The stage is set for Thursday’s decisive second leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16. Manchester United will welcome Real Sociedad to Old Trafford after a 1-1 draw in the first leg held in Spain.
In that opening match, Ruben Amorim’s squad took the lead with a second-half goal from Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee. However, the home side leveled the score shortly after, thanks to a penalty conversion by Mikel Oyarzabal.
With the aggregate score tied, the battle for a quarterfinal berth will be decided on the pitch at Old Trafford. For Manchester United, it’s a crucial chance to keep fighting in Europe, as their Premier League campaign has fallen short, leaving them 14th in the table with just 34 points.
Real Sociedad, meanwhile, find themselves in a similarly underwhelming domestic position, sitting 11th in LaLiga with the same number of points. The stakes couldn’t be higher for both clubs, making this a pivotal matchup in their seasons.
Nayef Aguerd controls the ball under pressure from Alejandro Garnacho during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Sociedad and Manchester United. (Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
What happens if Manchester United beat Real Sociedad?
If Manchester United secure a win at Old Trafford, they will advance to the Europa League quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the match between Olympique Lyon and FCSB.
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What happens if Manchester United and Real Sociedad tie?
Should the match end in a draw, the game will proceed to overtime, with two 15-minute halves. If the deadlock remains after extra time, the outcome will be decided by a penalty shootout.
What happens if Manchester United lose to Real Sociedad?
If Manchester United fall to Real Sociedad, the Spanish side will advance to the quarterfinals of the Europa League and take on the winner of the Olympique Lyon vs. FCSB matchup.
