Match report
The highly-anticipated Europa League group stage final day meeting between Real Sociedad and Manchester United on Thursday saw the latter ultimately emerge triumphant.
Erik ten Hag’s troops, of course, were back in action a short time ago.
Aware that a victory by two or more goals would see them leapfrog their hosts to take top spot in Group E at the last, the Red Devils made the trip to San Sebastian, for a meeting with La Liga outfit Real Sociedad.
When all was said and done, however, such efforts on the part of the evening’s visitors ultimately came up short.
Instead, United were forced to make do with a commendable albeit disappointing 1-0 triumph.
The game’s solitary goal was forthcoming inside 20 minutes, when Cristiano Ronaldo’s pinpoint pass set youngster Alejandro Garnacho free in behind the hosts’ backline to rifle a fine finish into the roof of the net:
Hosts Sociedad, from here, created the more presentable opportunities, but failed to convert, amid a tense finish at the Anoeta.
All in all, though, the result means that both Real Sociedad and Manchester United march on to the knockout rounds of the Europa League, with the latter likely facing a more daunting opponent over two legs.
Player ratings
Real Sociedad
Remiro - 5, Gorosabel - 5.5, Le Normand - 5.5, Pacheco - 6, Rico - 6, Mendez - 7, Zubimendi - 6.5, Merino - 6, Marin - 5.5, Fernandez - 5.5, Sorloth - 5
Manchester United
De Gea - 7.5, Dalot - 7, Lindelof - 6.5, Martinez - 7, Shaw - 6.5, Casemiro - 6.5, Eriksen - 5.5, Van de Beek - 5.5, Fernandes - 6.5, Garnacho - 7, Ronaldo - 6.5
Social media & fan reaction
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