently on an eleven-game winning streak with a comfortable eleven-point cushion at top of their league.

With both teams in flying form, the tie on Thursday night promises to be an exciting one to watch. That being said, here are the players to watch for both teams:

Barcelona: Robert Lewandowski

Ever since the departure of Luis Suárez, Barcelona have a desperate need for a ruthless finisher up front. They have more than enough talented players to create chances, but no one to finish them. As a result, they brought in Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich last summer.

At 34 years old, the €45 million fee raised a few eyebrows. However, Lewandowski has shown that age is just a number. The Polish striker has scored 23 goals across 27 games in all competitions.

Lewandowski’s goalscoring record speaks for itself, but the other point to highlight is how seamlessly he has adapted to Barcelona’s passing game. He has also provided 6 assists for his teammates this season while averaging 2.83 progressive passes per 90, placing himself in the 83rd percentile.

With Lisandro Martinez’s absence due to suspension, United will need to work extra hard in order to have any chance of stopping Barcelona’s main man.

Manchester United: Casemiro

Just like Lewandowski’s move, eyebrows were also raised when United forked out £60 million for Casemiro. That amount of money for a 30-year-old was deemed as an overpay for pundits and rival fans alike, but the Brazilian midfielder managed to silence all critics in stunning fashion.

Upon watching United’s brutal 4-0 beatdown at the hands of Brentford, Casemiro famously told his agent, “Tell them I’ll fix this”, and he did exactly that. His arrival almost singlehandedly changed the course of United’s season. He gets 2.01 blocks per 90, ranking in the 99th percentile. 2.50 clearances per 90, ranking in the 98th percentile. He wins 2.81 aerial duels per 90, ranking in the 97th percentile.

The numbers say it all, but Casemiro’s impact on this United team is way beyond that. His drive and leadership have been evident all season long and were sorely missed when he is not out there on the pitch. After missing two league games due to suspension, Casemiro’s return for this game is a very welcomed one.

Furthermore, Casemiro also had experience playing at Camp Nou during his time at Real Madrid. His presence will be very crucial for United’s young players to navigate a game with a potentially hostile atmosphere.