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Reds discover Europa League opponents
Friday 21 February 2025 13:39
The Europa League draw has been made in Nyon, pairing Manchester United with Real Sociedad in the last 16.
In addition to the ties, to be played over two legs on 6 and 13 March, the entire path to the final in Bilbao is also now mapped out for all of the teams remaining in the competition.
The away leg takes place first in San Sebastian, before La Real come to Old Trafford the following week.
Real Socieded brushed Midtjylland aside in the play-offs to reach this stage.
DRAW REACTION
Speaking in a press conference at Carrington following the draw, Ruben Amorim admitted his immediate focus is on the here and now, rather than looking ahead to a European journey.
“I just want to win everything,” he said. “I want to be really, really clear on that. I think we are in a difficult situation in the Premier League, we have a lot of issues to solve in every game.
“If you see our performances, if I focus on the games against Real Sociedad and thinking about trophies, it is not the right way to do my job in the moment. So I just focus and I want to win against Everton.”
HISTORY
United have faced Real Sociedad six times in competitive matches in our history.
In the 2013/14 Champions League, Inigo Martinez’s early own goal gave the Reds three group-stage points at Old Trafford, before a 0-0 draw in San Sebastian.
There have been four meetings in the Europa League, starting with a 4-0 win in Turin, during the Covid period in 2021. Bruno Fernandes scored twice, with Marcus Rashford and Dan James also finding the net. The match also marked Amad’s first-team debut.
The Old Trafford return ended goalless with Mikel Oyarzabal missing a penalty and Axel Tuanzebe seeing a goal chalked off by VAR.
In the following year, on the day Queen Elizabeth II passed away, a debatable Brais Mendez penalty secured an away win for La Real at a subdued Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho then scored the only goal of the game in the return, with his first senior goal, but the Spanish side still topped the group as we required victory by a two-goal margin to overtake them.
If we progress past the club currently in 11th spot in La Liga, our next opponents will be FSCB or Lyon. We faced the Bucharest side in our final match in the previous phase, winning 2-0 in the Romanian capital last month.
In terms of potential semi-final rivals, the options will be Fenerbahce, Rangers, Roma or Athletic Club, as they are in our half of the draw.
The final at San Mames will be staged on 21 May, with the victors granted automatic qualification for the 2025/26 Champions League.
The road to Bilbao 🤩#UELdraw | #UEL pic.twitter.com/0MfdMuQFel
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 21, 2025
EUROPA LEAGUE ROUND OF 16
Ajax v Eintracht Frankfurt
AZ Alkmaar v Tottenham
Bodo/Glimt v Olympiacos
FCSB v Lyon
Fenerbahce v Rangers
Real Sociedad v UNITED
Roma v Athletic Club
Viktoria Plzen v Lazio
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Friday 21 February 2025 13:39
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