UCL 2018/19: QF 1st Leg: Manchester United vs FC Barcelona – The key battles


XtraTime Web Desk:
The all awaited Quarter Final 1st leg clash between Manchester United and FC Barcelona is all set to enthrall the football fans across the globe tonight. Here goes some key clashes which can become the deciding factors.
Messi vs Smalling

Trolled mercilessly on social media by even his own fans for his ‘Bring it on!’ statement when quizzed on the prospect of facing Lionel Messi, the battle between the two might indeed be the one that decides which way the tie swings.

 
While Manchester United might not have much hope when Smalling comes up one-on-one against the pint-sized Argentine, they will surely draw some inspiration from his last outing in the competition, when the English defender fared surprisingly well against Mbappe.
 

However, squaring off against the game’s best ever presents a completely different challenge altogether.

Pogba vs Busquets

 

After an awful end to March wherein United and Pogba both lost quite a bit of momentum, April hasn’t been any kinder to them – Pogba under-performing in both the win against Watford as well as the loss to Wolves.
 
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has backed his main man to come good against Barcelona however, and safe to say Sergio Busquets will not give him an easy time, even at Old Trafford.
 

Amongst the only 3 surviving members of the squad that demolished United at Wembley in 2011, Busquets will look to replicate the performance he put in against Sir Alex’s United that fateful day and make it another memorable occasion for the Barcelona faithful.

Coutinho vs De Gea

Deployed frequently on the left of Barcelona’s attack, it is safe to say Coutinho hasn’t exactly set the stage alight since his move from Liverpool to Catalonia.

There have been flashes of brilliance but the maturity to take over from Iniesta seems a step too far for the Brazilian at the moment. He is no stranger to scoring against United, however, and his battles against David De Gea are the stuff of folklore.

The Spanish shot-stopper was the victim of Coutinho’s magic when he was lobbed over by the former Liverpool forward in the Europa League but also has the same Coutinho to thank for some of his most spectacular saves. Needless to say, both of them will be relishing the chance to square up against each other once again!

Martial vs Sergi Roberto

Usually stationed on the left side of United’s attack, Martial has given many a defender sleepless nights and will be hoping to do the same to Sergi Roberto. Capable of playing practically anywhere on the field, Roberto has been an able squad player for Valverde as well as those who came before him.
 
Despite his versatility, however, there remains in Roberto an element of doubt when faced against the best attackers and Martial will no doubt be looking to get the better of the Spaniard in what promises to be a mouth-watering duel.