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:
The stats do not read kindly for either side
Looking at the halftime numbers, it is rather surprising that we have only seen penalty goals.
United and Sociedad have had 17 shots between them, six of which have been on target, generating a total of 1.08 non-penalty xG.
It is the hosts who have had more of the joy, though - Hojlund’s miss alone constitutes 0.52xG.
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)
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.
GOAL! Man Utd 1-1 Real Sociedad (2-2 Agg)
16mins: Fernandes tucks the penalty away after a very deliberate runup and caps the perfect response for United!
Exactly what the doctor ordered. We are honours even at Old Trafford, and the momentum is quite clearly behind the hosts now.
PENALTY! Man Utd 0-1 Real Sociedad (1-2 Agg)
13min: Who could have seen that coming - Rasmus Hojlund wins a penalty!
He pelts into the box to meet Fernandes’ cross and is taken out by Zubeldia - the pen is clear as day.
Man Utd 0-1 Real Sociedad (1-2 Agg)
Our senior football correspondent Richard Jolly has the latest from Old Trafford:
“Mikel Oyarzabal has a history of scoring against English opposition. After his late winner in the Euro 2024 final, an early penalty here. Judging from the noise the Sociedad fans are making, they are dreaming of a final in Bilbao, perhaps against Athletic Bilbao.”
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