Real Sociedad vs Sheriff Tiraspol prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-12 19:00.
Just days after they gave their chances of UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualification a big boost with a significant 1-0 La Liga win over fellow top-four aspirants Villarreal, Real Sociedad’s immediate attention turns to securing a fourth consecutive Europa League (UEL) group stage victory that could even potentially see them seal a place in the knockout round playoffs, depending on results elsewhere.
Manager Imanol Alguacil hailed his side’s “magnificent” weekend victory that was their fifth consecutive win across all competitions. The clean sheets in the most recent two must have been the most pleasing aspect for a man who spent more than 100 games in Sociedad’s defensive unit as a player, not least because one was earned against upcoming opponents Sheriff Tiraspol. After he acknowledged that fatigue was beginning to set in, it’ll be fascinating to see if they can do it for a third straight occasion.
The Moldovan champions were not widely considered a threat to Sociedad and Manchester United in Group E even despite making a bold statement last season with a UCL upset win over Real Madrid. Back-to-back 2-0 home defeats against those two Group E rivals has left them in the unenviable position of likely needing points from the two most difficult away trips of the group to avoid being dumped out from this stage of a UEFA competition for a sixth consecutive appearance.
A 3-0 win at Cypriot minnows Omonia broke a run of seven straight UEFA away trips without victory (D4, L3), which is overall form that suggests they’re unlikely to get revenge for the two-goal defeat in the reverse fixture. That win at Omonia was also their only triumph from their last seven outings as outsiders (D1, L5), illustrating yet again how rarely Tiraspol can produce an upset win at this level.
Players to watch: Martin Zubimendi snubbed a potential move to Barcelona to sign a contract extension with Sociedad, which could take his game to the next level. Tiraspol will be looking for a return to form for midfielder Mouhamed Diop, who scored in back-to-back victories against Omonia and Dacia Buiucani in September.
Hot streak: Tiraspol’s last eight fixtures in all competitions have seen neither or only one team score.