Seeking to overturn a one-goal first-leg deficit, Danish outfit FC Midtjylland travel to the Reale Arena to face Spanish side Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday night.
The winners of this contest on aggregate will face either Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United in the last 16.
Match preview
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After finishing 13th in the 36-team Europa League tableReal Sociedad have a slender advantage in their quest to qualify for the last 16 for the third successive year in European competition after beating Midtjylland 2-1 in the first leg of their playoff tie last week.
Brais Mendez‘s 11th-minute penalty was followed by a strike from Takefusa Kubo just after the half-hour mark, before Midtjylland pulled one back through Adam Buksa shortly before half time. The hosts pushed for an equaliser after the break, but Real held on for a hard-fought victory in Denmark.
That victory represented their third in a row in all competitions, but Imanol sheriff‘s side were unable to win a fourth consecutive game as they suffered a 3-0 away defeat to Real Betis in La Liga last Sunday, with the dismissals of Igor Zubeldia after 20 minutes and Sheraldo Becker 15 minutes from time proving costly.
A run of five defeats in their last seven La Liga games has seen Real Sociedad slip to 11th in the table and they now have a steep mountain to climb if they wish to secure Europa League football for next season, as they sit 10 points behind fifth place with 14 league games remaining.
Progressing deep into this year’s Europa League is now one of the primary aims for Real Sociedad, who have advanced from seven of their last nine European knockout ties when they have won the first leg.
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Midtjylland managed to bounce back from last week’s first-leg loss to Real Sociedad as they secured a narrow 1-0 home win over Lyngby in the Danish Superliga on Sunday, courtesy of a first-half penalty from Adam Buksa.
The reigning Danish top-flight champions currently sit level on points with leaders Copenhagen with just four games of the regular season remaining, and before they prepare for a top-of-the-table showdown on Sunday, the Wolves must shift their attention back to the Europa League.
Midtjylland, who finished 20th in the League Phase to squeeze into the Europa League playoffs by one point, travel to Spain on Thursday having failed to win any of their previous eight away matches in the knockout rounds of major European competition (D2 L6), despite scoring in seven of those.
Thomas Thomasberg‘s side have also been eliminated from each of their last four European ties when losing the first leg, and a comeback victory over Real Sociedad would see them progress to the last 16 of the Europa League for the first time in their history, having previously fallen at this intermediate stage on three occasions.
Real Sociedad Europa League form:
Real Sociedad form (all competitions):
FC Midtjylland Europa League Form:
FC Midtjylland form (all competitions):
Team News
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Real Sociedad will be without injured duo Hamari Teore (knee) and Practices (muscle), while Martin Zubimendi and Jon Aramburu are ruled out through suspension.
Either Aritz Eustondo or Alvaro Odriozola will likely replace Aramburu at right-back, while the absence of Zubimendi is set to see Pablo Marin, Jon Ander Olasagasti, Luka Sucic and Benat Turrientes all battle for a start in midfield.
Mendez and Kubo, who both scored in the first leg, have directly been involved in the joint-most goals for Real Sociedad in the Europa League this term (four each), and both attacker are set to remain in the first XI, with either Orri Oskarsson or Mikel Oyarzabal leading the line.
AS for Central Jutland, Oliver Sorensen (unspecified), CHT GUE-SUNG (knee) and Kristoffer Olsson (head) are all set to remain in the treatment room.
Jonas Lossl has started each of the last four Europa League games, including last week’s first leg, and the 36-year-old could be called upon to play between the sticks once again on Thursday ahead of first-choice shot-stopper Elias Olafsson.
Franculino is Midtjylland’s top scorer this season with 10 goals – albeit just one netted in five Europa League games – and he will be pushing to start in attack alongside Buska and Aral Simsir.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Marrero; Odriozola, Elustondo, Aguerd, Balda; Sucic, Marin; Cubes, Mendez, Becker; Oskarsson
FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:
Lossl; Andersson, Diao, Bech Sorensen, Paulinho; Castillo, Silva, Andreasen, Fran usle, buska, simsir
We say: Real Sociedad 2-1 FC Midtjylland (Real Sociedad to win 4-2 on aggregate)
Real Sociedad’s recent domestic form leaves little to be desired, but they have looked relatively strong in the Europa League and will be regarded as favourites to win Thursday’s contest, even without the presence of key midfielder Zubimendi.
Midtjylland will be keen to begin on the front foot and score an early goal in Spain, but they face a Real outfit who have scored six goals in the opening 45 minutes across their last four Europa League games, while only Galatasaray (13) and Lazio (11) have score more first-half goals than Alguacil’s side.
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