Europa League
2025-03-13 - Manchester United vs Real Sociedad
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Europa League Last 16 Second Leg
Thursday 13th March 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester United
After the fan protests on Sunday, Sir Jim Ratcliffe did the media rounds on Monday to try and explain what the future holds for Manchester United. On Tuesday the announcement was made that the club will pursue building a new Stadium and move away from spiritual home Old Trafford, and all of this is going on while manager Ruben Amorim tries to guide this squad through the remainder of the season.
While the manager has played down the importance of winning the Europa League and insists that he is preparing Manchester United for better things to come, the co-owner has made the financial problems a focus and getting back into the Champions League is important. The 1-1 draw in San Sebastian means Manchester United are the only team yet to suffer a defeat in the Europa League, although a draw would only mean Extra Time and potentially Penalties.
Manchester United have won 1 of their last 6 games in all competitions and each of their last 3 games have finished 1-1 after normal time, including last time out against Arsenal. The side had won twice in a row at Old Trafford before back to back 1-1 draws with Fulham and Arsenal, while Manchester United have won 3 in row here in the Europa League.
The squad has been decimated by injury and Leny Yoro has to be considered a doubt. Both Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte are hoping to be available for selection, while Patrick Dorgu is set to return before concluding a domestic suspension this weekend.
Real Sociedad
They were largely outplayed for an hour, but the Penalty scored by Real Sociedad sparked the team into life and there will be a feeling that they perhaps could have earned a lead to take to Manchester. Like their opponent, the best chance for Real Sociedad to return to European Football next season may be by winning the Europa League and that does bring some pressure.
On the flip side, finding motivation will not be too difficult for the Real Sociedad fans knowing the Europa League Final is played in nearby Bilbao in May. The side have only lost 1 of their last 7 Europa League ties, and Real Sociedad were able to win 1-2 at Midtjylland in the Play Off Round. That victory snapped a run of consecutive away defeats in this competition.
Real Sociedad have just entered a poor run of form and they have not won any of their last 4 games in all competitions and been beaten 3 times in that run. The away form has been even more concerning and Real Sociedad will travel to Manchester having lost 5 of their last 6 away games in all competitions, although the exception was in the Europa League in Denmark last month.
Head to Head
Manchester United will be hosting Real Sociedad for the fourth time at Old Trafford.
Those previous three games have ended 1-0, 0-0 and 0-1 with the Real Sociedad victory being the latest.
Prediction
This Last 16 tie means plenty to both Real Sociedad and Manchester United and the Second Leg remains finely balanced after the 1-1 draw in San Sebastian last week.
Old Trafford will be hosting the Second Leg, but Manchester United have not been the most consistent here over the course of the season.
However, Ruben Amorim and the squad will note that they have won their last 3 at Old Trafford in the Europa League and so there is every reason to believe they can book a spot in the Quarter Final at the end of Thursday evening.
Nothing will be easy for a squad that is incredibly stretched by injury and one that has struggled for goals. Options from the bench will be limited and Manchester United are relying on Bruno Fernandes to take the Captain's role and lead the team forward.
Last week Manchester United played well before a Penalty was awarded to Real Sociedad that changed the momentum of the First Leg.
However, getting back from Spain without a defeat will feel important to Manchester United and you have to believe Real Sociedad may regret not having something to protect in Manchester. The home form has been considerably stronger than the away form and so you have to give Manchester United a narrow edge in this tie, even with the inconsistencies of performances and results at Old Trafford.
Goals are unlikely to flow, but Manchester United did show enough in Spain to believe they have the edge back at home.
Real Sociedad's recent form will have dented some confidence and Manchester United can take advantage with a narrow success on the night and a big Quarter Final place secured.
The Pick :
Manchester United 1-0 Real Sociedad
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Manchester United to Win at 1.85 with Bet365 (early payout if a team is leading by two goals)
