Key events
Manchester United make three changes to the side that started the FA Cup defeat to Fulham. Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte are injured, while Christan Eriksen drops to the bench. Patrick Dorgu, Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho take their places.
Hosts Real Sociedad must do without star midfielder Martín Zubimendi, who is ill. But they’re boosted by the return of captain and leading goalscorer Mikel Oyarzabal.
The teams
Real Sociedad: Remiro, Elustondo, Aguerd, Zubeldia, Munoz, Sucic, Turrientes, Mendez, Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea.
Subs: Marrero, Oskarsson, Becker, Lopez, Olasagasti, Gomez, Traore, Aramburu, Marin, Martin, Beitia, Mariezkurrena.
Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Yoro, Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu, Zirkzee, Hojlund, Garnacho.
Subs: Harrison, Lindelof, Eriksen, Heaven, Amass, Collyer, Mee.
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia).
Preamble
Manchester United are back, baby! No, not like that, unfortunately for their long-suffering fans. They are back in San Sebastian, though, where they’ll fancy themselves to keep their season alive. United won at Anoeta in 2022 thanks to Alejandro Garnacho’s first goal for the club; they drew there in 2013 despite Marouane Fellaini getting himself sent off. They also routed the Basques 4-0 away in 2021, albeit in Turin thanks to Covid. So their record on the road against Erreala is very good indeed.
That should give them succour, after their latest dispiriting performance against Fulham in the FA Cup last weekend. They’ll also be thankful that Sociedad aren’t quite up to their recent standards, languishing in mid-table in La Liga and coming off the back of a 4-0 thrashing at Barcelona. Although ninth place when compared to United’s 14th in the Premier … but let’s not belabour the point or put the boot in while the Red Devils are down. Suffice to say this could go either way, the current-form guide being of bugger all use, but history suggests United have a chance here to get things moving in the right direction again, and hold onto those Europa League dreams. Kick-off is at 5.45pm GMT. It’s on!
