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Match Preview for Manchester United v Real Sociedad
There was finally some exciting news off the field for Manchester United fans this week but now the attention turns back to Ruben Amorim’s fight to make progress with his struggling team.
United announced plans for a new £2billion, 100,000-seater stadium yesterday next to Old Trafford. United hope construction will take five years although they haven’t yet committed to a start date.
It is an ambitious project, especially after minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe admitted the day before the club were in a difficult financial state.
Amorim and his players could help with that by finding a route back to the Champions League.
That certainly won’t happen via the Premier League with United mired in 14th place following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal, meaning their best chance comes in the Europa League.
Last week’s 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie sees them return to Old Trafford tomorrow night as favourites to progress to the quarter-finals.
Sociedad are going through a poor run of form – they have lost three and drawn one of their last four and were beaten at home by Sevilla on Sunday.
Zirkzee's strike in San Sebastian leaves our #UEL last-16 tie in the balance 💪#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 12, 2025
Team News for Manchester United v Real Sociedad
Defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte could return having missed the last two games with an unspecified injury.
Centre-half Leny Yoro is a doubt after being taken off at half-time against Arsenal. If he misses out it may present another opportunity for Ayden Heaven, who made an impressive Premier League debut after replacing Yoro against the Gunners.
Amorim said of the 18-year-old: “Ayden is so relaxed, he seems so relaxed that sometimes he is too relaxed! But I think we have a player there. So now we have to control, to tell him that it was just a game etc. etc. Leny has something in his foot, I think we will see if he is available for Thursday.”
Left-back Patrick Dorgu is available despite being suspended domestically.
Sociedad will be without Croatia midfielder Luka Sucic but Aritz Elustondo is set to return having missed the Sevilla game through a ban.
Jon Mikel Aranburu sustained an injury at the weekend but has travelled to Manchester.
Predicted line-ups for Manchester United v Real Sociedad
Manchester United: Onana; De Ligt, Lindelof, Heaven; Mazraoui, Dalot; Fernandes, Casemiro; Eriksen, Garnacho, Zirkzee
Real Sociedad: Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Turrientes, Zubimendi, Mendez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
How to watch Manchester United v Real Sociedad: TV channel, online stream
Manchester United v Real Sociedad will kick-off at 20:00 and be available to watch on TNT Sports 1. Fans in the UK can also stream the match on the discovery+ app.
🏴 Here we go!#UEL pic.twitter.com/EY0kzHxZi0
— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) March 12, 2025
Stats for Manchester United v Real Sociedad
- In 11 of the last 13 Manchester United home matches the total number of goals was over 2.5
- Manchester United have won 5 of the last 6 matches in the Europa League when scoring more than 1.5 goals
- 45% of Sociedad’s games in the Europa League this season have seen both sides score before half-time
- Sociedad have had a man sent off inside the first 20 minutes in each of their last three away games
Prediction for Manchester United v Real Sociedad
This is a tricky game for a Manchester United squad severely weakened by injury.
It leaves them with a starting XI desperately short of quality and Amorim will hope his patched-up side can muddle through to the latter stages, enabling some of his better players to return.
Sociedad may not be in form but they are good enough to capitalise. And we think there may be more misery heading United’s way.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Real Sociedad
