MANCHESTER UNITED are returning to European action TONIGHT against Real Sociedad – but its not a Champions League fixture.
The Red Devils’ seventh place finish last season has resulted in them featuring in the 2022/23 Europa League campaign.
But they’ll believe that they can go all the way having already beaten the other favourites in this competition Arsenal on the weekend.
And Erik Ten Hag’s new methods seem to be clicking with the team as United have now won their last four consecutive games after such a dreadful start.
However, United need to get through their group first and stubborn Spanish outfit Real Sociedad could prove to be tricky customers.
- Kick-off: 8pm
- TV/live stream: BT Sport 1
- Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Eriksen, Casemiro, Fred, Antony, Elanga, Ronaldo
- Real Sociedad XI: Remiro, Gorosabel, Pacheco, Elustondo, Munoz, Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino, Kubo, D Silva, Umar
That’s all from us
Thank you all for tuning in for our coverage of tonight’s game.
Premier League to announce fixture decision tomorrow
Premier League chiefs will decide on Friday whether to cancel this weekend’s fixtures following the death of The Queen.
But while there will be no order banning sport, it is thought likely League bosses will agree calling off matches is the right decision.
It comes after the EFL announced Friday’s fixtures would be postponed.
Friday’s racing programme, the second day of England’s final Test against South Africa, and the Premiership Cup match between Northampton and Saracens were also postponed.
Other English results
Elsewhere in Europe tonight West Ham and Arsenal both won their respective games.
The Gunners ran out 2-1 winners against FC Zurich while David Moyes’ side pulled off a late comeback to win 3-1 against FCSB.
Group E outlook
United may have lost tonight, but they will not be bottom of Group E.
This is due to the other result tonight seeing FC Sheriff – who beat Real Madrid and Inter in the Champions League last season – winning 3-0 against Omonia Nicosia.
The game is in the 10th minute of injury time.
Full-time: Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
United fall to defeat for the first time ever against Real Sociedad.
It ends a run of four straight games where they had won.
However, the decision to award a penalty for handball was controversial at best and United paid dearly for it.
They had chances to score goals but lacked composure and quality in the final third on too many occasions.
It’s a big blow to United but one they will need to bounce back from quickly to avoid more poor results.
Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
90. Ronaldo hits the wall with his free-kick.
Three minutes added on now.
Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
89. Free-kick for United just outside the area.
Ronaldo skips past one player and is then fouled.
He will step up to take the free-kick.
Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
85. Another effort is squandered by Ronaldo.
More good play down the wing sees a cross eventually played into the area where Ronaldo meets the ball.
But a defender gets in the way again and thwarts the effort.
United pressing for an equaliser here.
Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
81. Garnacho with some lovely wing-play down the left flank to drive United forward.
He gives the ball back to Fred, who whips a cross to the far post where players are queueing up.
It’s too high for Ronaldo but Sancho swings his leg at the ball and miscues his effort with the ball going out for a goal kick.
United make another sub a couple of minutes later too.
Charlie McNeil makes his debut for The Red Devils replacing Malacia.
Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
77. Casemiro fires a venomous shot at goal.
The Brazilian works the goalkeeper from outside the area but goalkeeper Remiro is equal to it and pushes it away.
Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
71. United make some more subs.
Sancho and youngster Garnacho are on for Antony and Elanga.
Ten Hag will be hoping they can provide an impact to turn this game back in United’s favour.
Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
68. United have a handball appeal turned down amid some intense pressure on the Sociedad defence.
However the ref waves the appeal away, and in fairness it appears the ball did hit the defenders chest.
United are having some success getting into the half spaces though. 20 to go.
Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
65. Casemiro slams a header into the ground from a set-piece and sees the ball bounce over the goalkeeper and just over the bar.
It was likely intended to be a hit back across to the far post but the header wasn’t directed well enough.
Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
63. On another note that is the first time Sociedad have ever scored against United.
But De Gea has just been tested again by Take Kubo who has been having a great time this second half.
Mendez slots the ball into the right side of the goal
58. It’s controversial, but United are now a goal behind and will need to react accordingly.
Silva has just been booked as well for a crunching challenge on Casemiro.
Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad
GOALLLL
Mendez converts into the bottom corner.
PENALTY TO SOCIEDAD.
57. The referee has deemed Martinez to have handled the ball.
However, the shot he blocked was deflected from his body onto his arm.
VAR have checked it and it stands.
Chance for the visitors to take the lead.
Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad
56. Great wing play from Socieded again from the exact same side.
Martinez manages to just about clear the ball with an outstretched leg.
Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad
53. Sorloth with a big chance.
Sorloth catches Martinez isolated at the back post and manages to outmuscle him at the back post and direct a header at goal.
But De Gea is left untroubled by the effort which goes over the bar.
Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad
48. Another effort from United, and once again Ronaldo is the final man.
Malacia plays a nice curved pass into Elanga’s path but the Englishman catches the ball under his feet.
However, he manages to play the ball to Ronaldo who fires at shot at goal from outside the area.
His effort goes sailing over the bar though.
Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad
46. Ronaldo close again.
United have come out the blocks quickly here and Fernandes is involved straight away.
He whips a cross into a dangerous area and Ronaldo is close to meeting it but once again his final contact lets him down.
Lindelof is now at right-back as well after Martinez’s introduction.
Half-time subs
Former Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sorloth is set to come on for Sociedad, while Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez and coming on for United.
Eriksen and Dalot have been taken off.
Half-time: Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad
United with the better chances and control so far.
But the atmosphere and resultant intensity of the game is understandably a bit subdued.
Ronaldo had it in the net at one point but his goal was correctly ruled out for offside.
Elanga has been the most threatening player but he has lacked quality end product.
Meanwhile, Eriksen has been pulling the strings once again, while Antony has seen limited action once again.
Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad
38. Fred plays a poor pass back towards the goal and the ball is intercepted in front of Maguire.
Casemiro gets back to make a block after the captain held his ground to deny Umar Sadiq a clear run at goal.
United deal with the subsequent corner and win a foul on the edge of their area to nullify any prolonged threat.
Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad
36. UNITED GET THE BALL IN THE BACK OF THE NET, BUT THE GOAL IS RULED OUT FOR OFFSIDE.
Dalot whips a dangerous cross to the back post where Ronaldo climbs highest to head into the net despite the goalkeeper pushing it onto the bar.
However, the goal is ruled out for offside.
United need to keep this up – it is sure to pay dividends soon if they carry on with this pressure.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
