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

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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.

Team News

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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.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Dominic Lund

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