Manchester United again in Europa League, face Real Sociedad take a look at

Image Source : AP Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes gestures throughout the English Premier League soccer match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United on the Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, England, Sunday, Feb. 14
A take a look at what’s taking place within the Europa League forward of the first-leg matches within the final 32 on Thursday:
REAL SOCIEDAD-MANCHESTER UNITED

United is again within the Europa League for the third time in 5 seasons, an indication of the instances for a membership as soon as thought to be one of many continental heavyweights. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s group is thought to be the competitors favourite heading into the knockout stage however, regardless of being prime of the Premier League simply final month, is coming into the match towards Sociedad out of shape after successful simply two of its final seven league video games. Like United, Sociedad — energized by the arrival of offseason signing David Silva from United’s rival, Man City — had a spell in first place in its home league this season however is now outdoors the highest 4 in La Liga. Sociedad winger Adnan Januzaj performs towards the group who offered him in 2017 after being a part of the United academy and good pals with Paul Pogba. The first leg takes place in Turin, Italy, due to coronavirus-related journey restrictions on arrivals to Spain from Britain throughout the pandemic.
BENFICA-ARSENAL
Another match relocated — this time to Rome — due to journey restrictions, it options golf equipment who’ve reached 5 UEFA Cup/Europa League finals with out successful one, though the Gunners did win the Inter Cities Fairs Cup forerunner in 1970. Benfica dropped into the Europa League after shedding in Champions League qualifying and has but to lose in 26 dwelling matches within the competitors, a report. Midfielder Pizzi is the highest scorer on this season’s competitors with six objectives. Arsenal’s greatest likelihood of qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League appears to be like to be by successful the Europa League as a result of Mikel Arteta’s group is just tenth within the Premier League. Arsenal defender David Luiz is ready to face his former membership.

RED STAR BELGRADE-AC MILAN
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is within the knockout phases of a European competitors for the primary time since Manchester United’s run to the Europa League title in 2017 as Milan heads to Serbia. The sport pits collectively two former European champions as 1991 European Cup winner Red Star hosts the seven-time continental champion from Italy. Milan could relaxation gamers forward of Sunday’s sport towards rival Inter Milan. Red Star’s coach is former Inter participant Dejan Stankovic. His group has loads of expertise of combating its means by way of Champions League and Europa League qualifiers however has solely reached the knockout rounds on one different event within the final decade. Red Star’s passionate followers often make their stadium an intimidating place to go to with chants, flares and elaborate organized shows of assist. This time the stadium can be empty due to the pandemic.
LILLE-AJAX
Sébastien Haller was key to Ajax’s hopes of a European trophy — not less than till the Dutch membership forgot to register him for the Europa League. The field subsequent to the title of the Ivorian striker, Ajax’s report signing, wasn’t ticked when the membership despatched its squad checklist to UEFA. Worse adopted when goalkeeper André Onana was banned for a 12 months over a failed drug take a look at. Ajax must hope Lille is extra centered on its bid to dethrone Paris Saint-Germain within the French league, the place the hosts lead PSG by a single level. Ajax will bid to turn out to be the primary group to attain towards Lille in additional than a month. Lille has not conceded any objectives in its final six league and cup video games.
WOLFSBERG-TOTTENHAM
Wolfsberg is ready to play the most important dwelling sport in its 90-year historical past however has to do it in Hungary, not its native Austria, due to journey restrictions affecting Tottenham. Wolfsberg has been on the rise in recent times, first reaching the Austrian prime division in 2012 and the Europa League group stage in 2019. This can be its first time within the knockout phases of a European competitors. Tottenham supervisor Jose Mourinho advised he would possibly relaxation key gamers after a busy interval of video games domestically, most not too long ago a 3-0 loss within the Premier League to Manchester City which got here lower than three days after an extra-time loss to Everton within the FA Cup. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was at fault for maybe two of the objectives towards City however Mourinho stated the France worldwide had “all my trust and confidence.”