*Match preview and betting tips provided by SVB Tips
United’s Struggles in Recent Matches
Manchester United have not lost in regular time since their defeat to Tottenham in London nearly a month ago. However, since that match, they’ve only won once in five games, including their penalty-shoot-out FA Cup exit after drawing 1-1 with Fulham. After that, the Red Devils experienced two more 1-1 draws: one against Real Sociedad last week and the other in a home Premier League draw with Arsenal this past weekend.
Ruben Amorim took a pragmatic approach against Arsenal on Sunday, but could have claimed all three points. United led through a Bruno Fernandes free-kick just before half-time, and carved out several late chances to win after Declan Rice’s equaliser. The performance should boost confidence within Amorim’s squad, but the Portuguese coach still has a long list of injuries to contend with, relying on a limited pool of players who may also be struggling with fitness issues.
Currently, Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martinez, Shaw, Mainoo, Evans, Mount, and Bayindir are all sidelined. Furthermore, there are doubts about Yoro, Maguire, and Ugarte.
Real Sociedad's Winless Streak
Real Sociedad have gone four matches without a win. After three consecutive defeats at the end of January, they seemed to bounce back, winning six of their next eight game, but the Basques are struggling once again. Since their 3-0 win over Leganes on February 23, they’ve lost 0-1 at home to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, were defeated 0-4 away by Barcelona in the league, drew with United 1-1 last week at Anoeta, and most recently lost 0-1 at home to Sevilla in La Liga.
Now sitting in 11th place in La Liga and with slim chances of reaching the Copa del Rey final, Real Sociedad are looking to take advantage of Manchester United's current form and secure a spot in the Europa League quarterfinals. A Sociedad win would also boost Spain’s UEFA coefficient to make it easier for Spanish clubs to qualify for European competitions in future seasons.
For this match, coach Imanol Alguacil will be without Jon Pacheco and Arsen Zakharyan, while Odriozola, Aramburu, and Sucic remain doubts.
Betting Suggestions:
- Manchester United to Win – With home advantage and Real Sociedad's recent struggles, United should just have the edge, but it is likely to be close.
- Both Teams to Score – Yes – Despite United's defensive issues, they’ve managed to score in most of their recent matches. Sociedad will need to push forward, increasing the likelihood of both teams scoring.
- Over 2.5 Goals – Given United’s attacking talent and Sociedad’s need for a result, there could be more goalmouth action than in the first leg.
- Draw at Half-Time – With both teams likely playing cautiously at the start, a draw at halftime could be a strong possibility before a more open second half.