Manchester United will aim to advance to the EFL Cup fourth round as they host Barnsley at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
The Manchester United vs Barnsley third round will unfold over two weeks, and Tuesday’s fixtures will conclude at Old Trafford.
Manchester United reached this stage of the competition after qualifying for Europe last season. However, their form in the early weeks of the 2024/25 season has been inconsistent, with more losses than wins. They began the season with a defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield but bounced back with a victory over Fulham in their Premier League opener. Despite this, successive losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool created concerns before a 3-0 win against Southampton.
Barnsley, on the other hand, have been active in the EFL Cup since the first round. They have played nearly a dozen games this season and secured victories over Wigan Athletic and Sheffield United in the earlier rounds. Their win over Sheffield United set up this third-round clash with Manchester United. In League One, Barnsley have had a mixed start, winning three of their six matches and currently sitting seventh in the standings.
The last encounter between Manchester United and Barnsley in the EFL Cup came in the fourth round, where the Red Devils won 2-0. The Hard Tackle examines the upcoming match and previews what to expect from this latest meeting between the two sides.
Manchester United vs Barnsley Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Erik ten Hag is dealing with several injury issues as Manchester United prepare for their fixture against Barnsley on Tuesday. The manager will be without at least seven first-team players for this match.
Lisandro Martinez, who picked up a knock against Southampton, will miss the game. Noussair Mazraoui is also sidelined with a hamstring issue, and Matthijs de Ligt is dealing with cramps, meaning both summer signings will be rested. Additionally, Luke Shaw (calf), Leny Yoro (foot), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Victor Lindelof (toe), Mason Mount (thigh), and Rasmus Hojlund (hamstring) remain unavailable.
Andre Onana is expected to start in goal over Altay Bayindir, with Manchester United set to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. The defense will include Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, and Harry Amass.
In midfield, Manuel Ugarte will make his first start for Manchester United alongside Casemiro and Toby Collyer, who will push forward and make late runs into the box. Up front, Joshua Zirkzee will lead the attack, supported by Alejandro Garnacho and Antony on the wings.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Onana; Dalot; Maguire, Evans, Amass; Casemiro, Ugarte, Collyer; Antony, Zirkzee, Garnacho
Barnsley
Unlike his counterpart at Manchester United, Darrell Clarke faces fewer challenges ahead of Barnsley’s trip to Old Trafford. The Barnsley manager will be missing just one first-team player, with Conor Hourihane sidelined.
Gabriel Slonina is expected to start in goal, with Barnsley likely to adopt a 5-2-3 formation against Manchester United, shifting to a 3-4-3 during attacking phases. The defensive lineup will include Barry Cotter, Mael de Gevigney, Donovan Pines, Josh Earl, and Kyran Lofthouse.
In midfield, Adam Phillips and captain Luca Connell will form the double pivot, aiming to provide a solid base and control the center of the park. Up front, Stephen Humphreys will lead the attack, supported by Fabio Jalo and Davis Keillor-Dunn in the attacking trio.
Probable Lineup (5-2-3): Slonina; Cotter, De Gevigney, Pines, Earl, Lofthouse; Connell, Phillips; Keillor-Dunn, Humphreys, Jalo
Key Stats:
- Head-to-Head Record: Manchester United have a strong record against Barnsley, winning 22 of their 38 encounters (D11 L5).
- Previous Meeting: The teams last faced off in the fourth round of the 2009/10 EFL Cup, where Manchester United secured a 2-0 victory and went on to win the competition that season.
- EFL Cup Record: Since 2011, Manchester United have experienced five defeats against lower-league teams in the EFL Cup.
- Scoring Form: Manchester United have scored only six goals in their last six games, averaging one goal per match. In contrast, Barnsley have netted 12 times in their last six matches.
- Recent Form: Manchester United have won just two of their last six games, while Barnsley have achieved five victories in their last seven outings.
Player to Watch
Antony
Antony has faced limited opportunities throughout 2024, with Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho overtaking him in the pecking order last season. The young duo has been impressive in the early weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, leaving Antony with fewer chances to feature.
Tuesday’s EFL Cup third-round clash against Barnsley presents a crucial opportunity for Antony to make a statement. With just one minute of action so far this term, this match is his chance to demonstrate his value and show Erik ten Hag that he can be a reliable option, even if only off the bench in future games.
Manchester United vs Barnsley Prediction
Manchester United 2-0 Barnsley
Manchester United may have shown some defensive vulnerabilities early in the 2024/25 season, but they’ve demonstrated improvements, particularly in their pressing structure. Barnsley may feel they have a slim chance to cause an upset, but opportunities will be scarce on Tuesday.
With Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte expected to anchor the midfield, Barnsley will find it challenging to break through. Meanwhile, Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho are likely to make a significant impact in the attacking third, with Toby Collyer also set to contribute. **The Hard Tackle** predicts a comfortable 2-0 victory for Erik ten Hag’s side.
How to Watch
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