Barnsley vs Man United U21 Prediction: Tykes to triumph in high-scoring cup clash

This season’s EFL Trophy sparks into action on Tuesday evening. One of the opening matches in the competition sees Barnsley entertain Manchester United U21’s in Group F of the Northern section at Oakwell (19:00).

Read below for my Barnsley vs Man United U21 prediction and all the latest match odds.

Football Odds

Barnsley have responded well to losing their League 1 opener, overcoming Wigan Athletic on penalties in the first round of the EFL Cup before getting off the mark in the third tier with a 2-1 victory away at Lincoln City on Saturday.

The Tykes crashed out in the last 32 of this competition last season but they were champions in 2016 and will be hoping for another productive time in this year's edition.

Manchester United U21’s finished bottom of their EFL Trophy section last season, failing to defeat Stockport County, Bolton Wanderers or Salford City in 90 minutes, although they did make the round of 16 in 2022 and are not to be underestimated.

Travis Binnion’s Red Devils lost 4-2 against Arsenal in the opening game of their Premier League 2 campaign and will be looking to build on that at Oakwell.

Barnsley vs Man United U21 Odds

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Barnsley are 4/7 to make the most of home advantage against Manchester United U21’s, who are 18/5 to spring a surprise. The draw is available at 3/1.

Over 2.5 goals is 8/15, while over 3.5 is a 5/4 chance, and for Barnsley to win and both teams to score it is 15/8.

Barnsley to win & over 2.5 goals @ 6/5

The EFL Trophy may not be at the top of Barnsley’s list of priorities but there is no reason to think they will come up short against Manchester United U21’s, who have taken some heavy beatings in this competition in recent years.

Last season, the Red Devils lost 8-1 and 4-3 to Bolton and Salford respectively in the group phase of the competition while they were also beaten 4-0 by the Trotters in the round of 16 a year prior.

It means that their only clean sheet in their last nine EFL Trophy matches came against Wolves’ development side and a senior squad hoping to challenge at the top end of League 1 last season should be a step too far for them.

That said, Binnion’s boys have failed to score in only two of their last 12 EFL Cup outings and they will feel they can get on the scoresheet given Barnsley have seen both teams score in all three matches this season.

That means this should be a high-scoring encounter but, with Barnsley capable of going through the gears and scoring three or more on their own, taking the Tykes to win & over 2.5 goals looks the safest approach.

Barnsley to score in both halves @ 6/5

Barnsley scored in both halves of Saturday’s 2-1 win at Lincoln and, with the prospect of this being a free-flowing contest, they can repeat the trick against Manchester United U21’s.

United lost their Premier League 2 opener 4-2 against Arsenal’s young guns on Friday - they were 4-0 down inside 43 minutes - and a similarly slow start will be punished by Barnsley.

The Tykes have lost only one of their last eight EFL Trophy home ties, winning the last three by two goals, and they can showcase their attacking talents at Oakwell.

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