UEL 2022-23: Manchester United vs Real Betis: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Real Betis have a tall task ahead if they want to post one of the upsets of the season and compound Manchester United's misery.

The Red Devils hold a 4 - 1 aggregate lead and will be travelling to the city of Sevilla for the 2nd leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, where they will be facing Real Betis in Estadio Benito Villamarin.

With such a dominating performance against the visitors in the Theatre of Dreams, Manchester United are now going into the 2nd leg with one foot into the quarter-finals. A three-goal advantage from a crushing performance in the first leg, it would be an easy task for Ten Hag’s men to secure a victory and qualify for the quarter-finals and it would need something special from Manuel Pellegrini's side to overturn this deficit and win. 

Kick-off:

Thursday, 16-03-2023; 11:15 pm (IST)

Thursday, 16-03-2023; 5:45 pm (GMT)

Manchester United form (in all competitions): D-W-L-W-W

Real Betis form (in all competitions): D-L-D-W-W

Player to watch

Manchester United: Marcus Rashford

With five goals and one assist in this UEFA Europa League campaign, Marcus Rashford is in the form of his life. Being the go-to person for goals whenever needed, he has transformed himself into a goal machine this season. The top scorer for his club this season, Rashford will always be someone to look for on the pitch for Manchester United.  

Real Betis: Borja Iglesias

Only coming in as a substitute, it is quite unusual for Pelligrini to keep his most crucial player out of the starting XI for big events. With 11 goals and three assists this season in La Liga alone, Borja has to start for this match if Real Betis wants something out of this match. He has been the top scorer for his team this season, a real threat inside the box and if the Betis players get the ball to him inside the United penalty box, he can cause a nuisance.

Match Facts

• This is the first time that Real Betis will face an English club in a European home game since beating Chelsea 1-0 in 2005 in the UEFA Champions League group stage.
• Including this game, five of the last seven European away games for Manchester United were in Spain and they haven’t lost any of their last four (W2 D2).
• Real Betis has only progressed once in their last six major European ties after losing the first leg.
• Only one team has made a comeback in UEFA Europa League knockout stage from a 3+ goal margin defeat in the first leg since the 2009-10 season. It was Valencia losing the first leg 3-0 and winning the second leg 5-0 against FC Basel.

Teams and Injury News

Nabil Fekir is out for the remainder of the season while he heals from a cruciate ligament rupture. Martin Montoya is not available because he was not been listed in Real Betis' roster for the knockout rounds. Defender Luiz Felipe might miss out because of a hamstring injury.

Injuries to Donny van de Beek's knee and Christian Eriksen's ankle has restricted them from joining the squad. Anthony Martial has resumed his training and could be a part of the squad. Due to the injury he sustained against Southampton, Alejandro Garnacho is probably out of this encounter. Due to illness, it is doubtful that Victor Lindelof will be able to play, while Marcel Sabitzer is also injured and it is also doubtful if he will be named in the squad list.

Head-to-Head Stats

Matches: 2

Manchester United: 1

Real Betis: 1

Draws: 0

Predicted Lineups

Manchester United predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):

De Gea, Shaw, Martinez, Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Casemiro, Rashford, Fernandes, Anthony, Weghorst.

Real Betis predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):

Bravo, Sabaly, Pezzella, Gonzalez, Miranda, Carvalho, Rodriguez, Henrique, Joaquin, Canales, Iglesias.

Match Prediction

Manchester United are in great form right now and it has to be a routine job for Erik Ten Hag with a three-goal cushion in aggregate. Manchester United will surely try to take the lead as swiftly as possible. While for Pelligrini’s men, it would be a difficult job to turn this around and he will need that home-ground advantage to do something miraculous.    

Prediction:  Manchester United 3-1 Real Betis

Telecast:

India – Sony Sports Network, Jio TV, Sony LIV

UK – BT Sport, BT Sports App

US – CBS Sports Network, CBS, Univision, fuboTV, Paramount+