Erik Ten Hag is showing good signs of a better future for the club. He has made quite an impact in the team and the players now understand the task and objectives of the manager and are showing this character on and off the pitch. Manchester United are playing much better football and will certainly give Barcelona a tough one to contend with when they go head to head in the Europa league play offs.
Both teams have done a very good job lately, they have good coaches, they have been very much strengthened by young players and therefore I cannot choose any clear favorite here. Anyone can be the winner, it will be a good confrontation and I doubt that any of the coaches will put up a non-main team, even if the EL is not such a prestigious tournament as the Champions League, then this confrontation is prestigious itself.
For putting the non main team one thing is sure,Manchester United is not leading the standings like Barcelona is in La Liga so Manchester United it is a known thing that they will be putting their main squad and Europa League despite not being prestigious enough as the Champions League,many consider it the second best thing,so in this sense is prestigious also.
For Barcelona I think they have the luxury of risking a game in La Liga as they are 5 points ahead and as such I doubt they will also be playing with a non main squad in this encounter.