It’s almost
upon us, the Champions league quarterfinals offers some historic clashes, not least
Manchester United versus Barcelona.
This European
football classic brings a lot of nostalgia for supporters of both sides. For Man
United, it is hoped that some of that Ole magic remains and he can navigate
past the almighty Catalans. While Barcelona are laser-focused on the treble, they
hope to exorcise the demons of last year's painful exit and assert themselves on
a competition they last won in 2015.
Barcelona more
or less confirmed an eighth title in eleven seasons with that 2-0 win over
Atletico Madrid last weekend. Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were frustrated by
Jan Oblak for long periods but each ultimately provided moments of brilliance. Messi
is in particularly imperious form at the moment; turning in super performances
every time he’s on the pitch for Barcelona, he now has 33 league goals and
another eight in the Champions league.
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| Messi and his free kicks have gone about proving why he's the best player in Europe this season. (Image: Getty Images) |
Manchester
United meet Messi and Barça at the very worst moment. They have lost three
games in four since that wonderful night in Paris but that’s exactly why they
dare to dream. Marcus Rashford’s 93rd minute penalty saw them past
Paris Saint Germain to become the first team to overcome a two-goal deficit
away from home in European knockout rounds.
Ole
Gunnar-Solskjaer’s honeymoon period might be over, but he experienced the
highest of highs of his playing career, when scoring the winning goal for Man. United in the
1999 Champions League final at Camp Nou. He would be setting his team out to
play for glory.
Paul Pogba’s
pinpoint passing and the blistering pace of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial
and Jesse Lingard on the counter is key to United exploiting spaces behind
Barcelona’s defence. The Spanish side have conceded five times in eight
Champions League games; and Ole and Mike Phelan must have seen enough at Camp
Nou to add to that record.
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| Ole Gunnar-Solskjaer and his assistant on a scouting mission on Saturday evening. (Image: AFP/Getty Images) |
Barcelona,
however, are a shoo-in for goals against Man United’s unconvincing defence.
Their last outing against Wolves would have been pleasing to watch for
Leo Messi; but a week is a long time in football, and United would be prepared for a massive rearguard showing.
Man United
need to maintain discipline and be clinical when their chances arrive; the Old
Trafford crowd would see their team without the ball for unusually long periods,
and I suspect they would be up for it. They must be pleased to know that their
team has never lost to Barça at Old Trafford; although Messi has a habit of
destroying such pre-match myths, it must be noted.
The Red
devils have lost their last two Champions League finals to Barcelona and a Spanish
side has won the last five editions. Can the sleeping giants roar up a revenge?
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