Manchester United will look to progress to the EFL Cup fourth round when they welcome Barnsley to Old Trafford in the third round on Tuesday.
The EFL Cup third round will stretch over two weeks as football’s most packed season starts taking shape. Tuesday will feature seven matches, with the action on the day ending at Old Trafford, where Manchester United will host Barnsley.
Manchester United reached the EFL Cup third round after qualifying for Europe last term. However, the Red Devils have blown hot and cold in the first few weeks of the 2024/25 season, racking up more losses than wins. They started the new campaign with a defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield tie before beating Fulham in their Premier League opener.
However, successive defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool signalled doom and gloom before Erik ten Hag’s men battled to a 3-0 win over Southampton. As for Barnsley, they have been in the EFL Cup this season since the first round. The Tykes have already played nearly a dozen games this season and beat Wigan Athletic and Sheffield United in the previous stages.
The win over Sheffield United set up the EFL Cup third-round date with Manchester United. Meanwhile, Darrell Clarke’s men have blown hot and cold in the EFL League One this term, winning three of their six games thus far to sit in the seventh spot in the standings.
The most recent match featuring Manchester United and Barnsley came in the EFL Cup fourth round, with the Red Devils clinching a 2-0 win. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Erik ten Hag has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Barnsley on Tuesday, the Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of at least seven first-team players.
Lisandro Martinez picked up a knock against Southampton and will not feature versus Barnsley. Meanwhile, Noussair Mazraoui was feeling his hamstring this past weekend, while Matthijs de Ligt suffered from cramps. So, the summer signings will get some rest on Tuesday.
In addition, Luke Shaw (calf), Leny Yoro (foot), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Victor Lindelof (toe), Mason Mount (thigh), and Rasmus Hojlund (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
Andre Onana will likely get the nod over Altay Bayindir between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him against Barnsley. The backline should feature Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, and Harry Amass.
As for the midfield unit, Manuel Ugarte should make his first start for Manchester United, lining up alongside Casemiro and Toby Collyer. The latter will take advanced positions and look for late runs into the Barnsley box. Finally, Joshua Zirkzee will lead the line for Manchester United, with Alejandro Garnacho and Antony being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Onana; Dalot; Maguire, Evans, Amass; Casemiro, Ugarte, Collyer; Antony, Zirkzee, Garnacho
Barnsley
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Darrell Clarke does not have many issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Barnsley manager will be without only one first-team player, with Conor Hourihane on the sidelines.
Gabriel Slonina will likely take his spot between the sticks, with Barnsley lining up in a 5-2-3 formation in front of him against Manchester United. The shape will shift to a 3-4-3 in rare offensive phases. The backline should feature Barry Cotter, Mael de Gevigney, Donovan Pines, Josh Earl, and Kyran Lofthouse.
As for the midfield unit, Adam Phillips and captain Luca Connell will pair up in the double pivot, looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Finally, Stephen Humphreys should spearhead the Barnsley attack on Tuesday, with Fabio Jalo and Davis Keillor-Dunn completing the numbers in the attacking trifecta.
Probable Lineup (5-2-3): Slonina; Cotter, De Gevigney, Pines, Earl, Lofthouse; Connell, Phillips; Keillor-Dunn, Humphreys, Jalo
Key Stats
- Manchester United have a superior head-to-head record in their 38 meetings with Barnsley, winning 22 games (D11 L5).
- Manchester United and Barnsley last met in the fourth round of the 2009/10 EFL Cup. The Red Devils picked up a 2-0 win before winning the competition that season by beating Aston Villa in the final.
- Manchester United have suffered five losses against lower-league opposition in the EFL Cup since 2011.
- Manchester United have scored only six goals in their last six games, averaging a goal per outing. On the other hand, Barnsley have 12 strikes in their six most recent matches.
- Manchester United have won only two of their last six outings. As for Barnsley, the Reds have five victories in their seven most recent outings.
Player to Watch
Antony
Opportunities have been coming at a premium for Antony throughout 2024, with Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho usurping him in the pecking order last season. The young pair have done well in the first few weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, meaning the Brazilian must suffice with his limited appearances.
So, Tuesday’s EFL Cup third-round clash against Barnsley hands Antony the opportunity to make his mark and show Erik ten Hag that he can offer something to his manager. Considering he only has one minute of action thus far this term, Tuesday’s match is a golden chance to prove that he can at least be an option off the bench in future games.
Prediction
Manchester United 2-0 Barnsley
Manchester United might have been vulnerable at the back in the early days of the 2024/25 season. However, they have shown some positive signs, with their pressing structure improving. So, while Barnsley might feel they have a slim chance of springing a surprise, the visitors will unlikely find many openings on Tuesday.
With Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte likely to start, finding a way past the Manchester United midfield will be a tall order for Barnsley. Meanwhile, Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho should run riot in the final third, with Toby Collyer also making his mark. So, The Hard Tackle predicts a straightforward 2-0 win for Erik ten Hag and his charges.
