UEFA Europa League - Manchester United VS Real Sociedad Prediction
UEFA Europa League - Manchester United VS Real Sociedad
Match Time:14-03-2025 04:00 Friday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Manchester United
Ruben Amorim has a new injury concern that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of a dozen first-team players vs Real Sociedad on Thursday.
Leny Yoro is the latest absentee after picking up a knee injury this past weekend against Arsenal. The French defender has joined Altay Bayindir (unspecified), Tom Heaton (knock), Luke Shaw (calf), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Harry Maguire (knock), Jonny Evans (lower back), Kobbie Mainoo (muscle), Manuel Ugarte (fitness), Mason Mount (hamstring), and Amad Diallo (hamstring) on the sidelines.
However, Mount, Maguire, and Ugarte are close to returning, although Chido Obi-Martin is ineligible to take on Real Sociedad, as Manchester United failed to register him in the UEFA Europa League. However, there is some good news, as Patrick Dorgu is available.
Andre Onana will take his spot between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Real Sociedad on Thursday. The central defensive unit will feature Victor Lindelof, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui. Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu pick themselves as the two wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Bruno Fernandes and the resurgent Casemiro. So, Toby Collyer and Christian Eriksen will be backup options on the bench. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund should lead the line for Manchester United against Real Sociedad, with Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho completing the numbers in the offensive trifecta.
Real Sociedad
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Imanol Alguacil has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Real Sociedad manager might be without three first-team players.
Alguacil is sweating over the fitness of Jon Aramburu (foot) and Luka Sucic (knee), with the duo facing a race against time to be available to take on Manchester United. Meanwhile, Jon Pacheco remains on the sidelines. However, Alvaro Odriozola, Arsen Zakharyan, and Martin Zubimendi are fit and available.
Alex Remiro is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Real Sociedad lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Thursday. The backline should feature Aritz Elustondo, Igor Zubeldia, Nayef Aguerd, and Aihen Munoz.
As for the midfield unit, Martin Zubimendi will hold the fort in the middle of the park, with Benat Turrientes and Brais Mendez providing the forward thrust. Finally, Takefusa Kubo, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Ander Barrenetxea will form a fluid offensive trifecta for the away side.
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Manchester United have a good historical record against Real Sociedad and have won three out of the seven matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Real Sociedad's paltry one victory.
The seven matches played between Manchester United and Real Sociedad in major European competitions have witnessed only nine goals, with four of these goals coming in a single Manchester United victory in February 2021.
Three of Real Sociedad's four matches away from home against teams from England in major European competitions have come against Manchester United - they have won one, lost one, and drawn one of these games.
Real Sociedad have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six away games in major European competitions.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; De Ligt, Lindelof, Mazraoui; Dalot, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dorgu; Garnacho, Hojlund, Zirkzee
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Turrientes, Zubimendi, Mendez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Real Sociedad (Man Utd to win 2-1 after extra time and 3-2 on aggregate)
There have only been nine goals scored across seven previous meetings between Man United and Real Sociedad, including four netted in the same game by the Red Devils in a 4-0 win in February 2021. Another closely-fought contest between two teams struggling on the domestic front could therefore be on the cards, one that may be forced into extra time, but we are backing the hosts to find a way to come out on top at Old Trafford and prevail on aggregate to set up a quarter-final tie with either Lyon or FCSB.
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