Real Sociedad and Betis, paired with the 'coconuts' United and Roma in their Europa League group

   MADRID, 26 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Sociedad and Real Betis did not have much luck in the draw for the Europa League group stage held in Istanbul this Friday, with the Basques paired with Manchester United and the Verdiblancos with Roma, two of the 'coconuts' to avoid before the event.

Thus, Imanol Alguacil's team will face each other in Group E with the aforementioned United, Sheriff Tiraspol -Real Madrid's rival in the last Champions League- and Cypriot Omonoia. Meanwhile, Pellegrini's pupils will face in Group C José Mourinho's Roma -current champion of the Conference League-, the Bulgarian Ludogorets and the Finnish HJK Helsinki.

The Royal Society, which tried to avoid the English, Italians and Germans, has achieved it in a certain way. Thus, bad luck came in the form of 'Red Devils', a team that the Basques already faced in the 2020-2021 season, when the team now led by Ten Hag was the executioner of the 'txuri-urdin' in the round of 32 the Europa League, asserting the 4-0 first leg.

In addition, after starting in the draw in Pot 2, the Basque team will have two exotic commitments in Moldova against Sheriff Tiraspol, who may be covered after beating Real Madrid in the last Champions League at the Bernabéu, and in Cyprus to face to the Omonoia. The Blue and Whites are far superior to both, but they will have to prove it and stand up to a United team that has not started in the best way, but is starting as the favorite to lift the trophy, now with Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo in its squad.

For its part, Real Betis, who started from Pot 3 in the draw, had bad luck as they will face the current champion of the Conference League, José Mourinho's Roma, a very competitive rival, like all teams trained by the Portuguese, and now with much more quality in the attack after the signing of Paulo Dybala. The last precedent between both teams dates back to the summer of last year, when the Sevillians won 5-2 in a friendly.

A priori, Betis and Roma will compete for first place in Group C, with Ludogorets and HJK Helsinki completing a group that would be more affordable than Real Sociedad. The Bulgarians return to the group stage of the Europa League after a year of absence, and were Real Madrid's rival in the group stage of the 2014-15 Champions League, the last season in which HJK Helsinki played in European competition.

The competition will start with the group stage on Thursday, September 8, and will end on May 31, 2023 with the final to be held at the Puskás Aréna Park in Hungary, home of the Hungarian national football team.

This stadium has already hosted the 2020 European Super Cup, between Bayern Munich and Seville, a duel that the Germans would win (2-1), as well as matches from the group stage of Euro 2020 and a round of 16 match. final of the same tournament.

GROUP A: Arsenal (ING), PSV (HOL), Bodo/Glimt (NOR), Zurich (SUI).

GROUP B: Dynamo Kiev (RUS), Stade Rennes (FRA), Fenerbahce (TUR), Larnaca (CHI).

GRUPO C: Rome (ITA), Ludogorets (BUL), BETIS (ESP), HJK Helsinki (FIN).

GROUP D: Sporting Braga (POR), Malmoe (SUE), Union Berlin (ALE), Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL).

GROUP E: Manchester United (ING), REAL SOCIETY (ESP), Sheriff (MOL), Omonoia (CHI).

GROUP F: Lazio (ITA), Feyenoord (HOL), Midtjylland (DIN), Sturm Graz (AUS).

GROUP G: Olympiakos (GRE), Qarabarg (AZE), Freiburg (ALE), Nantes (FRA).

GROUP H: Red Star (SER), Monaco (MON), Ferencvaros (HUN), Trabzonspor (TUR).