On Thursday, Manchester United will kick off their Europa League showdown against Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena in the first leg of their last-16 encounter. While United coasted to third in the League Phase, Sociedad landed in 13th place and had to outmaneuver FC Midtjylland in a playoff to secure their position in this round.
United, under Ruben Amorim’s guidance, find themselves under pressure after bowing out of the FA Cup at the hands of Fulham. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Fulham ultimately winning in penalties at Old Trafford. Domestically, the Red Devils have been struggling as they linger at 14th in the Premier League. With this in mind, their hopes for Champions League qualification hinge on performing well in the Europa League.
Despite their erratic league performance, United are unbeaten in the Europa League this season, securing victories in five of the last eight matches. Their attacking prowess is notable, as they average an impressive 18.8 shots per game, marking their best offensive output in European contests since the 2003-04 season.
In contrast, Real Sociedad is experiencing a challenging period, having endured defeats against both Real Madrid and Barcelona. They currently reside in ninth place in La Liga, trailing the top four by 12 points. For Sociedad, the Europa League may also represent their best chance at snatching a Champions League spot.
Historically, Sociedad has faced difficulties in progressing beyond the last 16 in major European tournaments during this century. Additionally, they’ve found English teams tough opponents at home, failing to score in their last three matchups with United. However, they did manage to secure a 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford during the 2022 group stage.
Heading into the match, Sociedad will miss Jon Pacheco due to a muscle injury and Arsen Zakharyan for thigh issues. Álvaro Odriozola is questionable, but key players Takefusa Kubo and Sheraldo Becker are back after serving domestic suspensions.
United are dealing with their own injury woes. Lisandro Martínez, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Altay Bayindir, Jonny Evans, and Toby Collyer are all sidelined. Meanwhile, Harry Maguire and Tom Heaton remain doubtful. This situation may lead to Victor Lindelöf joining forces with Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro in defense.
The Red Devils could see Patrick Dorgu make his European debut, while Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho might spearhead the attack, possibly relegating either Rasmus Højlund or Joshua Zirkzee to the bench.
As for likely lineups, Real Sociedad might field Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Sucic, Zubimendi, Mendez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, and Barrenetxea. On the other side, Manchester United could present Onana; De Ligt, Lindelöf, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Garnacho, Fernandes; and Zirkzee.
Given United’s defensive challenges and Sociedad’s erratic form, a draw seems a plausible outcome for the first leg. Both teams have displayed inconsistencies within their domestic leagues, making this fixture a critical chance to keep their European aspirations alive. We might be in for an exciting 2-2 draw in what promises to be an engaging encounter.
