‘Duel of the champions’: Spanish press hype up Barcelona’s clash against Manchester United and predict ‘a MAGICAL night’ between the fallen giants as they lock horns in the Europa League knockouts
Barcelona are hosting Manchester United at the Nou Camp on Thursday night
Their heavyweight encounter is the stand out Europa League knockout stage tie
Spanish papers have been eagerly anticipating this week’s first leg in Catalonia
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The Spanish media predict Barcelona and Manchester United will deliver a ‘magical night’ as the two resurgent clubs meet in the Europa League knockout stages on Thursday night.
Barcelona welcome Erik ten Hag’s side to the Nou Camp for the first leg of their playoff tie, as both teams seek a place in the last 16.
It will be their first ever meeting in UEFA’s second tier competition, with their previous 10 battles coming in the Champions League, including two finals.
Mundo Deportivo highlighted the two club’s rich European heritage in the build-up to Thursday’s game, carrying the front page ‘Duel of the champions’.
The Barcelona-based newspaper singled out LaLiga top scorer Robert Lewandowski and in-form United star Marcus Rashford ahead of the tie.
Mundo Deportivo are billing Barcelona and Man United’s encounter as ‘Duel of the Champions’
Catalan newspaper Sport expect the two clubs to deliver a ‘magical night’ at the Nou Camp
Sport called on both clubs to ‘make it a magical night’, with the two sides meeting in the headline tie of the round.
The newspaper carried a quote from Barcelona boss Xavi, who declared his side are ‘ready to compete in Europe’.
Barca will be playing their first match in the Europa League this season after being eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage.
Both sides are well placed to return to Europe’s elite competition next season.
Barca are currently top of LaLiga with an eight-point cushion over rivals Real Madrid, having embarked on a 16-match unbeaten run.
United, meanwhile, have suffered just one defeat in their last 17 matches, with the Red Devils winning 14 in the process.
Ten Hag admitted pre-match that both teams have the ambition to play on a higher stage, with the desire to make an impact on the Champions League in the future.
Barcelona have won the last four meetings between them, including in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals.
United’s last win over Barca came in the Champions League semi-finals in 2008, before they went on to lift the trophy.
Source of data and images: dailymail
The post Spanish papers tip Barcelona and Man United to deliver a ‘magical night’ in the Europa League first appeared on Elrisala.
‘Duel of the champions’: Spanish press hype up Barcelona’s clash against Manchester United and predict ‘a MAGICAL night’ between the fallen giants as they lock horns in the Europa League knockouts Barcelona are hosting Manchester United at the Nou Camp on Thursday night Their heavyweight encounter is the stand out Europa League knockout stage tie …
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