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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Matthew Abbott

Thierry Henry agrees with Rio Ferdinand in Man United vs Barcelona prediction

Former Barcelona player and Champions League winner Thierry Henry has admitted that his worries for Barcelona before the first leg came true at Camp Nou, and the player-turned-pundit believes that Manchester United now have a slight advantage in the tie.

The Catalan club conceded two goals during a home match for the first time since being beaten 3-0 by Bayern Munich in October, when they were knocked out of the Champions League, and just the second time all season - Inter Milan are the only other club to do so, during the two teams' 3-3 group stage draw.

It was not just the number of goals conceded that concerned Henry, but how United were otherwise causing problems for the Barcelona backline. These instances being particularly apparent on the break.

READ MORE: United vs Barcelona predicted lineups and team news for Europa League tie

"I was worried about the problems Man United could give them, especially on the counters," the Arsenal legend said on CBS Sports while previewing the second leg. "I know one goal was from a set-piece, but it’s the first time this season I have seen Barcelona suffering like that in transition.

"(But) they're well in the tie, still, they're doing ever so well in the league (Barcelona are eight points clear of Real Madrid atop La Liga), and I think it’s going to be a cracking game, and it’s difficult to call, because right now, Man United are on fire, and Barca are also."

Henry continued: "With the game that I've seen in Barcelona, I think Man United has still a bit of an advantage because the return leg is at (Old Trafford), but they have the belief back in Barcelona, so it should be an amazing game, as we saw last week."

Former United player Rio Ferdinand is more bullish in predicting the club's upcoming matches after winning in the Premier League last weekend. "We won against Leicester, we’ll beat Newcastle (in the Carabao Cup final), and I think we'll beat Barca as well," Ferdinand told FIVE earlier this week.

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