Manchester United will have their most difficult European test of the season tonight. Their task is to win at Real Sociedad by two goals and climb above the La Liga team in the final Europa League matchday. After five games, Sociedad have got all five wins and are the team with the best record in this year’s edition. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the Basque team won 1-0 at Old Trafford and asserted dominance in their group. Manager Erik Ten Hag is still working to find the formula of consistency, but he could use his weapon called Cristiano Ronaldo. The legendary Portuguese knows Spanish football inside out. CR7 scored 450 goals in 438 games for Real Madrid during his nine years in the Spanish capital, including 15 goals in nine appearances against Sociedad. The 37-year-old is expected to start in the third successive game for United and remind the fans in Spain how deadly he really is. He will have to be on top of his game because Jadon Sancho, Antony and Anthony Martial are all unavailable.Cristiano Ronaldo’s record vs. Real Sociedad: 👤 10 games⚽️ 15 goals2️⃣ Hatricks pic.twitter.com/rL8Px4tjJz— The CR7 Timeline. (@TimelineCR7) November 3, 2022 The rejuvenated Marcus Rashford is ready to play, though, and the travelling fans will demand another good performance.”We need to go there and win by two goals to top the group so we’re going to try and do that. It was our mission, our objective when we started the campaign, to top the group and that still stands.”Having triumphed in last season’s UEFA Europa Conference League with Roma, Jose Mourinho is going for an even bigger title in the Europa League this season. But to make it into the knockout stage and fight for the prize, the Romans must avenge the 2-1 defeat they suffered against Ludogorets in Bulgarian on the first matchday.”We must win – obviously we need to be aggressive and play attacking football.”Jose Mourinho previews Thursday’s game against Ludogorets…#ASRoma #UEL #LudogoretsRoma pic.twitter.com/hmy9QrsNKv— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) November 2, 2022 Roma’s city rivals Lazio have also got a big task on their hands tonight as they have to stay undefeated against Dutch giants Feyenoord at their incredibly hostile and loud De Kuip Stadium. The hosts start the game third in their group, and their best route to an uncomplicated night is to win by two goals or more. The scenery is set for a fiery encounter.Let’s recap, then. The eight group winners will automatically go through to the last 16. Additional knockout round play-offs will then be played before the round of 16, pitching the eight group second-placed teams against those who finished third in Champions League groups. Similarly, Europa League third-place sides will switch to the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round playoffs.Ready for FC Zurich tomorrow! ✊Watch our latest training edit now 🎥— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 2, 2022 In a potentially tricky match in London, Arsenal must beat FC Zurich to secure the top spot in the group and avoid the hassle of the additional knockout round in the UEL. The challenge for Mikel Arteta, more so than their actual opponents, is fielding a squad that can do the job but rest players enough ahead of a pivotal away trip to Stamford Bridge and Chelsea on Sunday.EUROPA LEAGUEGroup stage – Round 6Thursday20:45: (1.73) Monaco (3.90) Crvena Zvezda (5.50)20:45: (3.35) Sociedad (3.40) Man.Utd. (2.35)20:45: (1.99) Sheriff Tiraspol (3.50) Omonia (4.40)20:45: (2.40) Feyenoord (3.50) Lazio (3.15)20:45: (2.09) Midtjylland (3.50) Sturm (3.90)20:45: (3.10) Olympiakos (3.25) Nantes (2.42)20:45: (2.04) Qarabag (3.60) Freiburg (4.00)20:45: (1.62) Trabzon (4.00) Ferencvaros (6.00)23:00: (1.21) Arsenal (8.00) Zurich (14.0)23:00: (3.40) Bodo (3.60) PSV (2.24)23:00: (4.30) Dynamo Kyiv (3.50) Fenerbahce (1.93)23:00: (1.24) Rennes (6.75) AEK Larnaca (14.0)23:00: (1.38) Roma (5.50) Ludogorets (9.50)23:00: (1.29) Betis (6.50) Helsinki (10.0)23:00: (1.34) Braga (5.50) Malmo (10.0)23:00: (4.20) St.Gilloise (3.60) Union Berlin (1.99)***odds are subject to change***
