Manchester United vs Real Betis: Thursday, 8:00pm
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Europa League, round of 16, 1st leg: Thursday, March 9, Kick-off 8pm, live on BT Sport
Predicted score
- Manchester United 0-0 Real Betis
Suggested bets
- Manchester United vs Real Betis draw
- Manchester United vs Real Betis under 2.5 goals
Key stats
- Real Betis have won four of their last five away from home
- Real Betis have won their last two away games 3-2
- Man Utd are unbeaten at home since September
- When Manchester United lead 1-0 at home they win in 95% of their matches
- When Real Betis lead 1-0 away they win in 100% of their matches
Previous meeting
Friendly: Real Betis 1-0 Manchester United, December 2022
Team news
Erik ten Hag is likely to make changes after the chastening defeat at Liverpool. Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho returned to the squad at Anfield. Sancho did not feature, though, and he could start on Thursday. Shaw may also be replaced by Tyrell Malacia, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka could also start.
Victor Lindelof missed out with a knock against Liverpool and Anthony Martial is still recovering from a hip injury.
Nabil Fekir is recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture and is out for the rest of the season. Martin Montoya was not registered and is unavailable, but Sergio Canales is set to return.
Recent form
Real Betis drew 0-0 with Real Madrid last time out
Real Betis are four games unbeaten, winning three in that time
Man Utd were thrashed 7-0 at Liverpool last time out
Man Utd were on an 11-match unbeaten run before the weekend
What has been said?
Erik ten Hag after the 7-0 defeat at Liverpool: “The result is quite obvious. It’s unprofessional. But I think it’s a huge difference in Brentford (in August). We were 4-0 down at half-time, so we started the game very bad.
“We make such bad decisions, a matter of decisions on the ball. That was with the first one obviously but then how we anticipate, how we concede that goal is really annoying.
“I haven’t seen this from my team. I don’t think it’s us. I don’t think it’s Manchester United, so that’s really bad and poor.”
Manuel Pellegrini after the draw against Real Madrid: “From when I started work here I have felt proud of my players. We have put together campaigns that people didn’t expect.
“They all want to play, and during the week, we work with different teams, there is no A or B team. We play with formations and with the importance of changes, thinking only about that game.”
Manchester United vs Real Betis Verdict
If this was a horse race and the form lines were to be believed then Real Betis would be one of the bets of the year.
Betis frustrated Real Madrid at the weekend, but despite conceding the majority of possession they provided a constant threat. Borja Iglesias was denied from point-blank range with a one-handed save from Thibaut Courtois.
That was the same Madrid that thumped Liverpool 5-2, who in turn hammered United 7-0 at the weekend. So Betis’ 0-0 with Madrid, if you follow the improbable form lines, makes them an enticing prospect at around 7/1 at Old Trafford.
Of course things are not quite as simple as that, but Betis do look to be a bit of value.
Their recent away record is good, winning four of their last five with their defeat coming at Espanyol.
A lot, though, will depend on the attitude of the hosts, who were made to sit and listen to Liverpool celebrate their win on Sunday.
Ten Hag has shuffled his pack previously in the Europa League but he fielded his strongest XI in the previous round against Barcelona.
He is likely to make changes in light of the capitulation at Anfield and his line-up may have a few surprises.
United are 20 games unbeaten at Old Trafford and Betis are facing a daunting task, but the humbling at the weekend may just have changed things.
Ten Hag said his players did not stick to the plan at Anfield, so you can bet your last dollar that they will execute his plan to perfection against Betis.
That plan will most definitely revolve around being more solid defensively and that may well mean that their balance between attack and defence gets skewed.
With that in mind it could well be a dull affair, with Betis more than happy to take a draw ahead of the second leg.
