Europa league : Real Sociedad and Manchester United will battle it out for a place in the quarterfinals of the Europa League. The first leg takes place on Thursday evening at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián, where a packed crowd is expected to witness an intense encounter.
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United – Europa League Quarterfinals
Date & Time: Thursday, 17:45 (UK Time)
Venue: Reale Arena, San Sebastián, Spain
Expected Attendance: Nearly 40,000 spectators
Real Sociedad‘s Journey So Far
Real Sociedad is no stranger to the Europa League, having played 80 matches in the competition, with 37 wins, 18 draws, and 25 losses. Their most significant European achievement remains their run to the Champions League semifinals in the 1982-83 season, where they were stopped by Hamburg, the eventual winners of the tournament.
This season, Real Sociedad has performed solidly, finishing 13th in their Europa League group with 13 points, managing to score in all eight of their games, despite facing tough opponents like Ajax, Lazio, and PAOK. They qualified for the knockout stages, where they faced Denmark’s Midtjylland. Real Sociedad won 2-1 away and secured a commanding 5-2 victory at home to progress to the next round.
The team has been managed by Imanol Alguacil since 2018, with the coach leading them to their only trophy – the Copa del Rey in 2020. Star player Mikel Oyarzabal, a 27-year-old forward, is Real Sociedad’s top scorer this season, having netted 9 goals in all competitions.
In La Liga, things haven’t gone exactly as planned for Sociedad, but with 12 games remaining, they remain within reach of the European spots, sitting in 9th place with 34 points, just four points off the top six.
However, Real Sociedad will be without Jon Pacheco and Arsen Zakharyan due to injury, and Álvaro Odriozola is a doubt for the match against Manchester United.
Manchester United‘s Europa League Campaign
After a season in the Champions League, Manchester United has returned to the Europa League, where they are considered one of the favorites to win the trophy. In the group stage, they performed impressively, finishing third with 18 points and remaining unbeaten in all their eight matches. On average, they scored two goals per game, with only three teams performing better in this regard.
The situation at Manchester United has become increasingly difficult, as the Europa League remains their only remaining chance to win a trophy this season. Over the weekend, they were knocked out of the FA Cup after losing on penalties to Fulham.
Under manager Ruben Amorim, who took over four months ago, United has not looked much better than under previous coach Erik ten Hag. Despite spending over €200 million last summer on five new players, United has struggled to find consistency.
Captain Bruno Fernandes has been the main threat in attack, with 11 goals and 13 assists in all competitions. However, Manchester United will be without several key players for this clash, including Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer, Jonny Evans, and Altay Bayindir.
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United Head-to-Head
Real Sociedad and Manchester United have faced off four times in the Europa League, with the “Red Devils” narrowly leading 2-1 in their encounters.
Both managers, Imanol Alguacil and Ruben Amorim, will meet for the first time in this highly anticipated match.
Betting Suggestions:
- Real Sociedad to Win: Real Sociedad is the favorite according to the odds, and with their home advantage, they may edge out United in this first leg.
- Total Goals Over 2.5: Both teams are strong in attack, and with the pressure to secure a positive result, expect a high-scoring affair.
- Bruno Fernandes to Score Anytime: With his impressive form this season, Fernandes is likely to get on the scoresheet.
- Draw at Half-Time: A close encounter in the first half could lead to a draw at the break before one team gains the upper hand in the second half.
