Manchester United star Casemiro has the chance to prove Xavi wrong in Barcelona fixture

In what has so far been a glittering career, Casemiro has not faced any other club as many times he has pitted himself against Barcelona.

The Manchester United ace has faced the Spanish heavyweights on 19 separate occasions, experiencing the buzz of beating one of world football's greatest powerhouses nine times. He has also experienced the thrill of scoring against them, giving Real Madrid the lead in a thrilling El Clasico encounter back in 2017, even though they went on to lose 3-2.

But after lining up against Barcelona on 19 occasions in the famous white shirt of Madrid, Casemiro will find himself facing the La Liga giants in United colours this evening. After missing the Reds' last two Premier League matches through suspension, the trip to Spain has presented the Brazilian with the chance to split his ban into two and return to the side, with the midfielder set to conclude his domestic ban against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.

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Although United have avoided defeat in each of the last two games without their talismanic Brazilian, they have sorely missed him. His presence in midfield gives the whole team, as well as the supporters, a gigantic lift, such is the role he has played in transforming United's fortunes this season.

After giving up in their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong, who is highly likely to start for Barcelona this evening, United switched their focus to Casemiro and acted swiftly to get a deal over the line. As sensible an addition as he was at the time, he was a different profile of midfielder to that of De Jong, though just about everyone who watched United last season knew a world-class defensive-midfielder was what the