Manchester United are in San Sebastian tonight for the first leg of their last-16 Europa League clash with Real Sociedad.
It’s last chance saloon for Ruben Amorim’s side, who were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fifth round on Sunday. Their loss to Fulham, which went to penalties, brought an end to their cup title defence and means the Europa League is their final hope for silverware this season.
Happily for Amorim, the Europa League has been one slightly brighter spot in the Red Devils’ underwhelming season. They finished third in the league phase and are the only unbeaten team left in the competition, while their opponents come into this tie reeling from 1-0 and 4-0 defeats to Real Madrid and Barcelona in their last two matches.
Injuries and a smaller squad could factor into how tonight’s match plays out but if United can avoid defeat they’ll have a strong chance at progressing from the tie with the second leg at Old Trafford.
Follow all the Champions League action with our live blog below:
Real Sociedad vs Man Utd LIVE
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Real Sociedad host Man Utd in the Europa League with kick off at 17.45pm | Live on TNT Sports 1
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Real Sociedad XI: Remiro; Elustondo, Aguerd, Zubeldia, Munoz; Mendez, Turrientes, Sucic; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
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Man Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Zirkzee, Hojlund, Garnacho
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United are without Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte for this clash
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Ruben Amorim's side are unbeaten in the competition so far but face a tough test against Sociedad
Manchester United FC - Real Sociedad de Fútbol
Real Sociedad 0-0 Man Utd
17:51 , Mike Jones
6 mins: A quick break from United sees Zirkzee drive the ball through the middle of the pitch.
He releases it into the feet of Rasmus Hojlund who carries it into the box and looks for Garnacho with his cutback.
The pass is intercepted and cleared away.
Real Sociedad 0-0 Man Utd
17:48 , Mike Jones
3 mins: Alejandro Garnacho has started out on the right wing for United with Zirkzee taking up a similar role on the left.
These early stages find both teams trying to fight for possession and take control of proceedings.
Kick off! Real Sociedad 0-0 Man Utd
17:46 , Mike Jones
Ruben Amorim’s men kick off the match in Spain and boot the ball over to the left wing towards Joshua Zirkzee.
He’s beaten to the ball by Aritz Elustondo who clears the danger.
Real Sociedad vs Man Utd
17:45 , Mike Jones
The teams make their way out onto the pitch.
Man Utd have as strong a line-up as they can field. Can they perform tonight?
Kick off is up next...
Why is Chido Obi not in Manchester United’s Europa League squad?
17:35 , Mike Jones
Young Manchester United striker Chido Obi is unable to play a part in his side’s remaining Europa League matches as he was not included in the club’s updated squad list for the competition.
The 17-year-old impressed in his cameo during the FA Cup defeat to Fulham, and while he is still a raw talent, fans were hopeful of seeing more of him as the club fight in Europe for the last chance at silverware this season.
Why is Chido Obi not in Manchester United’s Europa League squad?
United on target
17:30 , Mike Jones
Man Utd are averaging 18.8 shots per game in the Europa League this season, the most of any side still in the competition and their best ratio in a European season on record (since 2003-04).
They also have the highest average sequence time (12.9 seconds), passes per sequence (4.5) and possession (61.2%).
Man Utd's success in Spain
17:25 , Mike Jones
Man Utd have lost just one of their last eight away games against Spanish opposition in Europe (W5 D2),
However that defeat did come in their most recent such encounter, losing 3-0 at Sevilla in the second leg of the 2022-23 Europa League quarter final.
Fernandes on facing Sociedad
17:20 , Mike Jones
Bruno Fernandes said: “It’s going to be a tough one. A Spanish team that plays brilliant football.
“Very, very good players up front, very (good) quality coming out from the back, so we need to be fresh to run again, because they will make us run and then when we have the ball we have to make them run too.
“We look forward now to the rest of the season, obviously with the main focus now on the next game in a competition where we want to go forward.
“It’s one of our goals for this season to try and get a trophy.”
Bruno Fernandes urges Manchester United to focus on Europa League after FA Cup exit
17:15 , Mike Jones
Bruno Fernandes says silverware remains misfiring Manchester United’s focus as attention turns to the Europa League following the FA Cup holders’ disappointing exit to Fulham.
Last May’s Wembley win against Manchester City ended a poor season on a high for Erik ten Hag, whose successor Ruben Amorim oversaw a disappointing fifth-round exit at Old Trafford on Sunday.
United skipper Fernandes took the game to extra time by brilliantly cancelling out Calvin Bassey’s header, with it ending 1-1 after 120 minutes before Fulham won 4-3 on spot-kicks courtesy of two Bernd Leno saves.
Bruno Fernandes urges Manchester United to focus on Europa League after FA Cup exit
A poor knockout record
17:10 , Mike Jones
Real Sociedad have failed to progress from any of their previous four last 16 ties in major European competition, since knocking German side 1. FC Köln out of the Uefa Cup back in 1988-89.
Can Sociedad break their duck?
17:05 , Mike Jones
Real Sociedad have never beaten an English side on home soil in Europe (D1 L3), failing to score in each of the last three matches (all against Man Utd).
They are, however, one of six sides to score in 100% of their Europa League games this season (10/10), with Man Utd also doing so (8/8).
Sociedad vs Man Utd
17:00 , Mike Jones
Real Sociedad have won just one of their previous six European encounters against Manchester United (D2 L3).
That win coming in the group stage of this competition at Old Trafford in September 2022.
They won that game 1-0 courtesy of a Brais Méndez penalty, which remains their only goal against them.
Ruben Amorim sends warning to Man Utd squad ahead of summer transfer window
16:55 , Mike Jones
Ruben Amorim said he will be honest with his players about their futures in the summer as he prepares for the possibility of a clearout.
The Manchester United head coach claimed he is “not ruthless” but is readying himself for what he insists will not be difficult conversations if he has to tell some of them he wants them to move on.
Ruben Amorim sends warning to Man Utd squad ahead of summer transfer window
Sociedad turning good in Europe?
16:50 , Mike Jones
Real Sociedad recorded their biggest victory in the Europa League so far this season with a 5-2 win against Midtjylland in their knockout round play-off second leg.
Amorim on how United will cope despite injuries
16:45 , Mike Jones
“We have a lot of experience,” The Manchester United boss said. “Matthijs (de Ligt) is a young player but he has a lot of experience.
“We are ready because the good thing to play in the Premier League is we are ready for everything.
“It’s a big challenge, we are going to face a very good team, really intense, with a lot of experienced, international players. But we are ready because we face that every weekend.”
Man Utd team changes
16:40 , Mike Jones
Ruben Amorim makes three changes to the Manchester United team that lost to Fulham in the FA Cup last weekend.
Harry Maguire, Manuel Ugarte and Christian Eriksen drop out with Patrick Dorgu, Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho brought in.
Real Sociedad line-up
16:37 , Mike Jones
Real Sociedad XI: Remiro; Elustondo, Aguerd, Zubeldia, Munoz; Mendez, Turrientes, Sucic; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
Subs: Marrero, Oskarsson, Becker, Lopez, Olasagasti, Sergio Gomez, Traore, Aramburu, Marin, Martin, Beitia, Mariezkurrena
Manchester United line-up versus Real Sociedad
16:35 , Mike Jones
Man Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Zirkzee, Hojlund, Garnacho
Maguire and Ugarte are out
16:30 , Mike Jones
Manchester United are without 11 first-team players in Spain, with Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte joining the injury list after picking up issues in the loss to Fulham.
“Small things,” Ruben Amorim said of the absent duo. “We are being careful because in this moment we cannot allow us to lose more players for a long time.
“So, we are taking care of them in Carrington and they cannot play in this game because it will be a greater risk.”
Amorim has belief
16:25 , Mike Jones
Asked ahead of the last-16 first-leg clash if he still has the belief that he can turn the club around, the head coach said:
“Yes. What I mean is that we have to think of the club as a long project and not just solve things in this moment and if we win the Europa League we’ll be in an amazing position in the next years.
“Because the problems continue here, even with Champions League, so that’s what I want to say.
“I know you guys make accounts of my season so I’m just trying to show that I don’t care and I’m really confident on the big goal of this club. That’s all. I’m trying to show the big picture to our supporters.”
Ruben Amorim aware of ‘consequences’ for Manchester United’s ‘lack of results’
16:20 , Mike Jones
Ruben Amorim remains convinced he is the man to turn Manchester United around but knows there are “consequences” for poor form as he leads his misfiring, absentee-hit side to Real Sociedad.
Erik ten Hag’s successor has endured more downs than ups since taking over in November, with the Red Devils languishing 14th in the Premier League and exiting the FA Cup at home to Fulham on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim aware of ‘consequences’ for Manchester United’s ‘lack of results’
More from Zubeldia
16:15 , Mike Jones
The Spanish defender added: "We have to focus on ourselves, play our game, be at our best.
“If we do that we will be able to compete. We will analyse the rival but we also need to focus on our own game.
“The support our fans give us is incredible. You see it in every game at home.
“The strength they give us is fundamental and even more so in a game like tomorrow's."
'These games don't happen every day'
16:10 , Mike Jones
Real Sociedad defender, Igor Zubeldia, is eager to play against Man Utd again.
Before the match he said: "These games don't happen every day.
“It's the fourth time I've faced them but I'm as motivated and eager as I was the first time.
“We have to enjoy this as much as possible, go out as if it were a final and get a good result."
Pre-match thoughts from Imanol Alguacil
16:05 , Mike Jones
About Manchester United the Real Sociedad coach: "They are a great team, with a great history, that we are competing against them is something positive.
“They have a great team, with a great coach. Even though they are not getting results in the league, they are doing things well.
“Tomorrow, I expect a great rival, not because of their history, but because of their players."
'We have to give everything'
16:00 , Mike Jones
Real Sociedad head coach Imanol Alguacil says his team need to ‘give everything’ if they hope to beat Man Utd tonight.
Alguacil said: "Whenever I face a big team, I think that we can win if we do certain things.
“If not, I wouldn't be here. However, you have to be sensible and recognise what's ahead. Without [Man Utd] being brilliant and with us playing our best game, we could lose because of the quality we have.
“We will have to give everything."
The gap between Manchester United’s ambition and reality has never been wider – and there’s no quick way to fix it
15:55 , Mike Jones
Among those at Old Trafford on Sunday was a manager sacked after his side hit rock bottom. No, not Ruben Amorim.
Plymouth’s past and present were watching Manchester United, Miron Muslic the day after his side acquitted themselves well at Manchester City, Wayne Rooney pontificating on his old club.
Sacked with Argyle bottom of the Championship and possessing the worst defensive record in the country, a man who once said he wanted to manage Everton or United may be an expert on the gap between ambition and reality.
The gap between Man Utd’s ambition and reality has never been wider
Real Sociedad vs Man Utd prediction
15:50 , Mike Jones
Despite United’s recent struggles, their Spanish opponents aren’t faring much better in La Liga, having lost three of their last five.
That will give United some hope, and they should be able to come away with a result in what will likely be a cagey first leg.
Real Sociedad 1-1 Manchester United.
Man Utd early team news
15:45 , Mike Jones
Winter signing Patrick Dorgu is eligible to play for United in Europe, so he should return to the starting line-up. However, young striker Chido Obi is not eligible to feature for United in the Europa League.
In his pre-match conference, Amorim stated that Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte will not be risked after picking up issues during the loss to Fulham.
Toby Collyer and Kobbie Mainoo are still a couple of weeks from a return, while there is little known about return dates for Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Altay Bayindir.
Predicted Man Utd XI: Onana; de Ligt, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Zirkzee, Garnacho; Hojlund.
Sociedad early team news
15:40 , Mike Jones
For the Spanish side, Martin Zubimendi and Luka Susic are doubts, while manager Imanol Alguacil will hope to welcome back Take Kubo too after the winger sat out the loss to Barcelona.
Predicted Real Sociedad XI: Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Elustondo, Lopez; Zubimendi; Kubo, Olasagasti, Marin, Barrenextea; Oyarzabal.
How can I watch the match?
15:35 , Mike Jones
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 5pm. Subscribers can also watch online via discovery+.
You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for only £30.99 per month.
When is Real Sociedad vs Man Utd?
15:30 , Mike Jones
The match is due to kick off at 5.45pm GMT on Thursday, 6 March at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain.
Real Sociedad vs Man Utd
15:25 , Mike Jones
Manchester United face Real Sociedad in the Europa League round of 16 this evening, with the visitors desperate to stay in a competition that represents their last chance of a trophy this season.
Ruben Amorim’s side travel to San Sebastian having been dumped out of the FA Cup on penalties last weekend, and this competition is now their only chance to salvage anything from a terrible season.
And they face a Real Sociedad side who have had their own domestic struggles of late, with the Basque club sitting ninth in La Liga.
Nevertheless, it is illustrative of United’s poor form that they head into the tie as underdogs, despite the Spanish side losing three of their last five in the league.
Good evening!
15:23 , Mike Jones
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Europa League clash between Real Sociedad and Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim’s side are hoping to progress to the latter stages of this tournament as winning the Europa League would put them in the Champions League next season.
Things won’t be easy though as injuries have decimated their squad and the Red Devils are in a bad run of form.
We’ll have all the latest team news, line-ups and more throughout the night so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 5.45pm.
