United seek redemption in Real Betis Europa tie
With nightmares of their Anfield mauling still fresh in the memory, Manchester United return to Europa League action with the visit of Real Betis to Old Trafford for the first leg of their last-16 tie tonight.
The Red Devils progressed past Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate in the knockout round playoffs, while Manuel Pellegrini’s crop beat Roma, HJK Helsinki and Ludogorets to top spot in Group C.
The highs of ending a six-year trophy drought and eliminating Barcelona from European competition paled into insignificance for Man United on Sunday afternoon, as a mortified Erik ten Hag witnessed the Red Devils suffer their worst defeat in Premier League history at the hands of a merciless Liverpool.
Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez all bagged braces alongside a Roberto Firmino effort in the true meaning of a demolition job, bringing an end to the Red Devils’ 11-game unbeaten run, while sparking euphoria and exasperation from pundits, fans and players in equal measure.
With a 14-point gap to make up to leaders, Arsenal, who have played a game more- some have already eliminated third-placed Man United from the Premier League title race, but their podium spot is safe for the time being as they seek an immediate response in continental action.
A second-placed finish to Real Sociedad in the group stage forced Man United to do it the hard way, but a richly-deserved 2-1 second-leg win over Barcelona propelled the Red Devils into the last 16 at the Catalans’ expense, and not since March 2012 have the hosts lost the first leg of a European knockout tie at home.
Prior to being destroyed by Liverpool, Man United had scored at least twice in 12 successive games in all competitions – their multi
ple-goal run at Old Trafford stands at an even better 14 games – and Ten Hag’s side can get straight back into the fans’ good books with a 20th unbeaten match in a row at the Theatre of Dreams.
A familiar face returns to the northwest in the opposition dugout, as ex-Manchester City boss, Manuel Pellegrini, who can expect a hostile welcome when he emerges from the Old Trafford tunnel – travels back to the UK with his side hitting form at the right time.
Following a trio of successive victories against Almeria, Real Valladolid and Elche – during which Betis scored eight goals, while
shipping five themselves, Pellegrini’s side held reigning Spanish and European champions, Real Madrid, to a goalless draw at the weekend, keeping Los Blancos at bay despite having just 38 per cent possession.
A near-perfect Europa League group stage for Los Verdiblancos saw them win five games and draw one in Group C – only dropping points in a 1-1 home stalemate against Roma – and Pellegrini’s men shipped just four goals en route to a first-place finish.
Betis have never progressed beyond the last-16 of the Europa League in its current format – losing to eventual winners, Eintracht Frankfurt, at this stage last season – but Pellegrini’s side travel to Old Trafford having only lost two of their last 12 away games in all tournaments and winning eight of them.
Today’s first leg will mark the first-ever competitive meeting between Man United and Real Betis in any tournament, but the Verdiblancos have just one win to show from their previous six games against English opposition, and the wounded Red Devils should not prove easy pickings at their fortress. – SportsMole
Europa League fixtures
Leverkusen v Ferencvaros
Roma v Real Sociedad Sporting v Arsenal Union Berlin v Union Saint
Gilloise Juventus v Freiburg
Man Utd v Real Betis Sevilla v Fenerbahce Shakhtar v Feyenoord
