Manchester United vs Real Betis | 2022/23 EL

Let’s take a look at the team news as Manchester United face more Spanish opposition in the form of Real Betis in the Europa League Round of 16 tie.

The Red Devils suffered the club’s worst-ever Premier League defeat as they succumbed to an embarrassing 7-0 loss to arch-rivals Liverpool this weekend and will be looking for a quick turnaround.

Erik ten Hag, Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester United, Real Betis — Image Obtained Via RedGol

Manchester United overcame Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate in a thrilling play-off knock-out round tie and now face Real Betis in a European competition for the first time. However, Erik ten Hag’s side did lose 1-0 to the Seville-based team in a friendly recently.

Injury/Suspension List:

Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek are still recovering from long-term injuries and are unavailable. Anthony Martial is yet to recover from a hip injury that has kept him sidelined for United’s last nine games and is not expected to be back in time for this one.

The Red Devils will have no players suspended for the upcoming Europa League tie, but Casemiro will miss the second leg if he receives a booking.

The La Liga club have been dealt a major blow as attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. The French player has been crucial for Los Verdiblancos, having scored six goals and assisted three times in all competitions. Their worst fear was confirmed when Fekir was seen in agony during the dying moments of their 3-2 triumph over Elche in La Liga.

Claudio Bravo, the former Manchester City goalkeeper, will start in goal at the age of 39, with Leicester City loanee Ayoze Perez leading the line and ex-Brighton & Hove Albion defender Martin Montoya hoping to start.

In midfield, Portuguese international William Carvalho will provide a solid base, with Sergio Canales and top-scorer Borja Iglesias leading the attack. The Real Betis striker has contributed 10 goals this season (stats via Transfermarkt) and will be looking to add to his tally against Manchester United this week.

Player to Watch Out For – Ayoze Perez

Ayoze Perez is an excellent dribbler who has the ability to take on defenders with ease. He has a low centre of gravity and quick feet, which allows him to change direction quickly and escape his markers. Perez is also a skilled passer, and he often creates chances for his teammates with his excellent vision and ability to read the game.

His movement off the ball is also great, and he has a knack of finding space in the box and making well-timed runs to get on the end of crosses and through balls. In addition to his attacking skills, the Spanish forward is also a hard worker who contributes to the defensive side of the game. He tracks back and puts pressure on opposition players. His work rate is an asset to his team.

Perez is comfortable playing as a forward, attacking midfielder, or on the wing, and he can adapt to different positions and tactical systems with ease. This makes him a valuable asset to his team and provides his manager with different options when selecting his starting lineup.

Manchester United Form:

LWWWW

Real Betis Form:

DWWWL

Manchester United Probable Line-up (4-2-3-1):

David de Gea (GK); Diogo Dalot (RB), Raphael Varane (CB), Lisandro Martinez (CB), Tyrell Malacia (LB); Casemiro (CM), Fred (CM); Jadon Sancho (RW), Marcus Rashford (LW), Bruno Fernandes (CAM); Wout Weghorst (ST).

Predicted Score:

Manchester United 1-0 Real Betis

Having already won the Carabao Cup, Manchester United are chasing two more trophies this season including the Europa League, but will face a tough challenge against Real Betis, who currently sit fifth in La Liga and are just three points off a Champions League spot.

The recent success of the Manchester United team suggests that they are not starting from scratch. In the Europa League’s previous round, the Red Devils demonstrated their progress under Ten Hag by defeating La Liga leaders Barcelona over two legs.

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