Manchester United is set to host Real Sociedad in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League last 16 tie, with the Red Devils looking to build on their 1-1 draw in the first leg. Manchester United showed resilience in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League at the weekend, and now turn their attention to securing a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals.
The team’s grit was also on display in their UEFA Europa League last 16 tie against Real Sociedad, which ended 1-1 in the first leg.
Manchester United remains unbeaten in Europe this season, with five wins and four draws. The first leg draw also puts Manchester United in a strong position for the second leg, which will be played at Old Trafford.
Old Trafford has historically been a challenging venue for opposing teams in the Europa League, with Manchester United losing only one of their last 28 matches in the competition at home. However, that loss did come against Real Sociedad in September 2022.
Real Sociedad’s season is also heavily dependent on their performance in the Europa League, as they are struggling to qualify for Europe in La Liga. The team has gone four matches without a win across all competitions, and pressure is mounting on manager Imanol Alguacil.
Real Sociedad’s away record is also a concern, with five defeats in their last six matches across all competitions. The team has won only one of their four trips to England in European competition, although that win did come under Alguacil’s leadership.
Alejandro Garnacho will be a key player to watch for Manchester United, having scored in this competition previously and assisting the team’s goal in the first leg. Mikel Oyarzabal will be a crucial player for Real Sociedad, having become the team’s all-time leading scorer in major European competition with his equalizing penalty in the first leg.
The second leg of the tie promises to be an exciting match, with Manchester United looking to capitalize on their home advantage and Real Sociedad seeking to overcome their poor away record. The winner will advance to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, with the match set to be a thrilling encounter.
