Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Omonia - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 1 November 2022, 16:55
Sheriff Tiraspol take on Omonia at the Sheriff Stadium in Group E's final Europa League match on Thursday night.

Both teams have failed to qualify for the knockout stages, but Tiraspol just need to avoid a defeat by a margin of three goals to ensure that they enter Europe's tertiary competition, the Europa Conference League.

Match preview

The home side have acquired just three points in the Europa League this season, and they are guaranteed to finish on fewer points than they did in their maiden Champions League campaign last season, in which they finished on seven points after beating eventual winners Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

The Moldovan side have been unable to replicate the form that allowed them to punch above their weight last season, only picking up one win in Europe so far, a 3-0 away victory against Omonia at the start of September, and they currently sit in third place.

Those three goals against Thursday's opponents are all that Tiraspol have been able to muster up, losing 2-0 to Manchester United at home, and 3-0 at Old Trafford last week, with Cristiano Ronaldo on the scoresheet for the Red Devils in both games.

Prior to the trip to Manchester last week, manager Stjepan Tomas resigned from his post at the club, despite them being top of their domestic league, with the Croatian unhappy about a 1-0 defeat to second-place Petrocub Hincesti, so caretaker manager Victor Mihailov is set to take charge for their last Europa League fixture.

Mihailov was in the dugout for a 2-1 victory against Dacia Buiucani at the weekend, and he will be looking to continue his 100% record against a side that Tiraspol easily dispatched of in their last encounter.

Indeed, Omonia were brushed aside in the last meeting between the two clubs, and that has been the case for them in every Europa League game so far, yet to get a positive result in Group E, and one of just two teams in the competition not to have a single point to their name.

Unlike Tiraspol, the Cypriot side have managed to push both Sociedad and Manchester United all the way on occasion, losing 2-1 in Spain, and twice by one-goal margins against Manchester United, but they have nothing to show for their efforts.

The last game against Man United was particularly cruel, losing 1-0 at Old Trafford after a 93rd-minute Scott McTominay winner, a result that almost certainly ended their European adventure, with the chances of them winning by three in this encounter being very unlikely.

Recent league form does not bode well either, with Neil Lennon being dismissed as manager following a 1-0 defeat at home to Nea Salamis, a result that left them seventh in the Cypriot First Division.

The former Celtic boss has since been replaced by Belgian coach Yannick Ferrera, who got his first win as manager in a 2-0 victory over Anorthosis Famagusta on Monday, with Bruno and Andronikos Kakoullis on the scoresheet.

Sheriff Tiraspol Europa League form:

W

W

L

L

L

L

Sheriff Tiraspol form (all competitions):

Omonia Europa League form:

W

L

L

L

L

L

Omonia form (all competitions):

Team News

Right-back Armel Zohouri missed his side's last Europa League match through a suspension picked up against Real Sociedad on matchday four, but he has now served his one-game ban and is ready to return to the side, having played all 90 minutes against Dacia Buiucani last time out.

Iyayi Atiemwen was not selected in the squad at the weekend, so Rasheed Akanbi may be the chosen man in attack, having scored the equaliser in Atiemwen's absence.

Mudasiru Salifu was withdrawn after just 40 minutes against on Sunday, and he is suspected to have picked up a knock, so Charles Petro may come into the team, for what would be his first start in the Europa League this season.

For Omonia, goalkeeper Fabinho has been ruled out until the New Year with a shoulder issue, so Francis Uzoho is expected to play instead.

Centre-back Adam Lang is unavailable through suspension, after picking up a booking last time out against Sociedad, so Nikolas Panagiotou may come into the starting eleven, partnering Nemanja Miletic at the back.

Sheriff Tiraspol possible starting lineup:

Koval; Kpozo, Radeljic, Kiki, Guedes; Badolo, Diop, Kyabou, Petro, Pernambuco; Akanbi

Omonia possible starting lineup:

Uzoho; Panagioutou, Miletic, Matthews, Lecjaks; Cassama, Bezus, Kousoulos; Bruno, Barker, Kakoullis

We say: Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0 Omonia

Tiraspol were comfortable winners in Cyprus, and they should be able to produce a similar performance on Thursday. With Omonia going so close to getting a point against Man United, we think that there will not be as much of a difference between the sides as last time, but the Moldovan side are still likely to win.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly going to give Real Sociedad "a long and hard winter" in their pursuit of midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Embroiled in a fight against relegation to the UEFA Nations League's lowest level, Azerbaijan and Estonia will clash in Qabala on Saturday afternoon. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as a late doubt for Thursday's UEFA Nations League meeting with Greece due to a knock. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be given the all-clear for Saturday's all-important UEFA Nations League clash with Hungary in Amsterdam. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together on five points in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands and Hungary meet on Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both vying for promotion to the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Albania and League B Group 1 leaders Czech Republic will lock horns on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted that his club are not currently looking to bring in a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, with the striker in excellent form for the Catalan giants this season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will be eyeing a debut for the Germany national team in Saturday's UEFA Nations League clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina in League A Group 3. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco is confident that the club will be able to sign Pedri to a new long-term contract. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing just a point to all but guarantee a first-placed finish in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, Germany welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Christian Eriksen has revealed that he is 'yet to hear anything' from Manchester United over his future. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As closely contested League B Group 1 nears its conclusion, promotion - and relegation - rivals Georgia and Ukraine will meet in Batumi on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering making a move for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kazakhstan vs. Austria (Thursday, 3.00pm) Amid a three-way battle for promotion from League B Group 3, Austria aim to improve their prospects with a win on Thursday, when they meet Kazakhstan in the UEFA Nations League. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletico Paranaense can temporarily climb out of the Brasileiro Serie A relegation zone with a victory over Atletico Mineiro on Saturday at Arena de Baixada.