Manchester United stormed into the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals with a dominant 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, securing a 5-2 aggregate win. Bruno Fernandes stole the show with a hat-trick, keeping United’s European dream alive in what has been a turbulent domestic season.
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad: First-Half Action
The match got off to a dramatic start as Matthijs de Ligt conceded a penalty in the 10th minute, allowing Mikel Oyarzabal to coolly convert from the spot, putting Real Sociedad ahead early.
However, United responded swiftly. Just six minutes later, Igor Zubeldia brought down Rasmus Højlund in the box, giving Fernandes his first goal of the night from the penalty spot.
Despite the Red Devils dominating possession, they struggled to capitalize on their chances. Højlund, looking to end his 20-game goal drought, missed a golden opportunity from close range, sending his shot wide of the post.
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad: Second-Half Dominance
United came out firing after the break. Just two minutes into the second half, they won another penalty, this time after Aritz Elustondo fouled Patrick Dorgu. Fernandes stepped up again and confidently sent Álex Remiro the wrong way, putting United ahead 2-1.
Sociedad’s hopes of a comeback took a major blow when Jon Aramburu received a straight red card in the 63rd minute for pulling back Dorgu on a counterattack. Down to 10 men, Sociedad struggled to cope with United’s relentless pressure.
Fernandes sealed his hat-trick in the 87th minute, smashing a shot past Remiro after a brilliant assist from Alejandro Garnacho. Diogo Dalot added the final touch in stoppage time, finishing off a cutback from Højlund to make it 4-1.
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad: Key Statistics and Match Insights
- Possession: Manchester United 60% – 40% Real Sociedad
- Goal Attempts: Manchester United 25 – 8 Real Sociedad
- Expected Goals (xG): Manchester United 4.02 – 1.05 Real Sociedad
- Pass Accuracy: Manchester United 84% – 75% Real Sociedad
- Shots on Target: Manchester United 10 – 3 Real Sociedad
United’s attacking dominance was evident, as they created 16 shots inside the box compared to Sociedad’s 4, showcasing their ability to break down the opposition.
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad: What’s Next?
United now advance to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals, where they will face Lyon in the next round. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad’s European journey ends as they shift their focus back to La Liga.
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad: Video Highlights
Watch the full highlights of Manchester United’s 4-1 triumph below:
Conclusion
Bruno Fernandes delivered a captain’s performance, securing a crucial win for Manchester United. With a quarter-final showdown against Lyon on the horizon, United will hope to maintain their European momentum.
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