Manchester United cannot afford any mistakes in tonight’s Europa League match against Sheriff Tiraspol as finishing top of their group now seems more important than ever.
Assuming Real Sociedad win their meeting with FC Astana tonight, the final group standings will be decided in a clash between the Red Devils and the Spanish side next Thursday.
Under the new Europa League format, whoever finishes first in the group will go straight to the round of 16, while the runners-up will face a playoff against one of the eight teams that drop out of the Champions League after finishing third in your group.
Having to play an extra round and a couple of extra games in an already chaotic season would be bad enough for United, but with the way the Champions League is shaping up, it now seems very likely that it would be a massive squad they would have. deal.
With one match remaining in the tournament’s group stage, United could face the chance to play one of eight teams: Ajax, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona, ​​Shakhtar Donetsk, Seville, Juventus or Eintracht Frankfurt.
Barcelona are sure to be in the pot, as they cannot now qualify for the UCL Round of 16 no matter what happens next week, nor can they come bottom of their group.
The other big name, Juventus, definitely cannot qualify for the UCL play-off, but may even drop to the bottom of their group if they fail to beat Paris Saint Germain and if Maccabi Haifa win their last game at home to the Benfica. If Juve lose to PSG, a draw would be enough for the Israelis.
Atlético de Madrid cannot now qualify for the round of 16 of the UCL either. They are one point ahead of Leverkusen in Group B, but face a tough tie against Porto, while the Germans play at home to Club Brugge.
Sevilla is almost mathematically certain of being in the European pot.
To avoid all these big shots, for at least one round, United will have to overcome a huge disadvantage against Sociedad.
Even if the Red Devils win both games, it will come down to goal difference and United are currently four behind in that department.
So a convincing win tonight is vital to having any chance of topping the pack a week from now.
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