Barcelona vs Manchester United expected line-ups for Europa League play-off tie

Manchester United and Barcelona meet in the Europa League for the first time on Thursday as two of the competition's favourites face off in the knockout round play-offs.

While it may be United's first experience of this recently introduced round, which pits the runners-up from the Europa League group stage with the third-placed teams dropping down from the Champions League group stage, Barcelona do have previous from last season. In the first campaign since its introduction, Xavi's side beat Napoli to reach the round of 16, and also advanced against Galatasaray from there, before being eliminated by the eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.

Erik ten Hag's team travelling to the Catalan capital means it is consecutive European away trips to Spain after concluding Group E with a visit to Real Sociedad. Only winning 1-0 in San Sebastian, coupled with United's inferior goal difference, is the reason that they're even playing against Barcelona at this stage of the competition in the first place.

READ MORE: Xavi issues Erik ten Hag verdict ahead of Barcelona vs United tie

Expected Barcelona line-up

Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembele are set to be injury absentees for the hosts after missing the weekend win over Villarreal. The latter has not featured since the end of January and may well miss the whole month of February, including the return leg at Old Trafford, with a hamstring issue.

Gavi is expected to continue deputising in the front three alongside former Leeds United player Raphinha on either side of Robert Lewandowski. Franck Kessie replaced Busquets at El Madrigal on Sunday and is again expected to line up alongside Pedri and Frenkie de Jong if Gavi is positioned further forward.

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