Published 12:35 IST, October 16th 2019
Euro 2020 Qualifiers: David De Gea picks injury in Spain vs Sweden tie
Euro 2020 Qualifiers: Spain needed just a single point to secure qualification through Group F. David de Gea sustains hamstring injury on the hour mark.
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Spain managed to secure their Euro 2020 Qualification with a draw against Sweden. Roberto Moreno's men needed a single point to advance through Group F. Spain forward Rodrigo netted a dramatic equaliser when the Swedes were set to register their first win over Spain in this year's qualifiers, having lost to Spain in the reverse fixture. The talking point for the game, however, came much before Rodrigo's dramatic equaliser.
Having pulled off a magnificent double save to thwart Sweden's attack in the moments leading up to Sweden's goal, Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea looked set to put in a man-of-the-match performance against the Swedes. However, De Gea seemed to have pulled a muscle on the stroke of the hour, just after clearing a backpass on the hour mark. De Gea was replaced by Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 60th-minute during the game. In what seemed like an innocuous incident, De Gea clutched his hamstring just after clearing a backpass.
🚨 Injury news on @D_DeGea 👇#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 15, 2019
The United goalkeeper immediately sat on the ground in his six-yard box and seemed to shake his head as he was hauled off for Kepa Arrizabalaga. The injury comes at an inauspicious time for United, with the Red Devils slated to host league leaders Liverpool on October 20. Ole Gunnar Solksjaer already has a lengthy injury list; one that includes Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba, Phil Jones, Anthony Martial, Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah. United currently sit 12th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone. A loss against Jurgen Klopp's men on Sunday will mean that United will be condemned to their second successive defeat this season, and fourth overall defeat in the Premier League this season after nine games.
United's dismal start
Solksjaer's United have picked up just nine points from their opening eight Premier League matches this season, winning just two games and losing three. Incidentally, this is United's worst start to a league season since 1989-90, where they registered just eight points from their opening eight fixtures. United are only marginally better off this season than the 1989-90 season, where, incidentally, they went on to finish 13th. The injury to De Gea means that his deputy Sergio Romero will be expected to start the 203rd meeting between English rivals United and Liverpool on Sunday.
Updated 14:50 IST, October 16th 2019