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Ernesto Valverde wary of "powerful" Manchester United

Valverde wary of
© Reuters
Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde suggests that Manchester United's physicality is their biggest strength as he prepares for Wednesday's trip to Old Trafford.

Ernesto Valverde has warned his Barcelona players that they cannot afford to take "powerful" Manchester United lightly in their Champions League quarter-final clash.

The reigning Spanish champions head into Wednesday evening's first leg at Old Trafford on the back of a late 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid this weekend, increasing their lead at the top of La Liga to 11 points.

Barca are favourites to progress from their last-eight tie with United, but Valverde believes that the Red Devils - beaten 2-1 by Wolverhampton Wanderers in their most recent outing - have strengths that are difficult to cope with.

"They are a powerful team. They are going through a good run, even if they lost their last match," Sky Sports News quotes him as saying.

"Physically they are really strong and they know how to put pressure on their opponents. They have players who are physically very powerful, and they can be dangerous strategically as well.

"This match is a classic in European football. Barcelona have never won at Old Trafford I believe and we are going to try and change that."

Barcelona have lost two and drawn two of their previous four trips to Old Trafford, with their most recent match there ending in a 1-0 defeat in the second leg of the 2007-08 Champions League semi-finals.


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Philippe Coutinho in action for Barcelona on March 9, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool33257175205582
2Manchester CityMan City32262483216280
3Chelsea33206757342366
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs322111060342664
5Arsenal32196765402563
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd32187761431861
7Leicester CityLeicester33145144644247
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32138114039147
9Everton33137134642446
10Watford32137124747046
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham33126154150-942
12Crystal Palace33116163943-439
13Bournemouth33115174461-1738
14Burnley33106174060-2036
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3398163143-1235
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3196163246-1433
17Southampton3289153653-1733
18Cardiff CityCardiff3284202861-3328
RFulham3345243076-4617
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3335251963-4414

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