Man United vs Barcelona Europa League knockout round play-off preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, predicted line-ups

Man United and Barcelona meet in their UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off second leg on Thursday 23 February.

Where to watch Man United vs Barcelona on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.

What do you need to know?

The first leg was quite simply enthralling. A record crowd for the competition was treated to an end-to-end encounter which ultimately ended all square, Raphinha earning the Spanish Liga leaders a 2-2 draw with 14 minutes left. Marcus Rashford got United's first on the night and will surely be the man to watch again at Old Trafford – two more goals against Leicester on Sunday took his tally to 16 in 17 games since the FIFA World Cup. Barça aren't exactly lacking in firepower, though, which is why this game once again promises so much.

Predicted line-ups

Man United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martínez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Christensen, Balde; Kessie, Busquets, De Jong; Roberto, Lewandowski, Raphinha

Form guide

Man United
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WDWDWW
Most recent result: Man United 3-0 Leicester, 19/02, English Premier League
Where they stand: 3rd in Premier League, FA Cup round of 16

Barcelona
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WDWWWW
Most recent result: Barcelona 2-0 Cádiz, 19/02, Spanish Liga
Where they stand: 1st in Spanish Liga, Copa del Rey semi-finals

Expert predictions

Richard Martin, Man United reporter
United have managed two unforgettable second-leg victories over Barça at Old Trafford before, in the 1983/84 Cup Winners' Cup and 2007/08 Champions League. There's no reason why they can't enjoy another.

The first leg confirmed the progress they have made this season, and Erik ten Hag wasn't overstretching when he said his side could have scored four. This time the Red Devils will have their fans on their side, Lisandro Martínez back in defence and Barça missing key midfielders.

United also have Rashford in the form of his life and confidence flowing throughout the team. They have everything in their favour to finish the job.

Graham Hunter, Barcelona reporter
European fans will be hoping this second leg yields as much entertainment, thrills and spills as last week's magnificent 2-2 draw. All of Europe except the Blaugrana supporters, staff and players, that is. At home, Barça were pressed, buffeted and nearly beaten.

Here they require, somehow, to exert more control, allow fewer counterattacks and to dramatically lower their average of two goals conceded per game across seven European matches this term. And they must do so without Ousmane Dembélé, Pedri and Gavi.

Still only in his first full season at the Barcelona helm, Xavi Hernández has already orchestrated big Europa League away wins in Naples and Istanbul. Can he conjure another one here?

What the coaches say

Erik ten Hag, Man United coach: "Against teams like Barcelona, we have to give our best to get into the next round. Two big teams facing are each other at Old Trafford. It will be a great atmosphere, ambience. It is the best you can get."

Xavi Hernández, Barcelona coach: "Manchester United are one of the best teams in Europe at the moment. They're the best United I've seen in years. They've got a great coach and great players who show a lot of quality and passion. We need to match this. It's a difficult stage but we need to show our personality through our style of play and match their intensity."

Where is the 2023 Europa League final?

POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Budapest's Puskás Aréna will host the final on 31 May 2023.

The winners gain a place in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage, if they have not qualified via their domestic competition.