Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Real Sociedad
Match Time & Date:
20/02/2025
21:00
Prediction: 2-1
Midtjylland
Real Sociedad will look to book their spot in the Europa League last 16 when they face Midtjylland in San Sebastian on Thursday evening. La Real did well to win the first leg (2-1), but boss Imanol Alguacil must warn his men against complacency as they failed to impress in a 3-0 loss to Real Betis at the weekend. Defender Jon Aramburu serves a one-game ban, while both Jon Pacheco and Hamari Traore remain on the sidelines with injuries.
The Danes, on the other hand, face an uphill task in the return leg as Real Sociedad are a real force to be reckoned with at home. As Real Sociedad are a more experienced side than Midtjylland, we predict that Thomas Thomasberg’s troops are going to return to Denmark with their hands empty. Defender Ousmane Diao is back from the domestic ban, whereas fit-again Switzerland international Kevin Mbabu should play some part after overcoming his injury.
Highlighted Player (Mikel Oyarzabal):
Intelligence is not an attribute you will find in Mikel Oyarzabal’s stats with Real Sociedad but this tricky winger is a highly knowledgeable winger who will use both brain and feet while playing. For a player born in Eibar, who made his first steps in his hometown club, it was always going to be a choice between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad for Oyarzabal.
La Real saw their chance and grabbed this gem of a player at a young age, helping him develop into a proper professional throughout their youth ranks. Mikel Oyarzabal has spent the entirety of his senior career with the Basque behemoths where he’d use his ability to fill in a number of positions up top much to his own benefit.
Oyarzabal’s positioning and movement are work of a tactical genius, whereas it is his nous to find details to exploit that best define him as a player. Having come through the youth categories of the Spanish national team, Oyarzabal also has a senior cap next to his name. It was in 2016 that he also represented the Basque region, scoring on his debut to cap a 3-1 win over Tunisia.
Highlighted Team (Midtjylland):
Despite being founded on February 2, 1999, FC Midtjylland is considered one of the best Danish clubs. The Wolves have quickly established themselves as one of the dominant forces in Superliga, with the team clinching their first league title in the 2014/15 season.
Three seasons later Midtjylland repeated the success, with the team finishing the process four points clear of second-place Brondby. In the 2019/20 season the Wolves won their third domestic trophy, leaving Danish giants Copenhagen in the second place. Midtjylland welcome their rivals at MCH Arena, the venue which can hold up to 11,432 people.
In the 2020/21 season the Wolves did well to book their place in the Champions League group stages, with the team being grouped with the likes of Liverpool, Ajax, and Atalanta. Midtjylland are well known for their excellent scouting system, with a number of young and talented players from Africa joining the club year by year.
Everton
Manchester United 
Arsenal 
West Ham
Bournemouth
Wolves
Ipswich 
Tottenham
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Inter 
Genoa 
