Manchester United vs Barnsley Predictions

Manchester United vs Barnsley Predictions for this Carabao Cup clash. Manchester United face Barnsley in the EFL Cup Third Round, with Barnsley earning a dream tie at Old Trafford after progressing from previous rounds. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

EFL Cup | Third Round | Sep 17, 2024 at 8pm UK at Old Trafford

Manchester United vs Barnsley Predictions

Can Manchester United Maintain Cup Dominance Against Barnsley?

• Corners Galore: Manchester United average 5.8 corners per game, while Barnsley earn over seven per match. With United likely to dominate possession, expect plenty of corners as they pile on the pressure at Old Trafford.
• Barnsley Struggle to Score Against Big Teams: Barnsley have only managed to score one goal in their last three encounters with Manchester United across all competitions, highlighting their difficulties when stepping up to higher-tier opposition.
• Garnacho’s Moment: Alejandro Garnacho could be a key figure in this tie, with his recent form and attacking flair making him one to watch. He scored in United’s recent victory over Southampton and will be eager to impress with a full 90 minutes likely.

Best Bet

Manchester United are set to face Barnsley in the EFL Cup third round, a fixture that looks relatively straightforward on paper. Coming off a mixed start to their Premier League campaign, the Red Devils will be looking to secure a comfortable win against a Barnsley side from League One. For Barnsley, this represents a dream draw, but the challenge of going up against one of the giants of English football at Old Trafford is daunting. Although Barnsley have shown promise in their league season so far, they come into this match on the back of a heavy 3-0 defeat to Stevenage, which will likely dent their confidence ahead of this tough cup tie.

Erik ten Hag’s men, meanwhile, will want to build on their recent win over Southampton. Despite a scoreline that flattered them, United took control after an initial scare and will now focus on making progress in the domestic cup competition they won just 18 months ago. Barnsley will hope to cause an upset, but United’s quality, even with expected rotation, should shine through.

The standout bet for this match is backing Manchester United with a -2 handicap. United are strong favourites to win convincingly, and the -2 handicap suggests they need to win by three or more goals for the bet to land. Given the disparity in quality between the two sides, this is a reasonable expectation.

United’s form has been inconsistent, but their attacking power, especially at home against lower-tier opposition, cannot be overlooked. In their recent win over Southampton, they displayed flashes of their potential, scoring three goals and controlling large parts of the game after a shaky start. With players like Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee likely to feature, United possess the firepower to dismantle a Barnsley defence that looked vulnerable in their recent 3-0 defeat to Stevenage.

Barnsley have been impressive in League One, but their step up in class against United will be significant. Although they have shown resilience in cup competitions, defeating Sheffield United in the previous round, Manchester United at Old Trafford is a completely different proposition. The key for United will be exploiting Barnsley’s weaknesses, particularly in defence. Barnsley concede an average of 1.5 goals per game in League One, and if United are on song, they could easily surpass this number by a comfortable margin.

United’s likely rotation could see fringe players eager to impress, which can often lead to high-energy, dominant performances in cup matches. Players like Garnacho and Antony will be looking to showcase their abilities, while veterans like Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans will anchor the defence. Even with rotation, the quality gap is substantial, and United should be able to dominate possession, create chances, and eventually pull away.

BettingTips4You.com expert John Pentin summarises it well: “United have a point to prove after some shaky league performances, and this cup tie presents the perfect opportunity to showcase their attacking depth. A comfortable win is expected, and a -2 handicap reflects that confidence.”

Additional Prediction

An alternative bet to consider is the total corners market, with over 9.5 corners looking like a solid option. Manchester United average around 5.8 corners per game, while Barnsley have been known to earn over seven per game in League One. Given that Barnsley may sit deep, absorbing pressure, United are likely to dominate the ball and fire plenty of shots on goal. This will inevitably lead to numerous corners for the home side.

Barnsley, meanwhile, are unlikely to have long spells of possession, but they may threaten on the break or through set pieces, which could also add to the corner count. United’s wide players, particularly Garnacho and Antony, like to attack down the flanks, which increases the likelihood of deflected crosses or blocked shots leading to corners.

In cup matches where one team is significantly stronger than the other, corners often rack up as the dominant team pushes forward, and this is precisely what we expect here. Barnsley will likely sit back, and United will pepper their box with crosses and shots, which should see the total corners tally rise comfortably above the 9.5 mark.

Correct Score Prediction: Manchester United 4-0 Barnsley

For the correct score prediction, a 4-0 win for Manchester United seems a plausible outcome. This scoreline aligns with the rationale behind backing United on the -2 handicap, and given Barnsley’s defensive frailties, a high-scoring game for the Red Devils is likely.

United’s attacking quality should be far too much for Barnsley to handle. With a rotated side, there may be a bit more unpredictability in how United set up, but their attacking players should be sharp enough to find the back of the net on multiple occasions. The pace and creativity of players like Garnacho, combined with the finishing ability of Zirkzee, could prove lethal for Barnsley, who conceded three goals to Stevenage over the weekend.

Defensively, United should also be able to keep a clean sheet. Andre Onana has been a steady presence between the sticks, and with Maguire and Evans likely to feature in the heart of defence, United should have enough experience to nullify Barnsley’s threat. Barnsley have only scored once against Manchester United in their previous three meetings, and it’s hard to see them breaching United’s defence here, especially considering they have only netted 1.7 goals per game in League One.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter For Exclusive Tips

Want to have exclusive tips from experts tipsters delivered right into your inbox? Subscribe Now To Our Newsletter. We will never spam, we fully respect your privacy!

Selected Bookmakers Offers