Manchester United’s Europa League Hopes Hang in the Balance After Draw in Spain
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain — On a chilly Thursday night, Ruben Amorim and his Manchester United squad departed Spain with their UEFA Europa League aspirations still alive, thanks to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad. Yet, as the dust settled, there was a lingering sense of what might have been.
Had United been more clinical in front of goal, they could have put this tie to bed before the second leg at Old Trafford next week. Instead, the contest remains finely poised, with Sociedad, who have their own scoring woes, heading to Manchester with renewed belief that they can reach the last eight of a major European competition for the first time since 1989.
For Sociedad, it would be a historic milestone. But for United, with a trophy and UEFA Champions League football on the line, the stakes are equally high.
“It could be better, but could be worse because in the last 20 minutes I thought the team were really tired,” Amorim reflected.
“I felt the team was in control of the game and after the goal we were so near to the second goal with transitions. You felt in the stadium they were nervous. But in the end, when momentum changes, we get tired more easily. We take the game to Old Trafford and try to win there.”
For 70 minutes, this was arguably one of United’s best performances under Amorim, despite the limited squad he had at his disposal. With only five outfield players on the bench, the Portuguese coach’s team displayed a level of control and composure that has often been absent this season.
This encounter featured the Premier League‘s sixth-lowest scorers against the third-lowest scorers in LaLiga, so perhaps it was no surprise that the scoreline remained 0-0 at halftime.
United, however, had the better of the first half, creating the only real chance when Bruno Fernandes saw his shot blocked on the line by Aritz Elustondo. It was a night when United’s deficiencies in front of goal were laid bare.
On one occasion, Diogo Dalot had the opportunity to deliver a cross to Rasmus Højlund. Instead, he hesitated, leaving Højlund stranded in the penalty area, visibly frustrated. Højlund hasn’t scored since December and failed to register a shot against Sociedad.
“It was a clear position, Rasmus did really well, Dalot did really well, but the decision was not the best,” Amorim admitted.
“We are creating chances but sometimes you don’t see it in the xG because we manage not to shoot, but the great opportunity is there and you can see it.
“We have transitions, we have situations and sometimes we are missing something. That can change something, especially in these kinds of games where we need goals. That can make a difference.”
Sociedad, too, have their own challenges and were without their star player, Martín Zubimendi, who is expected to join Arsenal in the summer. His absence due to illness left La Real struggling to create meaningful opportunities.
United, not known for their prolific scoring, needed a stroke of luck to find the net just before the hour mark. A well-executed move involving Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho set up Joshua Zirkzee, whose shot from the edge of the box found its way past Sociedad goalkeeper Álex Remiro. It was a goal Remiro will want to forget, as only he knows how it managed to hit the center of the net. Whether unsighted or wrong-footed, he should have saved it.
Zirkzee, with only one other goal in 2025, won’t be concerned with how it went in.
“He deserved it because he is working really well,” Amorim said.
“He’s improving a lot of things in his game, he deserved this moment and he was really important for us today.”
At 1-0 up, the tie was there for the taking. With Sociedad tiring and their fans inside Reale Arena growing frustrated, it seemed a clinical final 30 minutes could have put United on the brink of a quarterfinal spot.
- Good positions were wasted.
- Garnacho missed two chances to extend the lead.
- Then, the game turned in an instant.
Video assistant referee Pol van Boekel was the only one in the stadium to spot Fernandes’ flailing arm blocking Nayef Aguerd‘s header. After consulting the screen, Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak awarded a penalty. It seemed harsh, but Amorim often refrains from discussing decisions he disagrees with.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said when asked for his view.
Mikel Oyarzabal sent André Onana the wrong way, and suddenly a game United were controlling descended into panic. Twice in the final five minutes, Sociedad had chances to win it, prompting Amorim’s assessment that the result “could have been worse.”
It’s typical of Amorim’s tenure at United that even on a night filled with positives, he was left to ponder the negatives. He can only hope that his team doesn’t pay the price in the second leg at Old Trafford next week.
Originally Written by: Rob Dawson
