Manchester United resume their fight for the one remaining title they can win this season as they host Real Sociedad for the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday.
Ruben Amorim’s side were held to a 1-1 draw in the opening leg in San Sebastian last week, with Joshua Zirkzee scoring the opener before Mikel Oyarzabal levelled proceedings with a late penalty. But they’ll need more of that magic against Real Sociedad, with this competition the final opportunity for the Red Devils to win silverware this season and rescue what has otherwise been a dismal campaign.
The visitors have been on a middling run of their own, having lost four of their last six games including a 1-0 loss to Sevilla in their last outing, and sit 11th in La Liga. But all the pressure is on United – especially after some of their players were labelled “overpaid” and “underperforming” by owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Follow updates from Manchester United v Real Sociedad in our live blog below:
HALFTIME: Man Utd 1-1 Real Sociedad (2-2 Agg)
De Ligt launches a cross-field ball to Zirkzee but overhits it, and it dribbles out of play to close the half.
We started with a flurry of action as two penalties went either way in the opening quarter of an hour, but neither side has been able to find the back of the net from open play as yet.
United have had the better of the opportunities, though, enjoying the better of the play after neutralizing Sociedad’s fast start.
Ultimately, we will head into the second half on the same standing as we did the first: all square.
Man Utd 1-1 Real Sociedad (2-2 Agg)
42min: United are closing the half with a flurry of chances, many of which are stemming from Casemiro’s distribution.
He finds Fernandes in the box with a well-placed ball over the top but the captain can’t quite find Hojlund with his pass.
Man Utd 1-1 Real Sociedad (2-2 Agg)
45mins: Four minutes added on to the end of the half.
Man Utd 1-1 Real Sociedad (2-2 Agg)
43min: Sociedad look to be struggling with the pace of the pace of the game now – they have really run out of steam as halftime edges closer.
Errors are creeping into their game now – a wealth of misplaced passes and clumsy fouls preventing them from mounting too much of a challenge.
Man Utd 1-1 Real Sociedad (2-2 Agg)
40min: Its end-to-end stuff at Old Trafford – we are in for an all-action end to the first half.
Former West Ham man Nayef Aguerd puts down the latest United push with a well-timed block, granting the hosts a corner.
Fernandes finds Dorgu at the edge of the box and he takes his shot on the volley but fires just over.
Man Utd 1-1 Real Sociedad (2-2 Agg)
36min: Garnacho gets the crowd on their feet as he forces Sociedad into an error with a high press.
The twelfth man are making themselves heard tonight, drowning out the away contingent.
Rasmus Hojlund praised for early impact against Real Sociedad
Our senior football correspondent Richard Jolly has the latest from Old Trafford:
“A frantic start here and a hugely entertaining one, too. Rasmus Hojlund has been influential and not merely by winning the penalty. The Dane is running behind the Sociedad defence with some purpose. He is also getting more service than usual and showing that, when he does, he can be a threat.”
Man Utd 1-1 Real Sociedad (2-2 Agg)
30min: The man might well be cursed.
Zirkzee does incredibly well to break into the box before squaring a perfect ball to Rasmus Hojlund, who fires goalward, his shot rolling wide of the far post.
He screams with guttural frustration. As the cliche goes, he couldn’t buy a goal at the minute.
He’s getting in the right positions so far today, though. A goal cannot be far away.
Man Utd 1-1 Real Sociedad (2-2 Agg)
26min: Heaven is absolutely fearless. He receives a short goal kick, opts against playing out from the back and drives past Oyarzabal, dropping the Sociedad captain to the floor in the process.
An assured debut from the youngster so far.
Man Utd 1-1 Real Sociedad (2-2 Agg)
20min: Shouts for another penalty ring from the Stretford End as Remiro clatters Hojlund in the process of claiming a cross.
Looking at the replay there does not appear to be a foul committed, though the Dane did take a knock on the head and appears to be seeing stars, though he will continue.