Betis looking to get out of Old Trafford alive
The béticos do not want to join Barça as a victim of the ‘red devils’
BARCELONA, March 8 (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Betis visits Manchester United at Old Trafford this Thursday (21.00) in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16, a duel from which the Betis want to get out alive to be able to decide the crossing at Benito Villamarín and not join like this to the list of victims of the ‘red devils’ in which FC Barcelona appears.
The blaugranas fell before those of Erik ten Hag in the ‘Playoff’, previous round to this one. Now, Real Betis wants to seek their fortune and a different ending so that United does not add to their list of LaLiga Santander victims in this second continental competition.
There are reasons to believe. Although it was a winter friendly, in December, and in Seville, Real Betis beat Manchester United 1-0 in the recent match between the two, with a goal from a Nabil Fekir who is now the great absence in the béticos, miss the season with a knee injury.
With what there is, which is a lot, Betis visit Old Trafford at a difficult time for United despite their general improvement in recent times. And it is that they come from losing by a bulky 7-0 at Anfield against Liverpool, in the Premier League, where they remain third despite this high-profile setback, the reason for various mockery. Mind you, they recently won the League Cup, their first trophy in six years.
So Real Betis must, above all, not pay the piper. United will leave motivated, looking for a definitive result or almost one that will make them face the next day of the Premier with peace of mind. And, if possible, that lost friendly will serve as motivation against the béticos.
If United eliminated Barça in the ‘Playoffs’, Betis is less successful in this Europa League since they skipped that previous round by finishing first in Group C, beating Roma, Ludogorets and HJK. And, in LaLiga Santander, he comes from linking three victories and a prestigious draw.
After beating Almería (2-3), Valladolid (2-1) and Elche (2-3), the last game ended with a goalless draw against Real Madrid at the Benito Villamarín. Good dynamics for a team that wants to give themselves a European joy, starting with achieving a good result in the ‘Theater of Dreams’ that is Old Trafford.
A scenario that is familiar to the Betic coach, the Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, who trained Manchester City for three seasons, United’s eternal rival. So, knowing the rival and the atmosphere at Old Trafford, Pellegini is sure that he will be able to find the formula that brings Betis closer to his goal; come out alive or closer to the quarterfinals.
DATA SHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lisandro Martínez, Malacia; Casemiro, McTominay; Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; and Rashford.
REAL BETIS: Rui Silva; Sabaly, Luiz Felipe, Edgar, Miranda; Carvalho, Guido Rodriguez; Luiz Henrique, Canales, Juanmi; and Borja Iglesias.
–REFEREE: Daniel Siebert (ALE).
–STADIUM: Old Trafford.
–TIME: 9:00 p.m./Movistar.