Since the last match, there have been a few changes. Manchester United have continued their abysmal run with a loss as Stamford Bridge. Similarly, a poor performance at Deportivo saw Barcelona squander 3 points of their own. These two sides are very much wounded giants.
Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney are both doubts for United- though Sir Alex Ferguson believes they will both play. Also, Mikael Silvestre will lose his place to the returning Patrice Evra.
Carles Puyol will make a timely return from suspension for Barca, whilst the ever-intriguing Ronaldinho misses out with an apparent injury. Edmilson will be shoved into the 18 man squad in place of dos Santos.
Both Barca and United rested players over the weekend, with United keeping the likes of Ronaldo and Tevez in bubble-wrap.
This match will no doubt see chances and attacks, as Manchester United must win and Barcelona must score. Ferguson cannot be ignorant enough to go 4-5-1 again, and must show attacking intent with a 4-4-2 spearheaded by Tevez and Rooney.
Barcelona will be confident that a repeat performance of Wednesday will see them through.
Both managers will have the same mindset - outscore the other team. For this reason, I can't help think the advantage is firmly with the Spaniards, and their array of goal-scoring talent. Thierry Henry is just one of the players who knows a thing or two about scoring at Old Trafford.
If United are to stand a chance, Rooney must take his chances and Ronaldo must be on fire. The Portugese winger was apparently dismissive about claims that he had costed United the tie with his Nou Camp penalty miss, and his team-mate Patrice Evra was quoted as saying Ronaldo would get "one or two" in the 2nd leg.
Prediction
Man Utd 1 : 2 Barcelona
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