Real Sociedad take on the visitors Manchester United in the first leg of UEFA Europa League round of 1/8-finals. The match will be played on Thursday, March 6th at Reale Arena (San Sebastian).
Real Sociedad seemed to have passed the peak of their project under Imanol Alguacil. Yes, he led them to a Copa del Rey triumph, a fourth-place finish in La Liga, and even a Champions League knockout stage appearance after topping their group. However, last season saw a regression, dropping from fourth to sixth. Now, even that position is under threat, with a tightly contested race involving multiple serious rivals. Despite this, their season is far from lost, as they remain competitive in multiple competitions. They performed well in the domestic cup, only losing to Real Madrid due to Lunin’s saves and Endrick’s goal. However, they still have a second leg to turn things around in Madrid. In the Europa League, they recovered from a slow start—earning just one point in the first two games—to win the next four and advance to the knockouts. There, they comfortably dispatched Midtjylland, winning both legs. Their recent defensive solidity has been a key factor in their resurgence, with the team conceding just three goals in their last five matches.
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Manchester United can only save their season here. The Red Devils have put their fans through years of frustration and disappointment since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. Erik ten Hag initially impressed in his first season, but by 2023/2024, things took a sharp downturn, both in the Premier League and the Champions League. A late-season FA Cup win kept him in the job and earned him a few new signings, but that didn’t change much. Eventually, he was replaced by Rúben Amorim, who, despite his success in Portugal, struggled to adapt as an emergency hire in unfamiliar England. Under the Portuguese coach, United’s form worsened, crashing out of domestic cups and falling to a disastrous league position. However, the Europa League remains their lifeline. After a sluggish start with consecutive draws, their form improved following the managerial switch, allowing them to qualify directly for the Round of 16. Despite their struggles, United’s attack has been firing, with the team scoring in every match since Amorim’s arrival.
Since 2013, these sides have faced off six times across the Champions League and Europa League. Manchester United have won half of those encounters, losing just once. Both teams have strong motivations to go for the win. Betting on Both Teams to Score looks reasonable.
Prediction for the match: Both teams to score – yes.
