Sports

Europa League poised for restart after Covid hiatus

By Juan José Lahuerta

Madrid Desk, Aug 3 (efe-epa).- The longest round of 16 in Europa League history is set to resume this week more than four months after games were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With a 0-5 away win against LASK in the bag, Manchester United should have little trouble ensuring their spot in the delayed quarter-final round when they play the return leg at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will likely mix his squad up, offering youngsters a run out with some of Man. U’s more seasoned players, given the team has played 11 league games in the space of a month to clear a backlog of games.

The return of Paul Pogba and the creative flair of January signing Bruno Fernandes ensured the Red Devils only lost one match since coming back from the unscheduled coronavirus hiatus and secured them a place in next year’s Uefa Champions League.

Inter Milan and Getafe’s first leg was scrapped altogether due to the ferocity of the pandemic in both northern Italy and Spain back in mid-March when the match was due to be held.

Now it is all to play for in a single-leg fixture on neutral ground as the teams battle it out at Schalke’s stadium on Wednesday.

Inter ended the Serie A campaign point behind Juventus in second place, but it was an occasion marked by head coach Antonio Conte’s rant against the club’s structure and leadership following the 2-0 win against Atalanta.

It leaves his future at the club up in the air ahead of the game against Getafe.

The team from Madrid threw away a strong start to the Spanish LaLiga season after coming back after the lockdown and finished outside of a European spot, but when in form they are perfectly capable of having Inter against the ropes.

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