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Manchester United are going to face their biggest test of the season in the Champions League tie against Barcelona on Wednesday. This will be one of those matches that will define how successful the team has become under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Manchester wants this win more since they feel their only chance of getting into the Champions League next season is by winning it. To win it, they know they have to overcome Barcelona who are one of the teams that can stand in their way.
Solskjaer will have to select the right lineup against the Catalan club; a difficult task in itself. Most of his preferred starters look ready to start this tie, barring any last minute injuries.
The Norwegian tactician will want to select a lineup that can defend well and still put up a fight. And considering how dismal his team has been over the last couple of weeks, it won’t be easy doing that. Some of his best players have been off form and he’ll want to settle that real quick before this tie.
The list of long term injuries remains the same with the likes of Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian not expected to play any part in this tie.
Against Barcelona, Solskjaer will likely match Barcelona’s 4-3-3 formation, with his being tweaked just a little.
Here’s how you can expect Manchester United to lineup Vs Barcelona.
Goalkeeper
David De Gea is going to continue being United’s number one in this tie. Though his form hasn’t been great of late, he still provides Manchester United with a reliable set of hands.
Unless something changes overnight, the Spanish number one is expected to be the first name on the lineup against Barcelona.
Defence
The defence is where Ole will have to be careful who he selects as he doesn’t want his team to be torn apart by the Catalan giants. Ashley Young has been Ole's first choice right back since the Norwegian took over the reigns at Old Trafford, but his form of late has left a lot to be desired. Even leaving aside his red card against Wolves in United’s last game; he simply hasn’t been up to it in the last couple of games.
It’s time the manager makes a decision if it’s going to be Young or the younger and raw talent of Diogo Dalot. Against a quick and smart Barca, he should start the less experienced full back. He can't be any worse than Ashley Young.
The two centre backs are likely to be Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof. Smalling is the most experienced defender that United currently have and has been the most consistent performer at the back for the last two seasons. Lindelof has come into his own under Ole and though he has been a bit shaky the last few games, against Barcelona, he provides his manager with the best option to partner Smalling.
The left-back position is covered by the impressive Luke Shaw who has really come of age this season. He should continue there, barring any last minutes surprises.
Diogo Dalot, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw
Midfield:
If there’s one position that Ole looks to have an idea of how he wants to structure his team since he took the club, it has got to be the midfield. The midfield trio that he has selected in most of his games has been performing quite well and seems to have a great understanding.
Though, of late, there seems to be some sort of discord as Paul Pogba looks like he wants to leave and Ander Herrera’s contract situation is far from being solved. They, together with Nemanja Matic, provide Solskjaer with a stable and compact midfield trio against Barcelona.
Matic too has suffered a dip in form after initially looking impressive under Ole, but that shouldn’t worry his manager much. He’s still the best holding option the club has and will want to make a statement against tough opposition like Barcelona.
Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba
Forwards
The forward line is going to be one of the toughest position’s to call. Jesse Lingard has been in great form for Ole and allowed his manager to tweak formations in between games with relative ease. He got injured at some point and he just never got back to being the same again.
Ole will want him fit and ready for this tie, as he’ll provide the manager with more options than the others that can play in the same position.
Ole has made Marcus Rashford his first choice striker since he took over at Old Trafford, and in his biggest tie, there’ll be no reason for the manager to drop him.
In this tie, however, he’s not expected to start as the lone striker. The manager is likely to pair him with Romelu Lukaku. This will mean that Jesse Lingard, though will start on the right hand of the forward three, he’ll occupy the false 10 position to allow the two strikers to work the wings.
Lukaku will work the right wing where he has had great success under Ole and Rashford will play more on the left hand of the front three.
The three-man forward line will be Jesse Lingard, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.
Here’s how the team will likely look like in the game against Barcelona.
