Europa League | Round of 16 | 2nd Leg

Mar 13, 2025 at 8pm UK

Old Trafford

Man Utd vs Real Sociedad

(Agg: 1-1)

Match preview

Three days after sharing the spoils with Real Sociedad in Spain, Man United were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, with a superb but controversial Bruno Fernandes free-kick cancelled out by Declan Rice's second-half equaliser.

The Red Devils are guaranteed to end their domestic campaign without points, and with the club languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, 13 points outside the top five with 10 games remaining, the pressure is on Ruben Amorim to deliver Europa League glory if the club are to qualify for next season's Champions League.

It was not just on-field matters that made the headlines at Man United this week, as co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe gave his verdict on several key issues at the club, ranging from financial concerns to the influence of Amorim, in a series of wide-ranging interviews, while also announcing plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium.

The immediate priority for Amorim and Co is to get results on the pitch, and while they may have struggled domestically this season, they remain the only side in the Europa League yet to lose in the competition (W5 D4), having won each of their last three games at Old Trafford.

Indeed, Man United have lost just one of their last 28 Europa League home matches (W21 D6), but that lone defeat came at the hands of none other than Real Sociedad, who secured a narrow 1-0 group stage triumph in September 2022 thanks to a second-half penalty from Brais Mendez.

Real Sociedad's draw with Man United is their only positive result in their last four games, having lost each of their last three domestic fixtures, including last weekend's 1-0 home defeat to Sevilla in La Liga.

Coming off the back of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona, La Real were caught out by a storming Sevilla counter-attack, which was finished off by Chidera Ejuke within a minute of the restart, to inflict their 13th La Liga defeat of the season and sixth in nine top-flight games in 2025.

Like Man United, Imanol Alguacil's side may have to go all the way in the Europa League if they are to qualify for next season's Champions League, having slipped to 11th in the La Liga table and 15 points adrift of the top four with 11 games remaining.

Real Sociedad go into Thursday's clash having lost six of their last eight away games in all competitions and two of their last three away in the Europa League, but La Real are unbeaten in their last two visits to Old Trafford (W1 D1), keeping a clean sheet on both occasions.

The San Sebastian side, who beat FC Midtjylland 2-1 in their last European away game, are bidding to reach the last 16 of a major European competition for the first time in the 21st century.

Recent Performance

Manchester United Europa League form:WWWWWD

Manchester United form (all competitions):LDWLDD

Real Sociedad Europa League form:WLWWWD

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):WWLLDL

Team News

Man United's Lisandro Martinez (knee), Amad Diallo (ankle), Kobbie Mainoo (calf), Luke Shaw, Mason Mount (both hamstring), Jonny Evans (muscular), Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton (both undisclosed) and Chido Obi-Martin (ineligible) are also unavailable.

Leny Yoro was forced off at half-time in last weekend's draw with Arsenal with a foot injury and is now a doubt along with Harry Maguire (knock), while Amorim is hopeful that Manuel Ugarte (knock) will be fit to return to the matchday squad after missing the last two games.

Patrick Dorgu is serving a domestic ban but is available for Europa League duty and is expected to be recalled at left-back, while Amorim will consider whether to recall out-of-form striker Rasmus Hojlund or stick with Christian Eriksen and Alejandro Garnacho behind Zirkzee.

For Real Sociedad, Jon Pacheco (muscle) remains sidelined, while Luka Sucic (knee) and Jon Aramburu (foot) did not train on Monday and are major doubts for the trip to Old Trafford.

However, Alvaro Odriozola and Arsen Zakharyan have both overcome fitness problems and could feature on Thursday, while star midfielder Martin Zubimendi is in contention after recovering from the illness that forced him to miss the first leg.

After starting as substitutes against Sevilla, Oyarzabal, Takefusa Kubo and Ander Barrenetxea are expected to be recalled in attack at the expense of Orri Oskarsson, Sheraldo Becker and former Man City man Sergio Gomez.

Possible starting lineup

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Onana; De Ligt, Lindelof, Mazraoui; Dalot, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dorgu; Garnacho, Hojlund, Zirkzee

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Turrientes, Zubimendi, Mendez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea