Mikel Oyarzabal’s composed penalty secured a 1-1 draw for Real Sociedad against Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash on Thursday.
The Red Devils, struggling in a disappointing season, view the competition as their most realistic path to Champions League qualification. However, they failed to maintain their lead at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián.
Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee ended a five-game goal drought by scoring just before the hour mark, giving Ruben Amorim’s side a 1-0 advantage. However, a handball by Bruno Fernandes led to a penalty, which Oyarzabal converted in the 70th minute to level the match.
The hosts came close to a late winner, but Orri Oskarsson squandered two clear chances, leaving the tie delicately balanced ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford next Thursday.
Reflecting on the match, Oyarzabal said, “It’s a shame about those chances we missed at the end, but the tie is open. We’re going there alive, with a lot of desire.” He acknowledged the challenge of creating opportunities but felt the team held firm defensively.
Ruben Amorim, dealing with an injury crisis that limited him to 18 players, saw key figures like Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte join Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, and Luke Shaw on the sidelines. Upfront, Rasmus Højlund’s goal drought extended to 19 matches, while Zirkzee’s strike marked only his second goal in 17 games.
Amorim admitted that winning the Europa League is not “crucial” but sees it as a potential lifeline for a disastrous season, with United sitting 14th in the Premier League and out of all domestic cup competitions.
The first half was uneventful, with neither side attacking convincingly, though United created the better chances. Real Sociedad’s Aritz Elustondo made vital blocks to deny Fernandes and Zirkzee, helping the hosts stay level at halftime.
Real Sociedad, currently ninth in La Liga, are determined to lift the trophy at San Mamés, the home of their rivals, Athletic Bilbao. Imanol Alguacil’s side, boosted by the returns of Takefusa Kubo, Oyarzabal, and Luka Sučić, struggled in midfield due to the absence of Martín Zubimendi.
Manchester United showed greater urgency after the break, with Fernandes sending a free-kick wide and Alejandro Garnacho hitting the side-netting. Zirkzee finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, converting Garnacho’s cross despite goalkeeper Álex Remiro’s efforts.
Real Sociedad responded midway through the second half, winning a penalty when Fernandes was penalised for a handball while attempting to clear a corner. Oyarzabal, who scored Spain’s winner in the Euro 2024 final, confidently converted the spot-kick, sending United’s goalkeeper André Onana the wrong way.
Onana produced a brilliant save to deny Brais Méndez’s curling effort as the hosts grew in confidence. However, Oskarsson’s late misses spared United from a damaging defeat.
The winner of this tie will face either French side Lyon or Romanian club FCSB in the quarter-finals, keeping the stakes high for the return leg at Old Trafford.
