MANCHESTER UNITED beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in their final Europa League group game thanks to a goal from teenager Alejandro Garnacho.
But United failed to top their group and could now face one of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid or Juventus in the last-32 of the competition.
- RESULT: Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
- Real Sociedad XI: Remiro; Gorosabel, Le Normand, Pacheco, Rico; Merino, Zubimendi, Marin; Mendez; Sorloth, Fernandez
- Man Utd XI: De Gea, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot, Shaw, Van De Beek, Eriksen, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Ronaldo, Garnacho
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Real night of celebration for Sociedad
Despite losing the game tonight, it is a real carnival atmosphere in the ground as players and fans celebrate together after finishing top of Europa League Group E.
They won five of their six games including a memorable win at Old Trafford to boot.
Sociedad can look forward to the ’round of 16′ draw now with celebrations likely to go on long into the night.
New format, bigger challenges
UEFA’s decision to revamp the groups with the winner automatically qualifying for the ’round of 16′ adds a new edge to the Europe League.
No longer can teams play weakened teams and take games for granted with top spot being so important.
United paid the price for an opening matchday defeat at home against Real Sociedad and paid the ultimate price.
They will now have to take on a team with Champions League experience from this season.
A game of two halves
In Spain this evening, United showed some real threat during the first half and could easily have found themselves more than one goal ahead.
They came out in the second half and played like a side who were content with the 1-0 scoreline they had.
United did not carve out enough goal scoring chances and did not test the Real Sociedad keeper enough.
United leave themselves tricky fixture
Due to the fact that Real Sociedad had a superior goal difference, Man Utd finish in second place in Group E.
This leaves them with the reality of a play-off against one of the sides who finished third in their Champions League group.
The prospect of facing the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, Sevilla or Ajax.
FT: Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
The referee brings festivities to a close.
Huge cheer from the home fans as they are confirmed as the winners of UEFA Europa League Group E.
Man Utd could not find that second goal they craved.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
90+4. The hosts are playing the dangerous game of sitting back now and trying to defend the current scoreline.
For most of this game they have looked safest when they have United penned back in their own half.
Corner kick to Man Utd.
The chance is wasted as they play it short and cannot get a ball into the box as they pass it backwards with no options.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
90+2. United need to throw caution to the wind now.
They have nothing to lose but top spot in the group.
With time running out, they need to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Real Sociedad.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
90. We are going to have five additional minutes added.
The home fans cheer as they get ever closing to winning Europa League Group E.
Last chance saloon for the visitors as they have a goal kick.
Shaw swings a cross into the back post where ironically Maguire is beaten to the header.
You had one job.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd – Dalot yellow card
88. Time is running out for the Red Devils.
They could be facing a tricky tie against a team demoted from the Champions League in February.
Dalot is given a yellow card for his challenge on Guevara.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
86. Sociedad win the free kick from the challenge of Martinez.
He needs to be careful on a yellow card himself.
Lisandro Martinez will now miss United’s next European game.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
84. Unbelievably, Man Utd have Harry Maguire up front.
It says a lot about their striking options.
Could be something for Gareth Southgate to think about.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
82. If United are able to find that second goal, it may just be too late in the game for Real Sociedad to react at all.
ten Hag decides to bring on Fred for Garnacho and Maguire on for Eriksen.
Some interesting changes from the visitors.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
80. We are into the final ten minutes of the game.
Still no closer to knowing who will top this group.
It is anybody’s game.
Sorloth shoots from the edge of the box but his effort is not troubling David de Gea’s goal.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
78. Ronaldo puts a challenge in gives away a free kick.
The Sociedad player rolls on the ground looking to get the United player his second yellow card.
The referee is having none of it and tells him to get up.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
76. Rashford is showing some energy up top.
Chasing down the defenders whenever in possession of the ball.
For all their efforts, United have not really created anything of note in this half.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
74. Sociedad are knocking on the door.
The ball is worked into the box from a wide position and is laid off to the sub Guevara.
His shot forces a full-stretch save from de Gea who gathers the ball.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd – Ronaldo yellow card
72. Sociedad are struggling to get balls into the box.
United are doing well to stop the cross.
Long throw into the box, flicked on towards Fernandez who turns and shoots over the bar.
Yellow card for Ronaldo for a challenge with a leading arm.
Guevara comes on for Fernandez.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
70. Fernandez stays down seemingly injured.
The Sociedad striker seemed to hurt himself as the ball was knocked into the box.
He is back up on his feet and moving again fortuntely.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
68. We forget how a Real Sociedad goal would completely change the whole outlook of this game.
United would need another two goals with time running out.
The next goal is going to be crucial.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
66. Rashford needs to impress if he hopes to be on that plane to Qatar as part of Gareth Southgate’s squad.
There are lots of English strikers in form at the moment.
Rashford has two more games to impress with United.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd – Mendez yellow card
64. Pressure is mounting on the visitors.
As time ticks by, there hopes of finishing top of the group, slowly disappear.
Mendez is booked for a foul on Luke Shaw.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd – Martinez yellow card
62. Martinez wins the ball but his follow through catches the player, very harsh free kick let alone yellow card.
He came off the worse as well as player landed on his face.
The home fans start to turn the place into a cauldron of noise.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
60. United have a corner from a Rashford break.
Eriksen cannot beat the man at the near post.
Wasted chance.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
58. Looks like there will be changes from both benches.
Sociedad threaten the United goal with a couple of crosses but United manage to clear.
van de Beek comes off for Rashford and Lindelof comes off for McTominay.
Gorosabel comes off for Elustondo and Marin comes off for Navarro.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd
56. This has been a solid performance by the Red Devils so far.
It would seem a hollow victory without the second goal.
As time ticks on they need to be more and more adventurous.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
