A lot has changed over the past four years, both Manchester United and Barcelona can testify to that. When the two teams last faced off, it was in the Champions League quarter-finals.
This week the two teams will do battle at the Nou Camp again, in a Europa League knockout play-off.
The competition may lack glamour, but the occasion between the two teams does not lack prestige.
Only a handful of Manchester United players remain from the last game between the sides, which Barcelona won 3-0 and 4-0 on aggregate.
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Manchester United’s last XI to face Barcelona
Several players who started for Manchester United against Barcelona in 2019 have since left the club. And of those who remain, some are not expected to be involved.
In fact, we estimate there are only three guaranteed starters for United this week from the XI which began the game four years ago.
These are top scorer Marcus Rashford, midfielder Fred (with Marcel Sabitzer suspended and Christian Eriksen injured), and David de Gea in goal.
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Victor Lindelof remains at the club but is not expected to start, having been used merely as a back-up/rotational option in 2023 so far.
Phil Jones is not even registered in the Europa League, while Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial will not feature due to injury.
Of those who have since left the club, they have been on varied career paths since. Ashley Young is at Aston Villa, after a league winning detour at Inter Milan.
Chris Smalling is a regular in Serie A with Roma, while Paul Pogba is at Juventus, currently battling a succession of injuries. Jesse Lingard is now at Nottingham Forest.
There are changes in the dugout too, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer currently without a club after being dismissed by United in 2021.
A changing Barcelona
Barcelona’s side will be very different too. Lionel Messi scored two goals in the first 20 minutes at the Nou Camp that night to essentially kill off the tie as a contest.
Messi has since left for PSG, while Philippe Coutinho was the other goalscorer that night, who is now at Aston Villa.
Xavi has replaced Ernesto Valverde in the dugout, while Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Pique are among the starters that night who have since left the club.