Halfy takes the match thread bandwagon into test another European sortie, stay safe threadsters
Live @ https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/419285
One match ban enabled
Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo says his side's 4-0 victory over Espanyol in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie "does not mean anything".
The Premier League club have one foot in the next round after Diogo Jota's hat-trick and Ruben Neves' goal, but Nuno says the "approach is the same".
"This is a new game, a new challenge, so we have to compete well," said the Wolves boss.
"The approach is the same. It doesn't mean anything what we did before."
Wolves are eighth in the English top flight, and in a commanding position in the tie, but they have travelled to Barcelona without injured defender Jonny.
The Spaniard was forced off in Wolves' league win over Norwich on Sunday and Nuno says the defender was on the receiving end of a "strong kick".
"Jonny is not OK," added the Wolves boss.
"You saw the images, there was a very strong impact. He's in pain, but he's going through the normal procedures and hopefully he doesn't stay out very long.
"It is not almost nil-nil, it is nil-nil. It's a tough stadium to come."
Mission impossible for Espanyol?
Abelardo Fernandez accepts his Espanyol side face an "almost impossible" task to overturn the four-goal deficit but insists they will not go down without a fight.
The La Liga side lost to relegation rivals Valladolid on Sunday to leave them bottom of the table, five points adrift of safety, but Fernandez insists his players will "be brave and daring".
"It's almost impossible - we know that - but we will be looking to put up a good fight," said the Espanyol manager.
"We need to score four goals and not concede any to take it to extra time. It's tough but you never know. If we could get to half-time 2-0 up then maybe we will give ourselves a chance.
"I wish we could make it to the next round. We have to fight but also we have to a get a good feeling back among the supporters.
"We need to be brave and daring - what the fans expect - and then who knows?"
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Espanyol are looking to overturn a 4-0 deficit from the first leg against Wolves. In Uefa Cup/Europa League history, there have been 221 occasions of a side losing a first leg by four or more goals - two of these sides have progressed (FK Partizan v QPR in 1984-85 and Real Madrid v Borussia Monchengladbach in 1985-86).
Espanyol
Espanyol's only previous home game against an English opponent was in the 1961-62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, beating Birmingham City 5-2.
Wolves
Including qualifiers, Wolves are unbeaten in their six away games in European competition this season (W5 D1), scoring 17 goals in the process.
Wolves' only previous away match against Spanish opponents ended in a 4-0 defeat, back in February 1960 against Barcelona in the European Cup.
Wolves forward Diogo Jota is the joint-top goalscorer in the 2019-20 Europa League with six goals - all coming in his past two appearances, with hat-tricks against Besiktas and Espanyol.
🔥Espanyol v Wolves🔥[LIVE]
posted on 28/2/20
comment by Cinciwolf----JA606 NFL Fantasy Champion 2019----No Emotional Attachments....five long years (U11551)
posted about 2 hours ago
Two Spanish v Italian ties is good
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All four will be knocked out by coronavirus
posted on 28/2/20
Good call
posted on 28/2/20
Sevilla vs Roma should be decent.
posted on 28/2/20
I think we all know the season will be abandoned in April with us sitting 4th and in the Europa semi finals when a footballer from somewhere becomes infected and the virus spreads through the game.
posted on 28/2/20
I'd find it so funny if they abandoned the season and Liverpool didn't win the title.
posted on 28/2/20
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 45 seconds ago
I'd find it so funny if they abandoned the season and Liverpool didn't win the title.
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That would be very very funny, and sad at the same time. Liverpool deserve their win, would be very cruel if it was whipped away at the last minute.
posted on 28/2/20
fook liverpool - what about us, all set to win the europa league
posted on 28/2/20
comment by Uli Fritz (U8869)
posted about an hour ago
fook liverpool - what about us, all set to win the europa league
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They would have to repeat the season and we would be guaranteed European football I guess. There is no guarantee we would even get European football this season, let alone actually win the Europa League.
posted on 28/2/20
Away match at Olympiakos on 12th March is a 20:00 kick off uk time.
Home match on 19th March is 17:55!
Not too convenient, some people will be sneaking out of work a bit early that day
posted on 28/2/20
comment by Uli Fritz (U8869)
posted about 4 hours ago
fook liverpool - what about us, all set to win the europa league
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Fatso