Real Sociedad welcome Manchester United to Juventus Stadium, Italy, in the first leg of their Last 32 encounter in 2020-21 UEFA Europa League.
Sociedad qualified for this stage as runners-up of Group F just ahead of AZ Alkmaar by a single point, whereas Man Utd drop into the Europa League after finishing third in Group H of Champions League.
Team News
Real Sociedad have no fresh injury concerns to report as Miguel Moya remains absent with a knee injury.
Luca Sangalli is also ruled out with a knee injury, as he and Moya are sidelined indefinitely.
Man Utd will be without Edinson Cavani and Donny van de Beek as a result of muscle injuries.
Paul Pogba (muscle) and Phil Jones (knee) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Real Sociedad are winless in two previous meetings against Manchester United (D1, L1), although this is the first meeting between these teams in the Europa League.
- Man Utd are winless in their last six UEFA matches against Spanish opposition since winning first leg against Celta Vigo of semi-final stage in 2016-17 Europa League (D2, L4).
- Real Sociedad have failed to win any of four previous UEFA clashes against English opposition (D1, L3).
- Five of Bruno Fernandes’ seven goals in UEFA competitions for Utd have come from the penalty spot.
- Jon Bautista was Sociedad’s only player to score more than once in the Group Stage, as they qualified as Group F runner-ups despite scoring just five goals in the group.
Prediction
Sociedad will pose a real threat going forward but with just three clean sheets in their last 14 matches in all competitions, the Spanish team are going to have to raise their game here against a quality Man Utd team and their top two goal scorers are yet to score in this competition this season.
Man Utd can come into this game without fear after a solid all-round performance at West Brom who relentlessly tested the Red Devils’ defensive cohesion, yet were unable to break them down except late on when David De Gea rescued them a point with excellent saves.
This match however takes place on neutral ground which might suit Sociedad given Utd’s poor form against Spanish opposition in UEFA competitions across recent seasons, although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils do boast goal threats across the pitch.
A draw therefore might be a decent result for Utd heading into the return leg at Old Trafford next week, although I do fancy them to end their hoodoo and get a result here.
Prediction: Real Sociedad 1-2 Manchester United
Result: Real Sociedad 0-4 Manchester United
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