Thursday's matchup between Barcelona and Manchester United, which has previously graced the Champions League final, has the relative dishonour of taking place in the Europa League play-off round.

PHOTO | COURTESY Casemiro to play against Barcelona again this time as a Manchester United Player

The Catalans failed to advance through the opening round of Europe's top competition, while Manchester United placed second in their Europa League group, which caused their paths to cross.

Despite the tie's lessened significance, the continent's most outstanding teams, including the two fallen titans, are on the rise.

PHOTO | COURTESY Barcelona players train ahead of their clash against Manchester United

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Barcelona and Manchester United are both growing under exciting managers in Erik ten Hag and Xavi Hernandez, and both teams want to reclaim their places among Europe's top quickly.

The teams' most recent meeting was in 2019 as Barcelona is to enter a deep fall, and United's terrible slump in the barren decade after Sir Alex Ferguson's rule was already well underway.

Champions League champions Barca five times defeated United 4-0 on the road in the quarterfinal match. Still, only goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is yet to play against United at Camp Nou.

Since then, Barcelona has undergone a significant team renewal, and their summer expenditure increased the criticism they faced after being eliminated from the Europa League.

The Catalans acquired a potent striker in Robert Lewandowski, and Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen have cemented their positions as essential members of the most vigorous defence in Europe.

PHOTO | COURTESY Manchester United train ahead of their clash against Barcelona

Barcelona has kept 16 clean sheets from 21 games and has only given up seven goals in La Liga this season. Xavi's team has gone undefeated in 16 games overall.

The manager is restoring his team to their former glory after playing for Barcelona in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League final victories over Ferguson's Red Devils.

In January, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid to win the Spanish Super Cup, and they will now play each other in the Copa del Rey semifinals.

He took over in November of the previous year and guided the group from the middle of the table to second place. Barcelona last won La Liga in 2019, but on Sunday, they increased their advantage over rival Real Madrid to 11 points.