The road to the European round of 16 for Real goes through Rome

All roads lead to Rome. This is already known. But in this case it is different. The path to the San Mamés final, and more specifically skipping a round to make that path easier, goes through Rome, at the Olympic Stadium, in its light blue version of Lazio. Real Sociedad will want to leave a bad taste in the mouth of the disastrous match against Valencia and return to the sensations of the Rayo day by standing a leader in the Europa League. This is no small thing. This is the biggest match in the Europa League and it is also noticeable among displaced fans, who are already in Rome, and will have 910, which will be the strongest displacement of the season, surpassing Pilsen, despite the very high price.

Classification dances

The party is very important to realistic aspirations. Beyond the need to win regardless to continue the pursuit of the top 8, Real will secure a place in the round of 32, at least, if they can score tonight. And if he wins, he will almost guarantee a position above 16th which would allow him to face the return leg at home if he goes into the round of 32. Eighth-placed Rangers are just one point away, but if Real win they will overtake current fifth place Galatasaray, who failed the previous day against Dinamo kyiv, and will be a game behind an Athletic team who lost yesterday against Besiktas.

If those Imanol fall in Rome, they will forget about the business ticket in the round of 16 and, in addition, they can receive PAOK in Anoeta next Thursday with nerves that still have options to stay, against a rival endanger their safety. contest item.

Italians, dangerous

However, the match is of little importance for Lazio, who are currently leading and can only be overtaken by Anderlecht now. They are classified and their battle is on Sunday, in Serie A, against Fiorentina. They are playing to get into the Champions League and Baron I could rotate some players against Real in a competition that, for the fans, is not that important or noteworthy. Players like it Peterthe leading scorer in the Europa League, is unable to play.

Lazio will be the fifth Italian club that Real have faced in its history in an official match. There are no precedents against them but there is a recent one against their civil rival, Rome. In the round of 16 of the Europa League at 22-23, when Real fell without scoring a goal. In general, Italians are bad at Real. They succeeded only once, against Inter, in that famous tie in 1979 which was, at the same time, one of the great games in the history of Atotxa and in the real history of Europe, and a sad victory because it was not done . serve to return from the tie. The txuri urdin did not gain a single victory on Italian soil. They lost at Milan in ’79, against Juve in 2002 and at Roma two seasons ago, but they also managed two very entertaining draws. One of Napoli, in the last gasp, made it into the round. And another one, last year, in Milan, against Inter, which meant first place in the Champions League group.

The gala team will return

The game is important and the team is spinning, with a bad result, in Valencia. Imanol get well Aramburuwarned, and will do the same with the gala ‘eleven’, or a version very close to it. The centre-back pair will be the starters, Aihen and Aramburu They will occupy the flanks and in front is the fireproof Zubimendi.

braise look good up front and your partner will be sucic unless there is a surprise, without removing the option of a Olasagasti so much confidence that it brings balance to the team within. Oyarzabal and hut They will return to the team after a break in Valencia and the most doubtful position is left winger. Barrenetxea, Sergio Gomez and Becker they play it and it depends on the plan Imanol. The option of Oskarsson and go to Oyarzabal The band is alternative but with less energy. The Icelander was poor at Valencia and hasn’t started twice in a row all season. His next starting opportunity is aimed at either Getafe or PAOK.