Manchester United is the trip to San Sebastian on Thursday for her Europa League in the last 16 first leg with Real Sociedad.
After the Red Devils were unloaded from the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon, you now know that the Europa League is its only potential source of silverware this season. However, Ruben Amorim’s team continues to go into the crisis and has little chance of winning the continent’s second largest competition, unless they can radically improve their form.
Despite their dark campaign, United are the only unbeaten team that stays in the Europa League. He won five and pulled three of her league phase games when they qualified directly for the last 16. Real Sociedad was far less convincing and lost three of her eight encounters when they stumbled to a 13th place.
La Real had a difficult end of the last week when they lost at home through Real Sociedad in Copa del Rey before they were hammered 4-0 by Barcelona in La Liga. In an early red card she threw the towel in Catalonia with improvements on Thursday.
Here is 90 minutes Guide to a Basque adventure for the Red Devils.
Real Sociedad against man UTD head-to-head record (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
Real sociedad | Man utd |
|---|---|
Barcelona 4-0 Real Sociedad – 02/03/25 | Man UTD 1-1 (3-4p) Fulham-02/03/25 |
Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid – 26/02/25 | Man UTD 3-2 IPSWICH – 26/02/25 |
Real Sociedad 3-0 Leganes – 23/02/25 | Everton 2-2 Man UTD – 22/02/25 |
Real Sociedad 5-2 Midtjyland – 20/02/25 | Tottenham 1-0 Man UTD – 16/02/25 |
Real Betis 3-0 Real Sociedad – 16/02/25 | Man UTD 2-1 Leicester – 07/02/25 |
country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | TNT Sports 1, Discovery+, Discovery+ App |
United States | Paramount+, Tudn.com, Tudn App, Tudn USA, VIX |
Canada | Dazn Canada |
Imanol Alguacil will be happy that Nayef Aguerd, Sheraldo Becker and Takefusa Kubo will return from their domestic suspensions on Thursday. The latter is particularly important for La Real’s success in the last third and will cause United problems.
Mikel Oyarzabal was rested against Barcelona, but should lead the line against Amorim’s men, while Martin Zubimendi was withdrawn against the Catalan giants with a suspected knee tendon problem at half -time.
Aritz Elustondo was sent against Barcelona, but is available in European competition. Arsen Zakharyan, Jon Pacheco and Alvaro Odriozola are expected to be missed by injuries.
Real Sociedad said a selection against Mann UTD (4-1-4-1).: Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Zubimendi; Kubo, Mendez, Sucic, Barrenetxea; Oyarzabal.
United’s extensive list of injuries was added on Sunday after both Manuel Ugarte and Harry Maguire had been withdrawn with fitness problems. Also is not part of the squad to San Sebastian.
Backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton are missing, while Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans and Luke Shaw are absent in defense. Further forward, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Amad Diallo are out of the way, while the young Chido Obi is not accessible after it was not mentioned in the Europa League squad.
In better news, Patrick Dorgu will return from his domestic suspension and stand against La Real, while Toby Colly is back in training and is part of the traveling party.
The UTD predicted the line-up against Real Sociedad (3-4-2-1): Onana; Yoro, de Ligt, Mazraoui; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Circle, Hojlund, Garnacho.
Can United continue her unbeaten European run against Real Sociedad? Well, very possibly.
The Red Devils were often dependent on the individual genius of Bruno Fernandes this season, and the Portuguese could certainly be the speed setter and differentiator in San Sebastian. If his teammates can also play at half of his level, United has the chance to avoid defeat.
However, if a page shadows the first leg, it is likely that La is real. Despite two consecutive defeats, they are generally difficult opposition to collapse and are likely to frustrate Amorim’s false ignition. At the other end of the field, they have many in a position to violate Maguirelose defense.