Manchester United will have to go through the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-offs to secure a Last 16 spot despite beating Real Sociedad 1-0 on Thursday night.
UEFA Europa League
Result: Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United
Date: 03 November 2022
Venue: Reale Arena
Man United made three changes from their narrow win over West Ham United, as Victor Lindelof, Donny van de Beek and Alejandro Garnacho, who joined Cristiano Ronaldo upfront, were all brought in.
The Red Devils struggled to get out of their own half in the early stages but grabbed the lead on 17 minutes from a long kick by goalkeeper David de Gea, as Garnacho was sent through on goal by Ronaldo and fired a powerful shot over shot-stopper Alex Remiro.
La Real continued to have a good spell of possession but they could not make it count and they were nearly punished shortly before the interval after a mistake at the back led to Ronaldo going clear on goal but his volleyed lob over Remiro landed on top of the goal netting.
Sociedad kept on coming with good combination play and should have been level on the stroke of half-time but De Gea preserved the lead for United with an impressive double save to keep out strikes from Andoni Gorosabel and Pablo Marin, who had the clearest chance on a rebound from point-blank range.
The visitors continued to contain La Real, who were determined to get back into the game in the early stages of the second stanza, although they could not yet open up the United rearguard.
Erik ten Hag had seen enough around the hour-mark, as he made a double change to stimulate their attacking play, as Marcus Rashford replaced Van de Beek and Scott McTominay came on for Lindelof.
The dynamic of the game was changing in the closing stages, as the Red Devils needed the second goal without conceding to finish as group winners and at times Imanol Alguacil's charges ran down the clock, as the scoreline suited them.
The Red Devils had the urgency going forward in the dying minutes but they could not get through a crowd of Sociedad players at the back and the Spanish side held on to edge United on goal difference at the top of Group E.
La Real qualified for the round of 16 as group winners while United will play the play-off round after finishing second in the group.
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