Oh it's a big midweek alright. But we're giddier about Man Utd v Barca than that Champions League game tonight...
A resurgent Liverpool face Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 and it’s not the most eagerly anticipated match this week? Oh, this must be a biggie…Picking a Europa League play-off tie over a replay of last season’s European Cup final in the Champions League last 16 is likely to boil some Liverpool p*ss – we’ll get to them – but a delicately poised second leg between these two behemoths deserves top billing. Even in a week when, arguably, it is not even United’s biggest game.
United and Barca may be seeing a lot more of each other in the coming seasons – and it won’t be in the Europa League. But it was the Red Devils who slipped furthest before their chance on Thursday night to regain some credibility on the continent having already reasserted themselves at home.Barely a week ago, prior to the Merseyside derby, Liverpool might have been fearful of facing last season’s Champions League final foes. With good reason.
Up front, though, there was encouragement to be found. Not least in the identity of their scorers but also the slickness and speed of their combinations, on and off the ball. With Diogo Jota back from injury – Virgil van Dijk at the back crucially too – there is suddenly a drive going forward that has been weirdly absent for the last few months.
Such chaos and inconsistency would generally fry Pep’s hyperactive mind but the City boss left the City Ground in philosophical mood. “It happens in football, sometimes it happens,” he said referring to a generally very positive performance in all areas aside from in front of goal. “After games like that, it’s better not to say anything, go home, have a good sleep and tomorrow think about the other games.
With Jack Grealish having impressed in that time off the left flank, Foden is left to fight it out with Riyad Mahrez for the starting berth on the right, where he featured against Forest. It might not be his favoured position, but it offers the quickest route back into Guardiola’s starting XI.Many Juventus fans would probably be happy to write the season off and come back in the summer to start afresh after a campaign of turmoil on and off the pitch at the Allianz Stadium.
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