The Europa League knockout round match between Manchester United and FC Barcelona this week will serve as a barometer for the Red Devils' progress under Erik Ten Hag as they prepare for their toughest challenge of the season.
After a terrible start to the season, Manchester United's new manager has been able to turn the season around. They advanced to the Carabao Cup final, have lost just once since their 6-3 demolition in the Manchester derby in November, and are still in four tournaments. At this time, they are the only team in Europe.
They have clawed their way back into the top four, and although this idea is still debatable, it appears they are in a title race. Given their new strategy for games and increasing capacity to exert control and affect outcomes, they are currently acknowledged as one of the most aggressive teams to play in the Premier League.
With victories over Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester City, as well as a draw against Chelsea, they have established themselves as one of the top large teams to play this season.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez together form the Dutch tactician's dependable defense. Christian Eriksen, a talented player from Denmark, is unfortunate to be out injured because he is the team's most imaginative player. He has also made the best use of Casemiro, who, at the age of 30, has emerged as the most crucial figure in the previous Ajax management structure. Under Erik Ten Hag, Marcus Rashford has developed into a prolific scorer.
Although there is a difference in the mentality and the environment, all of these things will be put to the test against FC Barcelona on Thursday.
Manchester United has a poor track record against Spanish opposition; in their opening Europa League encounter, which was played at home against Real Sociedad, they fell 1-0 back in November.
Since winning the Europa League with Jose Mourinho against FC Ajax in 2017, Manchester United has been eliminated by Spanish teams in UEFA competitions on a yearly basis.
Before Sevilla halted their run in the round of 16 of the 2018 Champions League, Manchester United lost to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup the same year. The following week, they were ousted in the quarterfinals of the same European competition by Thursday's opponent.
Prior to Villarreal defeating them in the 2021 Europa League final on penalties, Sevilla once more halted their impressive run in the semifinals of the Europa League in 2020. Their most recent loss came at the hands of Diego Simeone's squad in the round of 16 of the Champions League against Atletico Madrid. They did, however, triumph over Real Sociedad, Granada, and Celta Vigo in the playoffs in 2021 and 2017, respectively.
FC Barcelona, their opponent on Thursday, is in excellent shape. They defeated their fierce rival Real Madrid 3-0 to win the Spanish Super Cup. With an 11-point lead over the competition, they are in first place in La Liga. In 21 games, they have only given up seven goals while keeping 16 clean sheets.
Comparing their stats in UEFA competitions this season, FC Barcelona has an overall win percentage of 33%, while Erik Ten Hag's side has an 83% win percentage.
Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United,
• 36 games.
• 26 wins.
• 72% win percentage.
• 64 goals.
• 17 clean sheets.
• Finals in Carabao Cup.
• Ro16 in FA Cup.
• 2nd in the Premier League.
• The only English team in all 4 competition in Europe
Regardless of the stats, Xavi Hernandez's side are in incredible form at the moment, and given several players' absence in Manchester United's first team, Erik Ten Hag's side faces one of their biggest games of the season.
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