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Real Sociedad preview: KO time, TV info, team news
Tuesday 04 March 2025 12:37
Manchester United face a crucial Europa League round-of-16 tie at Real Sociedad on Thursday.
Following the Emirates FA Cup exit to Fulham, the competition represents the only realistic chance of a trophy this season and, of course, also offers the incentive of a place in next term’s Champions League for the victors.
In a bid to remain on the road to Bilbao, the Reds will need to be at our best at the Reale Arena in order to take a positive result back to Old Trafford for next week’s second leg.
Tickets are still available for the home tie.
Here is all you need to know in advance of the trip to San Sebastian…
HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW
Please note that the game kicks off at 17:45 GMT, 18:45 local time, and will be shown live on TNT Sports in the UK. Fans can discover exclusive pre-match and post-match coverage on MUTV, as our ‘Match Day Live’ programme gets under way at 16:40 GMT.
We’ll release information on the all-important team news and have the expert views of Ben Thornley from out in Spain.
The United App is the place to be during the game, for a second-screen experience, as we’ll bring you live radio commentary, plus stats and updates.
If you miss the action, you can catch the highlights across our platforms from 12:00 GMT on Friday.
TEAM NEWS
Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu is available, despite his domestic suspension, while head coach Ruben Amorim did suggest he hopes to have more players back for the European challenge.
Harry Maguire needs to be assessed, after going off during the taxing cup clash against Fulham, and fellow centre-back Matthijs de Ligt also appeared to hurt his shoulder, when challenging ex-Red Andreas Pereira during the tie.
Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Toby Collyer, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Amad have all been out due to injury.
Ayden Heaven is eligible for the competition but Chido Obi is not.
La Real welcome Takefusa Kubo back into the fold, after he missed the 4-0 defeat at Barcelona due to suspension. Sheraldo Becker and Nayef Aguerd are also available but Arsen Zakharyan could miss out.
Hamari Traore made a miraculous recovery from a serious knee injury sustained in September to come off the bench at the weekend.
Doubts over key man Martin Zubimendi appear to have been dispelled while Mikel Oyarzabal and Luka Sucic both trained on Monday.
FORM GUIDE
United not only remain unbeaten in the Europa League, the only team to do so this term, but we posted the best average possession stats in the previous round (59.2 per cent).
After drawing our opening three games, during Erik ten Hag’s tenure, five straight wins were enough to clinch third spot in the table.
Real Sociedad finished 13th and needed to go through the play-offs to book a last-16 spot. The Spanish side comfortably overcame Midtjylland, 7-3 on aggregate, and have been strong at home in the Europa League. In addition to beating the Danes, they also saw off Ajax, Dynamo Kyiv and PAOK at the Reale Arena, after losing the opening home fixture to Anderlecht.
Imanol Alguacil’s men are currently in ninth spot in La Liga, after losing 4-0 at Barcelona on Sunday.
DID YOU KNOW?
United have played Real Sociedad six times in competitive matches, two in the Champions League and four in the Europa League.
In the 2013/14 Champions League, an Inigo Martinez own goal settled the tie at Old Trafford, before a 0-0 draw in San Sebastian.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side played La Real in Turin and racked up a 4-0 win, with the second match again goalless.
The most recent games were notable for the Spanish side’s away win at Old Trafford, due to a Brais Mendez penalty, and United taking all three points in the return, courtesy of Alejandro Garnacho’s first senior goal, even if we still missed out on top spot in the group.
RIVALS WATCH
These are the Europa League games taking place across the continent this week…
Thursday
AZ Alkmaar v Tottenham Hotspur (17:45 GMT)
FCSB v Lyon (17:45 GMT)
Fenerbahce v Rangers (17:45 GMT)
Real Sociedad v UNITED (17:45 GMT)
Roma v Athletic Club
Ajax v Eintracht Frankfurt
Bodo/Glimt v Olympiacos
Viktoria Plzen v Lazio
Kick-off 20:00 GMT unless stated.
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Tuesday 04 March 2025 12:37
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