Battle of the European titans
MANCHESTER United travelling to Camp Nou to take on Barcelona in the Europa League feels a bit like Rihanna performing at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. But, given the history and the reverence both clubs are held in it, the fact that they’re playing Europe’s second tier club championship still makes for a huge game that punters will get right around.
BARCELONA: $1.74 DRAW: $3.75 MANCHESTER UNITED: $4.30
RECENT DOMINANCE
Barcelona has lost one game all season in La Liga but had a torrid Champions League campaign, losing three games which is why it’s ended up in the Europa League.
A club of its stature needs to go on and at least make the Europa semi-finals to save face.
Robert Lewandowski will look to lead from the front for Barcelona, having scored 45 goals in his last 37 European competition games.
He’s also been involved in nine goals across his last three games against English clubs (five goals and four assists), so Ferran Torres and Frankie De Jong will look to supply him with ample opportunities.
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI FIRST GOAL: $3.55
CAN UNITED TAKE ITS FORM TO EUROPE
Manchester United has been in brilliant form in the Premier League and only missed out on direct qualification to the Europa round of 16 by a single goal.
United has only lost one of its past 16 games across all competitions and that was to top-of-the-table Arsenal in the EPL.
Casemiro returns for United as his suspension doesn’t carry over into the Europa League, a massive inclusion as his ability to team up with the currently scintillating Marcus Rashford – the English star has 13 goals in his last 13 games – is pivotal in this first leg.
MARCUS RASHFORD BRACE GOALSCORER: $13
FIRST GOAL SCORER
Despite the presence of Rashford and Lewandowski, Bruno Fernandes is made for the big moments such as these and is good value at his current price.
BRUNO FERNANDES FIRST GOAL SCORER: $10
WHO WINS
United versus Barcelona: unsurprisingly this is a hard game to predict, given the form both two teams are in locally. At home the lean would usually be Barcelona, but United’s immaculate form makes the draw an attractive option.
THE PICK: DRAW $3.75