Manchester: Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian believes they must beat Feyenoord at Old Trafford on Thursday as they bid to reach the Europa League knockout stage from a difficult Group A.
Defeat by second-placed Feyenoord would put United, a point behind the top two, out if leaders Fenerbahce beat visiting Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk in their penultimate group match.
“I think it is a difficult group because we have to face a difficult opponent, but we are still in the race. We have an important game against Feyenoord and have to win. We’ll prepare to make sure we’re ready,” Darmian told MUTV.
United lost 1-0 to Feyenoord in Rotterdam in September but are on a 13-game unbeaten streak at home in Europe, last losing to Real Madrid at Old Trafford in the 2012-13 season.
Feyenoord have not won in their last three European away games.
“I remember (playing Feyenoord away) because it was not a good game for us. We have to change this and win our away games, but for now we’re playing at home and maybe that is a little bit easier.” Italian Darmian said.
The Europa League is the only major title United have not won and Darmian said the competition had become more attractive since the winners were guaranteed a Champions League spot.
United are sixth in the Premier League after 12 games, two places and six points below the Champions League spots.
“I think it (the Europa League) is a big competition. (Winning it) gives us a big opportunity to get into the Champions League which is crucial for a club like Manchester United,” Darmian added.
Other English interest centres on Southampton, who following their success over Inter Milan, another former European champion forced to slum it with the B listers, meet surprise group leaders Sparta Prague.
The Saints beat the Czechs 3-0 earlier in the tournament but since then the latter have snatched three wins on the trot.
A win will see Prague qualify — but they must first see off English opposition for the first time in three decades.
Inter, bottom with one win for three losses and having just appointed Stefano Pioli in place of sacked Frank de Boer, held city neighbours Milan to a draw which cost the latter second spot in Serie A — but they themselves languish in ninth.
However, a win over Israel’s Hapoel Beer Sheva, currently a point above them, would lose the gap on Southampton to a single point — if the Saints lose.
Four sides have qualified to date — Zenit Saint Petersburg from Group D where Ireland’s Dundalk can still make it — former European champions Ajax from Group G, Shakhtar Donetsk, who have dominated Group H and Schalke, yet to drop points in Group I.
Schalke meet a Nice side who will be missing star striker Mario Balotelli after the Italian pulled a calf muscle in training. His absence will complicate Nice’s attempts to chase a win that would keep them in contention. The Cote d’Azur side are currently bottom of the group.
The expanded groups format has, if nothing else, extended the creed to the farthest-flung parts of the European game and Qarabag can become the first team from Azerbaijan to reach the knockout phase of a Uefa event.
Gurban Gurbanov’s men first need a win at Czech outfit Slovan Liberec or else will hope PAOK Salonika of Greece drop points at leaders Fiorentina.
“By playing in Europe, Qarabag are telling the world that Azerbaijan exists,” midfielder Maksim Medvedev told Uefa.com.
— Agencies
