UEFA Champions League 2018-19: 3 reasons why Manchester United will lose to Barcelona in the quarterfinals

#2 Barcelona's midfield superiority

This duo will meet again on the pitch but this is not France vs Croatia, this is Manchester United vs Barcelona. Things are topsy-turvy here.

The heart of any football team is in the midfield. It is where all the battles are won or lost. Build-ups start here, ball possessions are lost and won here, the through balls, the overlapping fullbacks and everything happens here.

When we compare the midfield of Barcelona and Manchester United, is there even a comparison? Nemanja Matic and Sergio Busquets are defensive midfielders, Busquets is better hands down. Rakitic and Fred are two players with a similar style of play but Rakitic is better.

Moreover, as we talked earlier, Barcelona's midfielders know their roles and are well suited to it. Arthur knows his role is to shield the ball and hold-up possession while passing well. Busquets knows he has to drop in between the centre backs when required. Rakitic does not need to be told twice what he is supposed to do.

Paul Pogba is the most potent weapon for United and even he has been played in many different roles. Assuming he won't have a problem fitting into any role, what about others?

The midfield is one place where individuals can be directly compared because they will face each other, unlike forwards and defenders of opposite sides. Barcelona have the better passing midfielders, they have midfielders who know their forwards and full-backs more than well.

Also, Barcelona's midfield trio is a tested core who have gone up against great players like Modric, Kroos, Banega, Schweinsteiger, Xabi Alonso, Pirlo, among others. At least Rakitic and Busquets have done so together.

Meanwhile United doesn't have the ideal midfield and the best possible one is Fred-Pogba-Matic. Pogba too has been shifting between attacking midfield, no 10 role, central midfield, pivot roles.

Toe to toe on paper and on the pitch, Barcelona's midfield combination is better than Manchester United's midfield. It is evident from their build-up and connection with fullbacks which is not necessarily the case between United's midfielders and fullbacks.