Key occasions
29 min: Lindelof beats Sorloth in an aerial problem simply contained in the United field. Sociedad desire a penalty for the full-blooded barge, however they’re not getting one, and are doubly incensed when Rico is instantly penalised for a deal with on Casemiro. It’s all going very properly for United proper now.
28 min: Merino, having performed a full stock, is as soon as once more good to go. United assault via Garnacho once more, the younger man slicing in from the left, leaning again, and larruping a shot over the bar.
26 min: Poor Merino gained’t be enthusiastic about his shoulder any extra. He’s simply taken a ball full within the trousers. Ooyah, oof, proper within the pintxos! A troublesome couple of minutes for the Sociedad captain.
24 min: That regarded within the first occasion like a dislocated shoulder, such was the dramatic nature of the slip and the following screams of ache. However fortunately it seems to have been only a sore whack, and he’s again on quickly sufficient.
23 min: Merino flies right into a problem on Van de Beek, solely to slide on the moist turf and fall awkwardly. He appears in some ache, having landed in a heap, all of his weight touchdown on his shoulder. On comes the physician.
22 min: Merino has a dig from the sting of the United field. The ball’s deflected out for a nook on the left. Actual play it again for Zubimendi, who shovels a directionless move ahead that sails harmlessly out for a aim kick.
20 min: United now want simply the yet one more aim to high Group E and keep away from all the large names dropping out of the Champions League. On the touchline, Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil makes his emotions identified through the medium of demonstrative tantrum.
18 min: There’s a fast VAR test. Was Fernandes offside when he headed the ball away from Rico? Nope! The aim stands. It’s Garnacho’s first for Manchester United. What a time to attain it!
GOAL! Actual Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United (Garnacho 17)
What a aim that is! Fernandes beats Rico to a header out on the United proper. The ball sails infield to Ronaldo, who performs a superbly weighted ball down the inside-left for Garnacho. The younger Argentinian, operating at full tilt, takes a contact to enter the field, then whistles an unstoppable shot throughout Remiro and into the highest proper. Wow!
15 min: Gorosabel strides down the fitting and whips in a cross. Sorloth is lurking, ready to crash a header residence, however Martinez is positioned completely and smacks a clearing header again upfield as an alternative.
14 min: Garnacho tears down the left, cuts infield, and tries to seek out Ronaldo on the opposite flank. A poor move whistles out for a aim kick, and he’d have absolutely been higher taking pictures, however this younger winger generates palpable pleasure every time he will get on the ball. A bundle of power and clean ability.
12 min: Merino tries to launch Rico down the inside-left channel however there’s just a little bit an excessive amount of juice on the move. Aim kick. It’s been an open recreation up to now, even when it’s not fairly but sparked into life.
11 min: Ronaldo falls over once more, and cops loads of abuse in doing so. His document of 13 targets in his final seven appearances in opposition to La Actual might have one thing to do with the reception he’s getting from the house devoted.
9 min: Ronaldo makes an attempt to chest the ball down on the sting of the Sociedad field. He falls over, claiming to have been tugged by Le Normand, however there was subsequent to nothing within the problem. Whereas Ronaldo complains, Garnacho retains going and whips a low ball via the six-yard field from the left. However there’s no one making the run.
7 min: Marin wriggles away from a few Manchester United challenges within the centre circle. His try to launch Sorloth down the fitting is unceremoniously nixed by Shaw’s no-nonsense intervention, however the residence followers loved that little burst of ability.
5 min: Merino slips a move down the inside-left channel to launch Carlos Fernandez into the United field. Fernandez lashes excessive and onerous into the aspect netting, and the flag goes up appropriately for offside anyway.
3 min: Rico dances his method down the inside-left channel and practically breaks into the United field. He overruns the ball, permitting Lindelof to shepherd it out for a aim kick. United haven’t had a lot of a sniff but.
1 min: A brisk begin for the hosts, as Marin makes good down the left. He’s obtained a whole lot of time and area wherein to work, so United are relieved to see the teen hoick carelessly out for a aim kick.
United get the ball rolling. Sociedad have misplaced two of their final three matches, whereas United are unbeaten in eight. That ought to give Erik ten Hag’s males hope as they chase the two-goal victory they want for high spot, La Actual’s a lot more healthy aim distinction the sticking level.
The groups are out! La Actual and United emerge from the tunnel to a sodden Anoeta, the heavens having been open for many of the afternoon in San Sebastian. The hosts play of their blue and white stripes, whereas United sport third-choice highlighter inexperienced. We’ll be off in a few minutes!
Erik ten Hag speaks to BT Sport. “We now have to cowl extra video games. Marcus Rashford had an damage a few weeks in the past, and with so many video games coming, he’s vital for us. We now have to maintain him going and on this type, and recent. Donny van de Beek is again. We now have some issues within the entrance line, and that is his second. He has to take this second. I do know he can do it from the quantity ten place, enjoying between the strains, slicing behind, counter press, so I wish to see it. Victor Lindelof has a extremely good mixture with Lisandro Martinez, he dropped out for one recreation via sickness and now he’s again. We all know what to do tonight. We now have to deliver tempo, and have a plan. We now have an thought with Marcus Rashford on the finish of the sport, how you can cope with that.”
Manchester United make three modifications to the XI chosen to begin the 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday. Victor Lindelof, Donny van de Beek and Alejandro Garnacho substitute Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga, all of whom drop to the bench.
Actual Sociedad identify a vastly totally different beginning line-up to the one chosen at Outdated Trafford again in September. Robin Le Normand, Diego Rico, Pablo Marín, Alexander Sørloth and Carlos Fernández are in; Aihen Muñoz, Takefusa Kubo, Umar Sadiq, Aritz Elustondo and former Manchester Metropolis man David Silva usually are not.
The groups
Actual Sociedad: Remiro, Gorosabel, Le Normand, Pacheco, Rico, Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino, Marin, Sorloth, Carlos Fernandez.
Subs: Sola, Illarramendi, Zubeldia, Elustondo, Zubiaurre, Guevara, Navarro, Turrientes, Gonzalez, Marrero, Karrikaburu, Magunacelaya.
Manchester United: de Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, van de Beek, Garnacho, Ronaldo.
Subs: Maguire, Rashford, Malacia, Fred, Pellistri, Wan-Bissaka, Dubravka, Elanga, McTominay, Shoretire, Vitek, Iqbal.
Referee: Georgi Kabakov (Bulgaria).
Preamble
Final week, Manchester United did this …
… which suggests they’ve certified for the knockout-round play-offs of the Europa League on the very least. But when they wish to get straight via to the final 16, and keep away from a knockout tie with a workforce freshly cashiered from the Champions League, they must win in San Sebastian tonight … and beat Actual Sociedad by two clear targets. Kick-off is at 5.45pm GMT. It’s on!