*Match preview and betting tips provided by SVB Tips
Real Sociedad's Journey So Far
Real Sociedad are no strangers to the Europa League, having played 80 matches in the competition, with 37 wins, 18 draws, and 25 losses. Their most significant European achievement remains their run to the Champions League semi-finals in the 1982-83 season, where they were stopped by Hamburg, the eventual winners of the tournament.
This season, Sociedad have performed solidly, finishing 13th in their Europa League group with 13 points, and managing to score in all eight of their games, despite facing tough opponents like Ajax, Lazio, and PAOK. They qualified for the knockout stages, where they faced Denmark’s Midtjylland, whom they beat 2-1 away before securing a commanding 5-2 victory at home to progress to the next round.
The team has been managed by Imanol Alguacil since 2018, with the coach leading them to their only trophy – the Copa del Rey in 2020. Star player Mikel Oyarzabal, a 27-year-old forward, is Real Sociedad’s top scorer this season, having netted 9 goals in all competitions.
In La Liga, things haven’t gone exactly as planned for Sociedad, but with 12 games remaining, they remain within reach of the European spots, sitting in 9th place with 34 points, just four points off the top six.
However, Real Sociedad will be without Jon Pacheco and Arsen Zakharyan due to injury, and Álvaro Odriozola remains a doubt.
Manchester United’s Europa League Campaign
After competing in last season's Champions League, Manchester United returned to the Europa League this term, where they are considered one of the favourites to win the trophy. In the group stage, they performed impressively, finishing third with 18 points and remaining unbeaten in all their eight matches. On average, they scored two goals per game, with only three teams performing better in this regard.
The situation at Manchester United has become increasingly difficult, as the Europa League is their only remaining chance to win a trophy this season. Over the weekend, they were knocked out of the FA Cup after losing on penalties to Fulham.
Under manager Ruben Amorim, who took over four months ago, United have not looked much better than under previous coach Erik ten Hag. Despite spending over €200 million last summer on five new players, United have struggled to find consistency.
Captain Bruno Fernandes has been their main threat in attack, with 11 goals and 13 assists in all competitions. However, United will be without several key players for this clash, including Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer, Jonny Evans, and Altay Bayindir.
Head-to-Head
Real Sociedad and Manchester United have faced off four times in the Europa League, with the Red Devils narrowly leading 2-1 in their encounters. Managers, Imanol Alguacil and Ruben Amorim, will meet for the first time in this highly anticipated match.
Betting Suggestions:
- Real Sociedad to Win: Real Sociedad will kick off as favourites according to the odds, and home advantage might well give them the edge.
- Total Goals Over 2.5: Both teams are strong in attack, and with the pressure to secure a positive result, we can expect a high-scoring affair.
- Bruno Fernandes to Score Anytime: With his impressive form this season, Fernandes is most likely to find the net for the visitors.
- Draw at Half-Time: A close encounter in the first half could lead to a draw at the break, before the game opens up to allow one team to gain the upper hand in the second half.