Betis and Real Sociedad could not shake off the two heavyweights of the Europa League, and they will have to face Roma and Manchester United. After a draw, both Spanish clubs should have no trouble advancing to the next stage.
Both teams will confront two very demanding matches, while the rest of their group rivals do not seem positioned to block their pursuit of progress. In addition to Roma, Betis in group C will face the Bulgarian Ludogorets and the Finnish HJK Helsinki; and Real Sociedad will be paired abroad with Moldovan Sheriff Tiraspol and Cypriot Omonia.
Led by Manuel Pellegrini, Betis will fight for the top spot in their group against a champion side. Jose Mourinho’s Roma captured their first European trophy last year by winning the Conference League after beating Feyenoord 1-0 in the final. Always competitive and serious in any continental competition, the Italian side looms as the toughest obstacle for Betis.
Europa League 2019/2020 group stage infographics
Some highlights from last year remain, with players like Tammy Abraham, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Nicolo Zaniolo still under Mourinho, who, after leaving Juventus, added Paulo Dybala, a favorite with the fans, to his lineup. On the other hand, Georginio Wijnaldum’s injuring absence disrupted the Portuguese coach’s plans, costing him a key midfielder for much of the campaign.
Betis’ other rivals do not boast many big names. Ludogorets, the dominant force of the Bulgarian League, begins a new project under Slovenian coach Ante Simundza, who guided Mura to the Conference League last year. Its owners remain the biggest investors in Bulgarian football and will push hard for second place. HJK Helsinki, on the other hand, is expected to present a tough road with two matches that could prove challenging.
For Real Sociedad, the visit of Manchester United is not new. In the 2020/21 season, the English side eliminated Imanol Alguacil’s men in the round of 32. Now, two years later, they will meet again in a clash that Erik ten Hag hopes will lift a club that has faced its share of setbacks.
The season started slowly for United, but it found a spark after beating Liverpool following a rough opening to the Premier League. The squad features Eriksen, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, McTominay, and Rashford. If the pieces fit, they could form a formidable machine. It remains to be seen whether Cristiano Ronaldo, seeking an exit, will still be part of the squad.
Sheriff Tiraspol’s Real side should beware of last season’s shock result at the Bernabéu, when the Moldovan club upset Real Madrid on home soil. This is a quirky, unpredictable outfit that demands careful attention. Omonia, the other participant from Cyprus, also joins the fray with limited room for error.
Copy: European Conference League 2021-2022 group stage infographics
Another candidate to lift the trophy is Arsenal, paired with two tough opponents in group A. On one side, a historical moment awaits. PSV Eindhoven, guided by Ruud van Nistelrooy, fell out of Champions League contention after losing to Rangers in the final qualifying round. The 1988 European champions Mikel Arteta’s side will defend top honors with passion.
The challenge from the other two rivals will be substantial. Norwegian Bodo/Glimt, who routed Roma 6-1 in last year’s group stage, also made a splash in the Champions League before being eliminated by Dinamo Zagreb on penalties. Arsenal’s third rival, Zurich, is ready to produce an upset.
The other Italian club in the event, Lazio, travels with a strong backline. A finalist in the most recent Conference League, Feyenoord remains a dangerous outfit with players like Danilo or Oussama Idrissi, even after Luis Sinisterra’s departure. The remaining two teams are Denmark’s Midtjylland and Austria’s Sturm Graz. They should not be underestimated.
In the remaining groups, group D features Abel Ruiz and a lineup that could be favored against Artur Jorge’s Portuguese Braga and the dangerous Malmö, Union Berlin, and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. Dante Vanzeir poses a formidable threat.
But above all, the two heavyweights Manchester United and Roma stand out from the rest as favorites to dominate their groups, with Real Sociedad and Betis hoping for memorable clashes against their flamboyant rivals that will light up the group stage.
Villarreal in the Conference League
Villarreal strides into the Conference League group stage as the lucky winners drawn this Friday. They will face Hapoel Be’er Sheva from Israel, Austria Vienna, and Lech Poznan in Poland, teams that, on paper, look less menacing than the Spanish side.
For Unai Emery, Villarreal becomes the first Spanish club to compete in this competition’s history, and the path includes Cologne from Germany and Fiorentina from Italy, as well as Nice from France in the later stages.
The ceramics team will meet the Polish champions Lech Poznan, the second-placed team in Israel’s league, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and the Austrian Vienna squad, which finished third in the last Austrian Bundesliga.