Manchester United vs Real Sociedad LIVE: Europa League result and reaction after brilliant Bruno Fernandes hits hat-trick
The Europa League is Manchester United’s last chance for silverware this season and only likely route back into the Champions League next year, with the final in May in Bilbao
Manchester United defeated Real Sociedad 5-2 on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals of the Europa League after Bruno Fernandes struck a hat-trick to earn a 4-1 victory on the night.
Ruben Amorim’s side were held to a 1-1 draw in the opening leg in San Sebastian last week and suffered an early setback when Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the spot after Matthijs de Ligt’s clumsy challenge.
But United hit back quickly with a penalty of their own from Fernandes and the Portuguese punished the hosts with another strike from 12 yards following a foul on the lively Patrick Dorgu.
The Spanish outfit’s hopes were then dashed when Dorgu proved too quick and slippery for Venezuela’s Jon Aramburu, who made contact as the Dane was poised to dash through on goal. Fernandes’ ruthless finish after a clinical counter-attack saw the Portuguese register his hat-trick to break La Real’s resistance and Diogo Dalot hit a late fourth to put some gloss on the aggregate scoreline.
And a win was the perfect response for Ruben Amorim after some of his side were labelled “overpaid” and “underperforming” by owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Relive all the action from Manchester United v Real Sociedad below:
What does the next round hold for United?
After beating Real Sociedad, United will move on to face Lyon in the quarter finals.
Lyon beat FCSB 7-1 over the two legs, winning 4-0 tonight at home to confirm their progression.
Around the grounds
Elsewhere in the Europa League, Tottenham come back to beat AZ Alkmaar 3-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. They will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the next round.
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe have taken Rangers to extra time after winning 0-2 in regular time at Ibrox.
Chelsea defeat Copenhagen 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to struggle into the next round of the Conference League.
Fernandes: United are getting more confident
The hat-trick hero Fernandes has had his say on the night’s performance, saying United are getting more confident by the day. Here’s his take:
On recent results: “I think with the results, the performance, when you start getting more confident, it is a big thing in football and at this club. You know how much you are on the eyes of everyone so you need to perform at the highest level. We need to back ourselves on the training ground and be here for each other.”
On Amorim: “I think you can see it at times. The way the manager wants us to be, we are making good progress. It will be seen if we get results. We want to get better and we need to play better.”
On Hojlund: “He is a striker. Strikers are all about goals. For us in the dressing room we want Rasmus to score as many as he can. In my last goal, he attracts the defender with him to give me the space. There is a lot that he does that from outside you cannot see but we see it. The goals will come. As soon as the first one comes he is going to score more and more.”
Man Utd trio shine to lead emphatic Europa League win
Relief for Man Utd, through to the last eight, here’s Richard Jolly on an entertaining night at Old Trafford:
“Emphatic in the end, one of the best Old Trafford nights of the season. A hat-trick for Bruno Fernandes was a reward for his terrific performance and outstanding form of late. Dorgu, Hojlund and Zirkzee all impressed, too.”
FULL TIME: Man Utd 4-1 Real Sociedad (5-2 Agg)
Tonight was make or break for United, and they did all that was required of them.
A Bruno Fernandes hat-trick did the bulk of the work for the hosts before Dalot added a fourth in injury time as the Red Devils move on to the Europa League quarter-finals.
In the quest for Champions League qualification which will have to come from winning this tournament, United have taken a crucial step.
The red card was the difference maker for Sociedad, who were barely hanging on before Aramburu was dismissed. They were well beaten after he went for his early shower.
GOAL! Man Utd 4-1 Real Sociedad (5-2 Agg)
91min: Its one last nail in the coffin for Sociedad.
The visitors’ heads have gone down in a major way. Rasmus Hojlund picks up the ball on the left flank and drives to the byline before cutting the ball back to Diogo Dalot, who finishes emphatically into the roof of the net.
An assist for Hojlund is not quite what he would have wanted to take away from tonight, but he won’t mind - that’ll be huge for his confidence.
Man Utd 3-1 Real Sociedad (4-2 Agg)
90min: What a moment that would have been! Fernandes whips a cross into the box and Ayden Heaven is under it - he attempts an audacious bicycle kick but does not meet the ball.
GOAL! Man Utd 3-1 Real Sociedad (4-2 Agg)
87min: And that will be that. Fernandes completes his hat-trick.
Sociedad make a rare foray forward but Oskarsson loses the ball on the edge of the box and he is punished for it.
Garnacho receives the ball on the half turn and drives towards the center of the pitch as Fernandes takes the space. Garnacho finds him and the captain finishes his hat-trick in the bottom left corner.
He had Hojlund available across the box, but he goes it alone. Fernandes rescues United again.
Man Utd 2-1 Real Sociedad (3-2 Agg)
84min: United look to have their third penalty of the night as Dorgu goes down in the box under influence from Traore, but the referee changes his mind after initially pointing to the spot.
Upon further inspection, it looks to be a perfect tackle from Traore.
Man Utd 2-1 Real Sociedad (3-2 Agg)
81mins: United have been far from clinical tonight.
Bruno plays a sweet through ball into Zirkzee - his shot is well saved. Mazroui collects the rebound and finds Zirkzee again, but he heads wide across goal.
The hosts quite easily could have scored four tonight, but Bruno’s pair of penalties remain the difference.
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