Can Barcelona bite back?
The big match preview ahead of Xavi's Europa League showdown in Manchester
From the start, it’s always been about LaLiga.
Reclaiming the Spanish crown was the non-negotiable of Barcelona’s expensive rebuild. Anything else would be a bonus.
But now, eight points clear at the top, a Supercopa in the bag, and a Copa del Rey clásico fast approaching, the second leg of a play-off to reach the last sixteen of the Europa League feels like everything.
Whether it’s the stature of the opposition, or an insatiable greed for everything, fuelled by the excitement of excellent football, it’s certainly refreshing to see Barcelona wanting it all, again.
That being said, Barcelona should be competing in Europe. So maybe it’s the fear of embarrassment, again.
While Xavi’s side have been virtually untouchable all season in Spain, conceding just seven goals in 22 domestic league games, they have already shipped double that tally in just seven European ties, with heavy defeats to Bayern Munich and an agonising 3-3 draw with Inter Milan crushing confidence on the continental stage.
Indeed, averaging around 0.81 expected goals against in LaLiga, that figure more than doubles in Europe this campaign, to around 1.64 per 90.
That early exit from the Champions League was bad enough, but a second consecutive dumping from the Europa League would not look good.
But with Manchester United, and indeed Marcus Rashford in fizzling form, and with a glut of gutting injuries throughout the all-important midfield, confidence isn’t exactly sky-high.
As Sergio Busquets made the bench in the weekend’s 2-0 win over Cádiz, Pedri was nowhere to be seen. The 20-year-old will need at least a few weeks to recover from a hamstring strain, while it seems unlikely that his 34-year-old midfield partner will be rushed from the bench in Manchester, for fears of aggravating his own ankle aggravation at a more tender stage of his career.
If the metronome isn’t risked, there is a fascinating selection headache in midfield.
On the weekend, Sergi Roberto deputised well for the missing duo, providing a goal and an assist against a stern Andalusian low-block, taking three shots, making four tackles, and completing 75 of his 78 passes from his makeshift midfield role.
With Ansu Fati out on the left, we didn’t see too many instances of Xavi’s trademark box midfield, with the left-sided player, usually Gavi, tucking inside and allowing the full-back to bomb forward.
While Roberto was excellent against a deep block, with the play in front of him, it remains to be seen whether he can pull off that Pedri role between the lines, picking up the ball with his back to goal, turning quickly and intelligently, and getting at the back four or moving the play on.
As such, to play a Kessié-De Jong pivot, with Gavi on the left and Sergi Roberto as the advanced receivers, might be a risk that Xavi isn’t willing to take.
Out wide, Ferran Torres also staked his claim.
The former Manchester City winger became the first LaLiga player to successfully complete 10+ dribbles in a game this season with his electric performance against the Yellow Submarine, assisting Roberto’s goal after a mesmerising run to beat three defenders.
Whether that was enough to oust an improving Raphinha, whose wicked, left-footed deliveries caused Manchester United all sorts of problems last Thursday, seems to be another huge decision for Xavi and his team.
Defensively, Marcus Rashford continues to be the problem, but it will also be interesting to see if Erik ten Hag persists with his Wout Weghorst experiment from last week.
Manchester United seemed keen to avoid playing into one of Barcelona’s greatest strengths - pressing high and winning the ball back in advanced areas. As such, particularly from goal kicks, the English side looked to go long, targeting Weghorst in particular, and his six-foot-five frame with longer passes.
Strangely enough, the Dutchman won none of his six aerial duels, so the return of the suspended Marcel Sabitzer could see a return to a more conventional midfield set-up for the high-flying hosts.
All in all, given last week’s basketball game, it looks a safe bet to assume that we are in for more drama tonight.
Manchester United are arguably favourites, returning to Old Trafford with the confidence that they can unlock a Barcelona defence, still without the consistency in European competition.
It might not be the Champions League. Barcelona, arguably, have bigger fish to fry.
But given the opposition, last week’s game. And given Benfica, Bayern, Frankfurt and Inter. There’s a case for this to be one of Xavi’s most important games yet.