United’s 2017 preseason is off to a great start, with the Red Devils winning each of their first four matches. Their latest victim was Real Madrid, whom they defeated, 2-1, in penalties. The Red Devils will face their toughest test yet this coming Wednesday, though, when they lock horns with Spanish powerhouse Barcelona in a marquee clash at FedEx Field. That grand showdown will be a good chance for the Red Devils to test themselves against the Catalans’ star-studded squad, as United prepare to return to the UEFA Champions League this season.
Expected to play a crucial role for United in this contest is Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian has already made a strong start to life with United, scoring against both Real Salt Lake and Manchester City. His goal against City was a thing of beauty, displaying the pace, power and technique that prompted United to spend a whopping £75 million to sign him from Premier League rivals Everton. It’s not just Lukaku who’s enjoying an excellent preseason for United; Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial have been superb as well as they look to cement their places in the starting XI. They combined for one of the best goals this preseason in United’s win against Real.
Despite his forwards’ brilliant start, manager Jose Mourinho may be more concerned with how his defense copes with Barca’s supreme attacking talent. A huge blow for United on this front is Ander Herrera’s injury. The midfielder was forced off against Real after suffering a hip injury, and now joins defenders Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw on the sidelines. Also a major doubt for Wednesday’s clash is Juan Mata, with the Spaniard still nursing an ankle injury.
Could this be the final game of the Messi-Neymar-Suarez trio? Rumors are rife that Neymar is close to joining Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee. In fact, PSG and Barcelona are both calling surprise press conferences tonight. Have the two European powerhouses finally closed the deal? That we shall see.
Even without Neymar in their starting lineup, Barcelona still possess one heck of a team. They have in their ranks arguably the greatest soccer player of all time in Lionel Messi, who has scored a whopping 349 goals in 382 appearances for the Catalans. If reports are to be believed, though, the best is yet to come for the Argentine superstar.
According to Catalan outlet Sport, Messi reportedly showed up for preseason in better form than ever, recording personal-best GPS data during a match against Italian giants Juventus on Saturday. The five-time FIFA Ballon D’Or winner impressed in a wealth of parameters for Barcelona, including “kilometers run, acceleration, top speed, speed over 20 meters and aerobic capacity.”
Suarez has been a vital cog for Barcelona’s attack as well. The Uruguayan has become the focal point for Barca’s offensive thrusts, with the No. 9 playing with his back to goal and giving Messi and Neymar the freedom to roam from wide areas and exploit tiny gaps. With Messi and Suarez up front, Barcelona have more than enough firepower to edge this titanic friendly.
