Getting their Europa League Round of 16 campaign underway on Thursday evening, Manchester United were forced to settle for a 1-1 stalemate away at Real Sociedad.
While Ruben Amorim’s squad might have arrived in the Basque Country with plenty of pressure on their shoulders, the Red Devils took a deserved lead 12 minutes into the second-half as Joshua Zirkzee steered home from the edge of the box.
However, although United might have been sat firmly in the driving seat to claim a first-leg advantage on foreign soil, Sociedad were handed a route back into the game as United skipper Bruno Fernandnes was adjudged to have handled the ball following a VAR check.
Although La Real might have failed to find much fluidity in the final third, Spanish international Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted from the penalty spot and dragged Thursday’s hosts level with 20 minutes left on the clock.
While chances might have fallen at both ends of the pitch late on, a Europa League quarter-final ticket still hangs in the balance as both camps will meet at Old Trafford on March 13th for their second-leg showdown.
On an evening when Manchester United missed out on the chance to claim a first-leg advantage, we have taken a look at the main talking points from the Reale Arena.
United drag themselves back to Old Trafford
Suffering major FA Cup heartbreak at home against Fulham last weekend and coming under even more scrutiny, Manchester United traveled to the Basque Country on Thursday evening with a huge amount of pressure on their shoulders.
Although the Red Devils might return to Old Trafford next week not chasing a first-leg deficit, Amorim’s squad are desperately seeking some kind of stability.
Firmly sat in the bottom-half of the Premier League table and breaking a string of unwanted records this season, the former Sporting Lisbon boss has failed to make an immediate impact since arriving in Manchester back in November.
Despite signing off February with an action-packed 3-2 victory against relegation scrappers Ipswich, United have registered just a single win from any of their previous five appearances across all competitions.
With Europa League success their only chance to try and save some face this year, United will be more than aware that they face a season-defining showdown on home soil next week.
Amorim’s defensive headache
Along with heading over to Spain on Thursday evening only able to name seven substitutes, Amorim will certainly have a real headache over his side’s extended defensive struggles.
With England international Harry Maguire not even traveling to the Reale Arena here, Amorim is desperately seeking some kind of defensive stability.
Along with mustering just a single win from any of their last five outings across all fronts, United have also failed to put a single clean sheet on the board from any of their previous seven consecutive attempts.
Likewise, including their Europa League collapse on Thursday evening, the English heavyweights have notched just a pair of clean sheets away from Old Trafford since the start of October.
Despite marking their return to Manchester next week pencilled in as a standout contender to extend on their European run, it should be highlighted that the Red Devils have failed to muster a single clean sheet at Old Trafford since a 4-0 romp against Everton on December 1st.
A missed opportunity for Sociedad
Blown away in Catalonia last weekend as they got March underway with a nightmare 4-0 drumming at the hands of Barcelona, Real Sociedad were seeking an immediate response here.
Almost sat in La Liga limbo and failing to find any kind of domestic stability this season, Thursday’s hosts have their sights firmly set on mounting a late Europa League charge over the next couple of months.
Despite getting their Copa del Rey semi-final adventure underway with a 1-0 loss at home against Real Madrid, Imanol Alguacil’s camp opened up Thursday’s first-leg showdown smelling the chance to collect a heavyweight scalp.
However, despite winning five of their previous six matchups at the Reale Arena across all competitions heading into Thursday’s contest, Sociedad will be ruing a real missed opportunity on home soil.
Losing five of their previous six appearances outside the Basque Country, Sociedad will travel to Old Trafford next week knowing that they have a real uphill battle on their hands in the race to keep their European dreams alive.
Match Report
Real Sociedad: Remiro, Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz, Sucic, Turrientes, Mendez, Kubo, Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal
Subs: Oskarsson, Becker, Aramburu, Olasagasti, Marin
Manchester United: Onana, Yoro, de Ligt, Mazraoui, Dorgu, Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee, Hojlund
Subs: Eriksen, Collyer, Lindelof
Goals: Real Sociedad: Oyarzabal (70’ P) – Manchester United: Zirkzee (57’)
Yellow Cards: Real Sociedad: Zubeldia – Manchester United: Fernandes
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak
