Sheriff Tiraspol are the giant killers Manchester United must beware in Europa League fixture

'Who are Sheriff Tiraspol and where are they from?' That's what many football fans were asking in the summer of 2021 when they were drawn in a group with Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk. The Moldovan side were expected to pick up no points and exit Europe as the bottom team in the group.

But then the first shock happened — they beat Shakhtar in the opening match of the group stages 2-0. Obviously being the second worst team in group who are famously much better at home than away, few took notice of Sheriff's victory and with Madrid on the horizon they expected normality to resume.

So to the Bernabeu Sheriff went, like Rocky Balboa stepping into the ring with Apollo Creed they were the clear underdog of the match trying to survive against the 13-time Champions. Madrid fielded a slightly weakened eleven, but it was still much stronger than their opponents: the likes of Vinicius Jr, Karim Benzema, Casemiro and David Alaba were on the pitch.

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But after 25 minutes, Sheriff were the ones to strike first with Jasurbek Yakhshiboev scoring a header from a corner to put the visitors ahead. Then came the onslaught, Madrid sent wave after wave to attack their opponent's net but to no avail.

They would end the match with 31 shots with 11 of those being on target, but their equaliser did not come from open play, it came from a penalty in the 65th minute, which Benzema converted. Real Madrid tried to get another but to no avail and it looked like the match was going to end in a draw.

And then Sebastien Thill scored in the 89th minute; a stunning half volley that arrowed past Thibaut Courtois. Sheriff had secured a historic victory and with it gone top of their group