Nothing is ever easy at Manchester United these days, is it?
Facing a Real Sociedad side currently ninth in La Liga, Manchester United had the chance to seize control in the first leg of their Europa League tie. The Basque hosts offered little attacking threat for much of the opening hour, but despite a strong start and a well-deserved goal from Joshua Zirkzee, United’s wastefulness in front of goal came back to haunt them.
Missing a slew of chances before and after Zirkzee’s second-half strike, United were punished when Bruno Fernandes was penalized for a handball inside the area. Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal converted the resulting penalty to level the score. Without a series of crucial saves from Andre Onana and a stunning miss from substitute Orri Oskarsson, United could have been trailing heading into next week’s second leg at Old Trafford.
The tie remains finely balanced, but Ruben Amorim will reflect on a night of mixed fortunes. United showed glimpses of danger but were once again let down by their inefficiency in front of goal.
Man Utd’s Best Performers vs Sociedad
There were positives, with Joshua Zirkzee continuing his promising form. The 23-year-old, who missed a decisive penalty at the weekend, calmly slotted home for his sixth goal of the season. The goal came after a lovely team move, including a clever pull-back from Alejandro Garnacho, who returned to the starting lineup.
Another standout was Casemiro, who produced a sublime outside-of-the-foot pass to set up Zirkzee’s strike. The Brazilian midfielder looked composed throughout, winning eight duels and showcasing his passing range, including a precise dinked ball over the top for Fernandes.
The defensive trio also impressed, particularly Leny Yoro, who dominated in the air (winning 100% of his aerial duels) and completed 94% of his passes.
Key Stats: Sociedad vs Man Utd
| Stat | Player |
|---|---|
| Most touches | Diogo Dalot (71) |
| Most accurate passes | Brais Mendez (46) |
| Most key passes | Takefusa Kubo & Rasmus Hojlund (3) |
| Most successful dribbles | Ander Barrenetxea (3) |
| Highest xG | Mikel Oyarzabal (0.79) |
| Most tackles | Casemiro (5) |
| Most duels won | Casemiro & Noussair Mazraoui (8) |
| Dribbled past | Bruno Fernandes (3) |
Stats via Sofascore
Man Utd’s 4/10 Star Must Be Sold This Summer
While there were bright spots, Diogo Dalot endured a frustrating evening. His decision-making was questionable, particularly in the first half when he opted against passing to Rasmus Hojlund during a promising attack. Dalot’s attacking output remains underwhelming, with just 20 goals and assists in 199 appearances for United.
His struggles extended to possession, as he lost the ball 21 times against Sociedad, adding to the 25 times he was dispossessed against Fulham days earlier. Winning just 50% of his duels, Dalot was handed a 4/10 rating by Daily Express journalist Alex Turk, who noted, “Amorim’s need for a specialist right-wing-back is so obvious.”
With Geovany Quenda reportedly a summer target, United could look to cash in on Dalot. While he has been a solid servant, the Portuguese defender’s regression suggests it may be time for a change.
Looking Ahead
United will need to address their inconsistency and squad imbalances as they prepare for the second leg. With INEOS expected to oversee a squad revamp, players like Dalot could be among those shown the door. For now, the Red Devils will hope to turn the tide at Old Trafford and progress in the Europa League.
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