By Karl Matchett
First leg repeat?
The Spanish outfit will perhaps still be feeling they should have given themselves a lead on home soil to head to Manchester with, following a 90 minutes of more possession, more big chances, a higher xG and generally a more replicable performance. Even so, they netted only from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw and are up against it as a result, with a poor away record of their own and with the team stuttering badly heading into the season run-in.
Rúben Amorim needs a launchpad of his own all the same. The still-new Man United boss is seeking consistency, not just in results but in performance levels in different parts of the team. There seem to be a few partnerships now developing and individuals establishing themselves as first-choice picks, but it remains about getting a tune from them on the night. The route looks reasonable if United get past this challenge: Lyon (sixth in Ligue 1), Roma (seventh in Serie A) and Rangers shouldn’t really hold too many fears. United, though, remain lower than each (14th).
Recent form
One win in six games for United across all competitions, highlighting the struggles they continue to face. At home, they’ve also won four of the last 11, dating back to early December. So a win is far from a foregone conclusion – but at least that’s better than what La Real can offer away from home. They’ve lost five of the last six on the road and haven’t won in four at all anywhere.
Team news
Much of the same as far as United are concerned. The likes of Mason Mount, Lisandro Martínez, Luke Shaw and Amad Diallo are all sidelined, while there are doubts surrounding Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte. Joshua Zirkzee scored in the first leg and will hope to lead the line here. For Sociedad, Jon Aramburu and Álvaro Odriozola are notable injury doubts and Jon Pacheco is definitely out.
Key player
With Maguire and Yoro absent, it might fall on Matthijs de Ligt to produce a long-overdue dominant display to keep United in the clear. The Dutch defender has won just 57% of his tackles, 63% of his aerial challenges and made four recoveries per 90 minutes in the competition this term in Europe – none of those rank as anything more than about the 50th percentile for centre-backs in the competition. He needs to improve significantly and rediscover his old imperious self, and fast.
Prediction
A tie to go the distance if United aren’t clinical – and then it’s a coin toss when it comes to penalties: Man United 1 Real Sociedad 1 (2-2 agg).
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from the Europa League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings, and a new super-intuitive knockout stage bracket. Download the free app here.
