Europa League & Europa Conference League – Critical Games
Europa League & Europa Conference League overview. It’s the last game in the group stages on Thursday. Join us as we highlight the crucial games ahead. Manchester United need at least a two-goal win to top their group while there is still everything to play for in Group F.
Real Sociedad v Manchester United – The Battle to Win the Group
There is an early kick-off in the vital game in Group E with Real Sociedad and Manchester United starting at 17:45 (UK time). The Spanish side leads the group with a perfect record of five wins out of five but can be overtaken by Manchester United if the Red Devils win the game by at least two goals.
Real Sociedad won the first game between the two 1-0 at Old Trafford, and although they have a three-goal advantage in goal difference, the head-to-head record comes into play first. Both teams have already qualified, but the second-placed team faces a play-off match with a team dropping out of the Champions League.
The bookies have Manchester United as favourites, bet365 have them at 5/4, Real are 11/5 and the draw at 12/5.
Neutrals may well consider a home win, especially as they are yet to drop any points in the competition. However, Sociedad has many injuries, with eight players ruled out, including Alexander Sorloth, who has two goals and an assist in the Europa League.
The United team are in better condition, with Raphaël Varane and Victor Lindelöf ruled out, and Antony rated as doubtful. Real Sociedad is likely to favour a 4-5-1 formation which may frustrate United, who are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1.
Real Sociedad’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford was their first win against the Red Devils in the five times they have met (three United wins and a draw) in the Europa League. The pair have also played each other twice in the Champions League, with United winning both.
United’s Premier League rivals Arsenal are in a similar situation and need a win on Thursday to prevent PSV from overtaking them (if PSV wins their game). However, they play Group A’s bottom club Zurich who have only won one game in the tournament (2-1 against Bodoe/Glimt) and have lost their previous four.
Group F will be an interesting one as two teams (Lazio and SK Strum Graz) are on eight points, and the other teams (Feyenoord and FC Midtjylland) are on five. Lazio plays Feyenoord, knowing that if they lose by two goals, Feyenoord will top the group. However, Lazio can win the group by bettering Sturm’s result, but avoiding defeat will be enough to see them through.
Europa Conference League – Current Standings
Many of the groups in the Europa Conference League have already been decided.
In Group A, Istanbul Buyuksehir and Fiorentina are through, and matchday six will decide who tops the group, with both teams on ten points. West Ham is the Group B winner with the only 100% record in the Europa Conference League with five wins out of five.
Villarreal (13 points) is the runaway leader of Group C and will be joined by either Lech Poznan (6 points) or Hapoel Beer-Sheva (4 points).
Nice are in the driving seat in Group D. They are level on points with Partizan Belgrade and a point ahead of Cologne. AZ Alkmaar (12 points) and Dnipro-1 (11 points) are through in Group E. Djurgardens IF are Group F winners and will be joined by either Molde (7 points) or AA Gent (5 points).
There is still plenty to play for in Groups G, and H. Sivasspor has a three-point lead in Group G, with CFR Cluj-Napoca and Slavia Prague three points behind on seven points. In Group H, SK Slovan Bratislava leads the group on goal difference over Basel (also on eight points). They face bottom club VMFD Zalgirls in their last match. Basel and Pyunik Yerevan could overtake them if they slip up.
