Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has said that being without Ousmane Dembele for their Europa League clash against Manchester United tonight is a ‘huge blow’ for the visitors.

The Lowdown: Pedri and Gavi out

The Red Devils head into tonight’s second leg at Old Trafford with a bigger squad to choose from, with Erik ten Hag able to call upon Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer following their European suspensions.

Barcelona will be without midfield pair Pedri and Gavi due to injury and suspension, while Dembele also looks set to remain sidelined.

The Latest: Xavi’s comments

As reported by The Daily Express, Barcelona manager Xavi touched on the Frenchman's continued absence in his pre-match press conference, describing it as a ‘huge blow’ for the La Liga giants.

The 43-year-old lamented: "Dembele is also a big blow, a huge blow for us. He can make a difference on the pitch."

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The Verdict: Boost for Man United

Knowing that Barcelona are without a number of star men tonight will come as a welcome boost at Old Trafford, with the tie finely poised at 2-2.

Dembele has been missing with a hamstring issue but has contributed to 15 goals in 28 games in all competitions this season.

The Frenchman has been one of the club’s top performers this season alongside Pedri according to WhoScored, registering more assists and key passes per 90 than any Barcelona player, so you could argue it is advantage United ahead of kick-off following team news updates from both camps.