Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United | Europa League | Round of 16 | 1st Leg | Pre Match
Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United
Real Sociedad had what must have felt like the worst possible preparation for their upcoming UEFA Europa League clash with Manchester United. Their most recent outing was a sobering experience, one that exposed vulnerabilities and left them battered ahead of this critical round-of-16 encounter. On Sunday, they faced Barcelona at the Camp Nou, and the match quickly spiraled out of control. Centre-back Aritz Elustondo was shown a red card after just 17 minutes, reducing Sociedad to ten men for the majority of the game. With limited numbers on the pitch, they struggled to assert themselves, managing a paltry 23.6% possession—a statistic that underscores how little they saw of the ball. Offensively, they were nonexistent, failing to register a single shot on goal, while Barcelona peppered their defense with 33 attempts, ultimately securing a resounding 4-0 victory. For a team with European aspirations, this was a humbling defeat, one that laid bare tactical and personnel issues that manager Imanol Alguacil must address swiftly if they hope to compete against a Manchester United side eager to maintain their continental momentum.
Manchester United, however, were not exactly basking in glory themselves over the weekend. Their preparation for this tie was marred by a disappointing exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Fulham. Played in front of a restless Old Trafford crowd, the match ended in a 1-1 draw after normal time, forcing a penalty shootout that United lost 4-3. The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Ruben Amorim’s side, who had hoped to use the domestic cup as a springboard to salvage a challenging season. Instead, it added to the mounting pressure on the Portuguese manager, whose tenure has been a mixed bag thus far. The FA Cup loss highlighted United’s inconsistency, a recurring theme in their Premier League campaign, where they have struggled to find rhythm and cohesion. Yet, amidst this domestic turbulence, the UEFA Europa League has emerged as a beacon of hope for Amorim and his squad—a competition where they have not only survived but thrived.
Indeed, United’s European form offers a stark contrast to their struggles at home. They were the only team to emerge from the Europa League’s league phase unbeaten, a testament to their resilience and quality on the continental stage. Finishing third in the standings with five wins and three draws from eight matches, they demonstrated a level of dominance that has eluded them in England. This unbeaten run has instilled a quiet confidence in the squad, and for Amorim, the return to Europa League action could not come at a better time. It’s an opportunity to shift focus from domestic woes and lean into a competition where his tactical acumen has shone through. United’s ability to grind out results in Europe—whether through attacking flair or defensive solidity—has made them a formidable opponent, and they will arrive in San Sebastian with a clear intent to extend their impressive record.
Real Sociedad’s journey to this stage has been less straightforward. Their Europa League campaign has been a rollercoaster, marked by inconsistency and occasional brilliance. They suffered three defeats in the league phase, including a frustrating 2-1 loss to Anderlecht at home—a result that raised eyebrows given their pedigree. To even reach the round of 16, Sociedad had to navigate the play-off round, where they faced Danish side Midtjylland. They emerged victorious over two legs, securing a convincing 7-3 aggregate win, but the necessity of that extra hurdle underscores the challenges they’ve faced in balancing domestic and European commitments. For Imanol Alguacil, progression beyond Manchester United would be a historic achievement. Should they advance to the quarter-finals—where either FCSB or Lyon awaits—Real Sociedad would accomplish something they haven’t managed in 36 years. The club’s last successful last-16 tie in major European competition came in the 1988-89 UEFA Cup, when they ousted German side FC Köln. Since then, they’ve stumbled in four subsequent attempts at this stage, making this match a defining moment in their modern European legacy.
Sociedad’s task is complicated by a growing injury list. Their defeat to Barcelona saw several key players sidelined, with Álvaro Odriozola, Jon Pacheco, Luka Sucic, and Arsen Zakharyan all absent. Elustondo’s red card adds further strain to an already depleted backline, and Alguacil will need to cobble together a makeshift defense to withstand United’s attacking threat. Manchester United, however, are in an even more precarious position when it comes to injuries. Amorim’s treatment room is overflowing, with nine first-team players currently unavailable. Among the notable absentees are Amad Diallo, whose pace and trickery have been vital in Europe, Lisandro Martínez, a linchpin in defense, and Luke Shaw, whose experience at left-back is sorely missed. This injury crisis has forced Amorim to rely on squad depth, but it also presents an opportunity for fringe players to step up on a stage where United have consistently performed.
History, at least, favors the visitors. Real Sociedad have faced Manchester United six times in European competition, emerging victorious just once—a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in September 2022, courtesy of a Brais Méndez penalty. That solitary goal remains their only strike against United across those encounters, with the other five matches yielding two draws and three defeats. Beyond United, Sociedad’s record against English clubs is equally bleak. Their only other competitive meetings with English opposition came in 1975 against Liverpool, where Bob Paisley’s side secured a 3-1 win in Spain en route to a 6-1 aggregate triumph. That result means Sociedad have never beaten an English team on home soil—a statistic that looms large as they prepare to host United at the Reale Arena.
For United, Spain has generally been a happy hunting ground. Their last visit, a 3-0 loss to Sevilla in the 2022-23 Europa League quarter-finals, was an anomaly. Prior to that defeat, they had gone unbeaten in seven consecutive trips to Spanish soil, a run that included victories over formidable opponents like Real Madrid and Barcelona in years past. This historical edge could bolster their confidence, particularly given their statistical dominance in this season’s Europa League. United lead all remaining teams with an average of 18.8 shots per game—the highest mark in any European campaign since records began in 2003-04. That’s 5.7 more shots per game than they’ve managed in the Premier League, highlighting how Amorim has unlocked an attacking verve in Europe that remains dormant domestically. They also top the competition in possession (61.2%), average sequence time (12.9 seconds), and passes per sequence (4.5), suggesting they could control the tempo against a Sociedad side averaging 52.5% possession.
Amorim’s familiarity with Sociedad adds an intriguing subplot. In the summer of 2023, his Sporting CP side faced them in a friendly, romping to a 3-0 win. While pre-season results carry limited weight, it’s a reminder that Amorim has previously outwitted Alguacil—a psychological edge he might lean on. The competitive history between these two clubs, spanning the last 12 years, has been tightly contested but low-scoring. The standout exception came in 2021, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United thrashed Sociedad 4-0 in Spain, with Bruno Fernandes scoring twice and Marcus Rashford and Dan James adding one each. Otherwise, no match has produced more than one goal, including a pair of 0-0 draws and United’s 1-0 win in the most recent clash in 2022, decided by Alejandro Garnacho’s strike.
Both teams enter this tie with a curious distinction: they are among the six sides to have scored in every Europa League match this season. For Sociedad, that attacking consistency offers hope, but their defensive frailties—exposed ruthlessly by Barcelona—could prove their undoing. United, meanwhile, will look to exploit those weaknesses while leaning on their European pedigree. With injuries plaguing both squads, historical precedent tilting toward the visitors, and United’s statistical dominance in the competition, this promises to be a fascinating battle—one where Amorim’s men will fancy their chances of advancing, while Sociedad cling to the dream of ending a 36-year drought.
