MADRID, 2 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Sociedad receives this Thursday (6:45 p.m.) on the last day of the Europa League a lively and improved Manchester United with the leadership of their group and full victories at stake, while Real Betis, with nothing at stake, faces the closing of this phase calmly and formally against HJK Helsinki (9:00 p.m.).
The trajectory of the Basque team in this group stage of the Europa League is being immaculate. All their matches to date count for victories and this Thursday they will have the opportunity to extend that positive dynamic against the toughest rival. Manchester United visit the Reale Arena in the last big test for Imanol Alguacil’s team before the crosses, a high-level duel to put the finishing touch and automatically access the round of 16 of the competition.
The ‘txuri-urdin’ team is the only team in this edition of the Europa League that has accumulated full victories in these first five dates. After the 0-1 draw at the Teatro de los Sueños, with a penalty goal by Brais Méndez, a draw against the ‘Red Devils’ would be enough to certify their presence in the round of 16 of a European competition for the first time in almost 20 years.
However, Real has experienced a bump in results in recent weeks, with two straight defeats in the domestic championship against Valladolid (1-0) and Betis (0-2). That did not prevent them from beating (0-2) the Cypriot Omonia and prolonging their European leadership until the last day. The highly occupied infirmary is the big obstacle, with Silva, Sadiq, Cho, Barrenetxea, Kubo and Ahien injured.
Opposite will be a Manchester United that needs to win at the Reale Arena by two or more goals – something that has only happened in four of the eleven wins this season – to take the lead from the Basques and advance directly to the round of 16. In his favor, his ascending dynamics, since he has accumulated eight games without losing (6 wins and 2 draws). Some results that have allowed him to settle in fifth place in the Premier and look closely at the long-awaited positions in the Champions League.
Those from Ten Hag have a difficult task ahead of them that they will face with the doubt of winger Anthony, who returned to training with the group earlier this week and, presumably, will be against Real. Bruno Fernandes, suspended in the last win against West Ham in domestic competition, will also be available.
Real Betis also arrives at this last date with the round of 16 of the Europa League in their pocket, which will allow them to manage minutes ahead of Sunday’s derby against Sevilla. However, Manuel Pellegrini advanced in the previous one that he will not abuse rotations, thinking about the crucial and relevant match against Seville.
“The best way to get to the derby well is to play well on Thursday 2, he stressed. Thus, ‘El Ingeniero’ insisted that “there is not a starting team in the League and a ‘Team B’ in the Europa League.” “The rotations will continue the same criteria, without thinking about Sunday’s game. First for performance and confidence, the minutes played this month to avoid muscle injuries… We are not going to play with youth players,” added the Chilean, who has never beaten Sevilla in the league.
The biggest incentive will be to maintain their unbeaten record in European competition -4 wins and 1 draw-, in a match for which Guido Rodríguez and Joaquín Sánchez are ruled out, and in which Sergio Canales, absent from training at the start of the week, is will enter the call.
In addition, the strength at home of Betis, which comes to the match after its resounding victory (0-2) against Real Sociedad, is too long a shadow for HJK, who aspire to become the second team to win this season in the Benito Villamarín -only Atlético has done it-. The Finnish club reaches the last chapter of its European adventure without a victory, although as the recent winner of its domestic championship. However, Koskela’s side have lost three in a row and have lost in six of their recent European outings.
