Manchester United vs Barcelona Europa League live updates: Team ...

Manchester United host Barcelona in the Europa League today with their knockout play-off matchup finely poised after an entertaining 2-2 draw in Spain last week.The match kicks off at 8pm GMT/3pm ET/12pm PT. See below for live updates!Team news:Man Utd XI

February 23, 2023 at 2:22 PM EST

Manchester Disunited: How the fanbase that saw off Murdoch is split over Qatar

"We’re between a rock and a hard place. We’ve waited almost 20 years to get rid of the Glazers."

Manchester United fans saw off Rupert Murdoch's takeover bid in 1998.

But now money rules football more than ever, and fans are divided over a bid from Qatar.

Daniel Taylor has more below.

Manchester Disunited: How the fanbase that saw off Murdoch is split over Qatar

February 23, 2023 at 2:17 PM EST

Manchester United have only won one of their last 11 games against Barcelona in European competition (D5 L5), going winless in the past five (D1 L4).

Their only victory in this stretch came in April 2008 in a UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg, with Paul Scholes netting in a 1-0 win.

For Barcelona's part, they have faced United away from home in European competition on five previous occasions.

After failing to win any of the first four (D2 L2), they won 1-0 on their most recent such trip in April 2019 in a Champions League quarter-final first leg.

February 23, 2023 at 2:10 PM EST

European Super League: Last week was a glimpse of what that world could look like

Liverpool vs Everton, Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich, AC Milan vs Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal vs Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea, Barcelona vs Manchester United.

From Monday to Thursday, last week’s football fixtures \offered night after night of glamorous, high-profile match-ups between some of European football’s elite clubs.

Those games came in three different competitions — the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League — but it is not difficult to imagine a scenario where that’s the midweek schedule in a new European Super League.

Our reporters have more below on the business proposal that just won't go away.

European Super League: This week was a glimpse of what that world could look like

February 23, 2023 at 2:05 PM EST

Xavi makes four changes to the starting line-up he deployed in last week's first leg, bringing in Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Andreas Christensen and Alex Balde for the suspended Gavi, the injured Pedri, Marcos Alonso and Jordi Alba.

February 23, 2023 at 2:00 PM EST

Manchester United team news

Erik ten Hag makes only one change from last week's first leg, as Lisandro Martinez returns from suspension and takes the place of Tyrell Malacia.

???? MANCHESTER UNITED ????

From the source Erik's Reds for tonight's second leg ????#MUFC || #UEL

February 23, 2023 at 1:48 PM EST

Half-time scores of Europa League second legs

February 23, 2023 at 1:40 PM EST

How United’s speed and directness ripped through Barcelona’s defence

In 22 La Liga games this season Barcelona have conceded only seven goals, an incredible defensive record.

But they had zero answer for the offensive transitions of Manchester United in last week's first leg.

Erik ten Hag's side are a terrifying proposition on the break, particularly with Marcus Rashford in this kind of form.

How Manchester United’s speed and directness ripped through Barcelona’s defence

February 23, 2023 at 1:31 PM EST

Xavi backs Sheikh Jassim as United's next owner

Barcelona coach Xavi believes that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani would be a good choice as the next owner of Manchester United.

Sheikh Jassim is one of the interested parties hoping to complete a full purchase of the Old Trafford club after submitting a bid on last Friday’s soft deadline set by investment banking firm The Raine Group.

Speaking before Barcelona’s Europa League play-off second leg against Manchester United, Xavi has claimed that he has a close relationship with Sheikh Jassim and believes he would do an excellent job if he was to become the owner of the Premier League side.

He said: “It’s the law of supply and demand. I know the Sheikh (Jassim) quite closely, we have a very good bond. He’s a serious guy, I think he would do a great job.

“(I think) He’s a very good person. With responsibility, very serious and would be a good option for Manchester United.”

Xavi has close ties to Qatar, having played for club side Al Sadd between 2015 and 2019 towards the end of his career.

Manchester United takeover: Sheikh Jassim, Qatar and just enough separation

February 23, 2023 at 1:20 PM EST

Tifo: How Ten Hag caused Xavi problems in first leg

February 23, 2023 at 1:12 PM EST

Di Maria tearing apart Nantes

Former Manchester United player Angel Di Maria is leading Juventus' charge to reach the last 16 of the Europa League today.

After the Italian side drew 1-1 against Nantes at home last week, they're currently up two goals and a man in France, both goals courtesy of Di Maria.

February 23, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST

Weghorst is not scoring for United, but he has value

What does Wout Weghorst do for Manchester United?

He's a 6ft 6in tall striker but he's been playing more as a No 10 recently.

The Dutchman has struggled to score for United, but the team averages two goals per game when he plays.

Carl Anka has more below on this unique player.

Wout Weghorst is not scoring for Manchester United, but he has an intrinsic value

February 23, 2023 at 12:41 PM EST

Calling all United and Barcelona supporters!

Join our new discussion page, attached to this blog, to chat with other readers about this match!

Alex P. says: "Feeling a winner off the bench to kickstart the Bleached Garnacho era."

While United supporter Ste G. adds: "My main nerves for tonight are that it could go to extra time which we really don’t need before Sunday… next few days could be a real test for our squad depth, but recent suspensions could help us out on that front with Martinez, Casemiro and Sabitzer hopefully nice and fresh."

February 23, 2023 at 12:21 PM EST

Jude Bellingham’s future: Liverpool? Real Madrid? Man City? Man United?

Jude Bellingham is the most wanted midfielder in the world.

But his future is incredibly unclear.

This is what we know so far (and what we don't) about the interest from Manchester United, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City and other.

Mario Cortegana, David Ornstein and Raphael Honigstein have more below.

Jude Bellingham’s future: Liverpool? Real Madrid? Man City? Man United?

February 23, 2023 at 12:04 PM EST

David Villa scored the final goal in Barcelona's 3-1 win over Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley:

February 23, 2023 at 11:47 AM EST

Happy birthday to Casemiro

The midfielder who has been so important to United this season turns 31 today!

February 23, 2023 at 11:36 AM EST

Athletic Football Podcast: Manchester United Takeover

With two takeover bids on the table, will the Glazer family’s 18-year reign at Manchester United finally come to an end?

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic’s Matt Slater and Laurie Whitwell to discuss the bids, the people behind them and all the issues in-between…

What is the true scale of the damage inflicted on the club by the Glazers and are they even serious about selling this time? Do Manchester United actually need a sovereign wealth fund to compete with Chelsea & Man City?

February 23, 2023 at 11:16 AM EST

Barcelona fans are making their presence known in Manchester ahead of tonight's match:

February 23, 2023 at 11:01 AM EST

Barcelona and Manchester United drew 2-2 in a wild first leg in Spain last week.

After a first half that saw chances for both sides but no goals, Marcos Alonso opened the scoring for Xavi's side with a headed effort in the 50th minute.

Marcus Rashford levelled the score just two minutes later, continuing his red-hot form by beating Marc-Andre ter Stegen with a powerful shot at the near post.

United took the lead less than 10 minutes after falling behind thanks to an own goal by Jules Kounde after a chance created by Rashford.

But the hosts fought back to equalise in the 76th minute as Raphinha's cross for Robert Lewandowski found the back of the net untouched.

With the away goals rule no longer in effect, this matchup remains wide open ahead of tonight's rematch!

February 23, 2023 at 10:52 AM EST

Early Barcelona team news

Barcelona will be without the suspended Gavi and his midfield partner Pedri, who suffered a hamstring injury during the first leg.

Forward Ousmane Dembele is also out with a muscle injury.

The good news for tonight's visitors is that Sergio Busquets has returned from injury and could play tonight.

Xavi could use forwards Ferran Torres or Ansu Fati to play in attack against United with Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, or add Sergi Roberto to an attacking midfield position in what would be a more cautious formation.

Pedri’s injury and what it means for Barcelona before a crucial run of games

February 23, 2023 at 10:41 AM EST

United mourn passing of John Motson

Former football commentator John Motson has died at the age of 77.

Motson spent 50 years as a commentator at the BBC before retiring in 2017.

He covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals during his career, as well as being a leading voice on the BBC’s Match of the Day.

Motson retired from covering live games for the BBC in 2008 but continued his work on Match of the Day, where he had worked since 1971.

“It is with great sadness we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today,” a statement from Motson’s family on Thursday read.

The voice of so many great United moments.

We join the football world in mourning the passing of legendary commentator, John Motson.

Rest in peace, Motty ❤️