Real Sociedad vs Omonia prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-09-14 16:45.
Real Sociedad’s manager Imanol Alguacil refused to be intimidated by Manchester United’s stature in the opening group stage round of the UEFA Europa League (UEL), and inspired his players not only to score against United for the first time in Sociedad’s history, but also to secure their inaugural H2H victory from five attempts (W1, D2, L2) as they pulled off a 1-0 shock. How frustrating it must have been to then fall to slow starters Getafe in their weekend La Liga (LL) outing (1-2) as Sociedad failed to string together consecutive competitive wins yet again in 2022/23.
Alguacil doesn’t put down such inconsistency to the fatigue that inevitably comes with juggling multiple competitions, pointing to their second place group stage finishes in the two previous editions of the UEL. Perhaps a tactical tweak is all that is required as they return home hoping to end four months without a competitive victory in San Sebastián (D1, L2). Yet their poor home form in non-LL competition last year – W2, D2, L2 from six cup and continental matches – will remind Alguacil he can take no opposition for granted.
Cypriot Cup champions Omonia are in the midst of their worst form since October 2021 courtesy of three defeats from their last four matches, the worst of which was a first matchday UEL loss at home to sketchy travellers Sheriff Tiraspol. With the 3-0 margin the heaviest defeat of all UEL matchday one fixtures, Omonia’s already remote chances of advancing to the next round took a potentially fatal hit.
That means the visitors are still yet to register a single group stage win away from home in any UEFA competition (D3, L3), which includes last year’s appearance in the third-tier Europa Conference League (D2, L1). On top of that, Omonia’s UEL matchday one defeat extended new manager Neil Lennon’s torrid run in UEFA group stage competition, with their 3-0 away loss to Tiraspol the fifth defeat from his last seven group stage games in charge of any club (W1, D1).
Players to watch: Brais Méndez has now scored Sociedad’s only goal in three of their last four games across all competitions, whilst Omonia’s Bruno is searching for his first European goal after consecutive penalties in league football.
Hot stat: Just one of the 13 competitive matches involving either club in 2022/23 ended in a draw.