Level at 1-1 after the first leg, Manchester United welcome Real Sociedad to Old Trafford for the second leg of their Europa League last 16 tie, and our preview has the latest team news and lineups ahead of the action.
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad Preview
Having drawn 1-1 in the first leg at the Reale Arena last week, Manchester United and Real Sociedad go head-to-head in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie at Old Trafford on Thursday evening.
Last time out, the Red Devils took a 57th-minute lead through Joshua Zirkzee, his first goal in five across all competitions, but the hosts struck back on the 70-minute mark through Spain’s Euro 2024 final hero Mikel Oyarzabal.
#UEL preparations are go đ#MUFC pic.twitter.com/soipYZMDMM
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 12, 2025
Since then, both sides have been in domestic action in their respective national leagues over the weekend.
Ruben Amorim’s United held second-place Arsenal to a 1-1 stalemate in the Premier League, leaving them in 14th place in the table, while La Real were beaten 1-0 by Sevilla in La Liga, in which they occupy 11th place.
Both sides head into the second leg in rather poor form. United have won just one of their last six matches in all competitions, and Sociedad are without a win in each of their last four, a run that includes a 4-0 drubbing away at Barcelona, as well as a 1-0 home defeat to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Throughout history, Manchester United and Real Sociedad have faced off in seven competitive fixtures. The Red Devils claimed victory in three of those, three ended in stalemates and one ended in favour of the two-time Spanish champions.
Manchester United Team News
The Red Devils have countless injury concerns heading into continental action, with all of Lisandro Martinez (knee), Amad Diallo (ankle), Luke Shaw (calf), Kobbie Mainoo (unspecified), Mason Mount (thigh), Leny Yoro (ankle), Altay Bayindir (unspecified) and Jonny Evans (back) due to miss out, while Harry Maguire is a doubt.
Amorim should opt for a similar lineup to the one that was fielded in the Basque Country last Thursday, with Victor Lindelof or talented youngster Ayden Heaven likely to replace the absent Yoro in central defence.
Real Sociedad Team News
As for the visitors, they are without Jon Pacheco (muscular), and Luka Sucic (knee) and Jon Aramburu (foot) are doubts.
In more positive news, Imanol Alguacil should be able to welcome Alvaro Odriozola, Arsen Zakharyan and Martin Zubimendi back to the squad after recovering from their respective fitness and illness concerns.
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad Predicted Lineups
Manchester United Predicted Lineup:
Onana; De Ligt, Lindelof, Mazraoui; Dalot, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dorgu; Garnacho, Zirkzee; Hojlund
Real Sociedad Predicted Lineup:
Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Zubimendi, Turrientes, Mendez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad Prediction
The UK’s best football betting sites favour Manchester United to come out on top in the second leg at around 17/20, while a draw is rated at 23/10 and a Real Sociedad triumph is priced at around 15/4.
Nothing could separate the pair in the first leg, but given that La Real can call upon Arsenal target Zubimendi this time around, and considering the Red Devils’ lengthy absentee list, we at SportsCasting believe that the visitors have an edge in the tie. Therefore, we’re backing them to seal a narrow 1-0 win to book their spot in the quarter-finals.
Prediction: Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad (1-2 aggregate)
