The stage is set for a thrilling showdown at Old Trafford next week as Manchester United go head-to-head with Real Sociedad in a bid to secure their spot in the Europa League quarter-finals. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with the scoreline at a suspenseful 1-1 deadlock following a closely-fought contest in Spain.
The match was marked by a subdued first half, with not much to separate the two sides. It seemed as though United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, would have been content with a draw. However, everything changed in the 57th minute when Joshua Zirkzee broke the deadlock, revving the visitors into action.
Despite this momentum shift, United failed to extend their lead. This was followed by Bruno Fernandes being penalised for a handball inside Sociedad’s area, 13 minutes after they had taken the lead. This led to a penalty kick for Sociedad, which Mikel Oyarzabal skillfully converted to bring the match to an even keel. The following 20 minutes proved to be a nail-biting stalemate, with neither side managing to gain a decisive edge, thus leaving everything to play for in the rematch at Manchester.
Manchester United legend, Scholes, commented on the match during TNT Sports’ coverage. He praised Fernandes and Casemiro for their ability to maintain possession, citing this as a key requirement from Amorim before the match. He noted, “I thought Fernandes and Casemiro, in the sense of the pitch, kept possession quite well. That’s what the manager asked for before the game. And I thought they were quite comfortable.”
Scholes acknowledged the advantage of playing against a team lacking in stamina, saying, “But because they’re playing against a team without that much legs, that helps them too, definitely. I thought they were in control.” Despite this, he pointed out that Manchester United did not create many scoring opportunities.
Scholes also made mention of Diogo Dalot’s missed opportunity to pass to Rasmus Hojlund, which could have potentially added to United’s scoreline. He also highlighted Alejandro Garnacho’s missed chances. However, Scholes remains hopeful, stating, “But I expect United to be better at home next week, and I think they’ve got enough to beat Real Sociedad.”
With all said and done, the stage is set for a thrilling rematch at Old Trafford. The Reds will need to step up their game and capitalize on their home advantage to ensure their progression in the Europa League. It promises to be a contest that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.