Real Sociedad faced Manchester United in the Europa League, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Mikel Oyarzabal confidently converted a penalty in the first half at Reale Arena.
The stalemate sets up a tense Old Trafford clash next Thursday, as both teams eye quarter-final spots.
Despite languishing 14th in the Premier League, Manchester United now prioritize Europa League success to salvage Champions League qualification hopes.
However, their inability to hold onto a lead in San Sebastian highlighted their ongoing struggles.
Zirkzee and Oyarzabal on Target
Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring for the visitors in the 58th minute, bundling home from Alejandro Garnacho’s cross.
Zirkzee ended his five-match scoring drought, crucially boosting confidence after missing a penalty in United’s FA Cup loss to Fulham.
Manager Ruben Amorim lauded Joshua Zirkzee’s immediate impact, crediting his relentless work ethic and tactical adaptability.
Meanwhile, the striker’s clutch performance sealed the vital victory, energizing the squad’s momentum.
Real Sociedad, however, responded in the 70th minute when Bruno Fernandes was penalized for handball while defending a corner.
Oyarzabal stepped up and calmly sent United goalkeeper Andre Onana the wrong way with his team’s first shot on target.
The Spanish international’s clinical finish was reminiscent of his decisive goal for Spain in the Euro 2024 final against England.
Missed Opportunities for La Real
The Basque side nearly claimed victory late on, but substitute Orri Oskarsson squandered two golden chances. The young forward poked one effort wide and saw another well saved by Onana in the dying minutes. Reflecting on the missed opportunities, Oyarzabal said, “It’s a shame about those chances that escaped us at the end, but the tie is open. We’re going there alive, with a lot of desire.”
Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil welcomed back key players Takefusa Kubo, Oyarzabal, and Luka Sucic from suspension and injury following their 4-0 La Liga defeat to Barcelona last weekend. However, the absence of midfield linchpin Martin Zubimendi was evident as La Real struggled to dominate possession.
Injury Woes Continue for Manchester United
United manager Ruben Amorim faced significant selection challenges due to an ongoing injury crisis. Key players Harry Maguire, Manuel Ugarte, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, and Luke Shaw were unavailable, leaving Amorim with just 18 players to choose from. Up front, Rasmus Hojlund extended his goalless streak to 19 games, while Zirkzee’s strike was only his second in his last 17 appearances.
Despite the draw, Amorim remained optimistic about his team’s chances in the second leg. “Before the penalty, I thought the team was in control. I think it changed with the penalty… we take the game to Old Trafford, we’ll try to win there,” he told reporters. He also acknowledged his team’s struggles in front of goal: “We have to be relentless with our chances — we had enough of them today.”
A Tough Season for Both Teams
Both clubs are enduring challenging domestic campaigns. Manchester United’s poor form has seen them crash out of other cup competitions and hover near the relegation zone in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad sit ninth in La Liga but are motivated by the prospect of playing the Europa League final at San Mames, home of their Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao.
The first half of Thursday’s encounter lacked attacking quality from both sides, with neither team able to create clear-cut chances. United came closest through efforts from Fernandes and Zirkzee, but Real Sociedad defender Aritz Elustondo made crucial blocks to keep the score level.
Second Leg Decider
With the tie delicately poised at 1-1, both teams will be eager to capitalize at Old Trafford next week. The winner will face either French side Lyon or Romanian club FCSB in the quarter-finals.
For now, both sides will need to address their shortcomings if they hope to progress further in the competition. As Oyarzabal aptly summarized, “Until we scored it was hard for us to create chances, although I don’t think we suffered that much defensively either.” The stage is set for an intriguing second leg as Manchester United and Real Sociedad battle for European glory.
