Alejandro Garnacho's first-half strike was enough to secure Manchester United victory over Real Sociedad but the Red Devils failed to top their group and now head to the Europa League playoffs.
Erik ten Hag's side needed to beat the La Liga outfit by a two-goal margin to leapfrog their opponents and top their group but struggled to break down a resilient Sociedad defence. They now face the prospect of a Europa League playoff in home and away legs in February, where the likes of Barcelona, Juventus and Ajax await, to reach the last-16.
United looked lively in the opening stages with Garnacho the bright spark and after several missed chances he finally opened the scoring on 17 minutes, running onto Cristiano Ronaldo's through ball to smash home from a tight angle.
David de Gea had a fairly quiet night but needed to be at his brilliant best to make a stunning double save just before the break, denying Pablo Marin from close range at the second attempt.
Ten Hag made changes in the early half as he brought on Marcus Rashford looking for that decisive second goal but the England international struggled to make an impact.
As Sociedad stood tall and began to run down the clock, the Dutchman ripped up the playbook and brought on Harry Maguire... putting him up front with Ronaldo. It didn't work though and United now await their fate in Monday's Europa League draw.
MORE: Manchester United potential Europa League knockout round opponents
Real Sociedad vs Man United final score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Real Sociedad | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Man United | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Goals:
MUN - Garnacho (17th min)
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Garnacho the star
While Rashford endured a frustrating night in front of goal after coming on and Ronaldo failed to make an impact throughout, the future certainly looks bright with teenage star Garnacho coming through.
This time last month the Argentine was scoring for the U21s in a Football League Trophy win over Barrow. He's now bagged the winner in a Europa League tie and started to announce himself on the big stage.
The 18-year-old became the youngest non-English player in United's history to score in Europe, showing composure beyond his years to latch on to Ronaldo's through ball, out pace the defender, and finish with aplomb.
Despite going off the boil a bit in the second half, Garnacho's opening 45 certainly had the travelling fans on the edge of their seats, twisting and turning the right-back inside out at times before looking to get a shot away or pick out a key pass.
If he keeps on taking these chances to impress under Ten Hag he won't be facing the likes of Barrow again any time soon, that's for sure.
Ten Hag's wild tactics
Ten Hag has certainly made a few masterstrokes with substitutes and tactics at times this season but tonight wasn't one of them. He opted to give Donny van de Beek his first start since March 13, 2022, but the Dutchman was anonymous in the first half, playing behind Ronaldo.
He recognised the need for change early on in the second half with Rashford and Scott McTominay introduced on the hour mark for Van de Beek and Victor Lindelof as they sought a second goal.
But Rashford offered little and despite the likes of Anthony Elanga on the bench he opted to bring on Maguire and Fred with ten left on the clock. Christian Eriksen and Garnacho were the men to make way but few could have predicted Maguire was heading on to help deliver the goals.
Ronaldo and Maguire up front surely never should have been an option. It looked a tad desperate, they were after all, but Sociedad had been dealing with long balls quite comfortably all night and the introduction of Maguire just disrupted the rhythm of United's play.
Real Sociedad vs Man United live updates, highlights from Europa League
FULL-TIME: Real Sociedad 0-1 Man United
90th min +3: United keep trying to get the ball into Maguire but are struggling to pick him out. The Red Devils win a corner but bizarrely play it short and it comes to nothing. Sociedad fans are screaming for the final whistle.
90th min: Huge chance for United! There's a goal scramble in the box and Casemiro gets his shot away but it's saved. The flag goes up for offside after the drama. Five added minutes.
87th min: Dalot gets booked for breaking up a Sociedad attack, catching his opponent accidentally in the face with his elbow.
86th min: Sociedad win a corner and are in absolutely no rush to take it. It comes to nothing.
83rd min: Maguire is playing up front... this is not a drill.
80th min: Into the final 10 minutes and United still need one more goal if they are to top the group and avoid having to play a playoff. Fred and Maguire have been introduced for Eriksen and Garnacho.
78th min: United are on the back foot. Sorloth carries the ball forward but with little support he hits one from distance and it goes over.
73rd min: Fernandez is substituted but as he takes so long to leave the pitch he's booked as he leaves the pitch! Guevara replaces him.
72nd min: Ronaldo gets a yellow card after going up for a header and leading with his elbow. Tad harsh.
70th min: From a throw-in, Merino flicks the ball on to Fernandez, who hits one on the turn, off balance, and it's well over.
68th min: The two changes made by Ten Hag haven't had much impact so far with Sociedad dominating possession. Rashford's been fairly quiet and United aren't making it into the final third right now.
63rd min: Mendez goes into the referee's book himself after fouling Shaw and then kicking the ball away in frustration.
61st min: Martinez takes out Mendez with a big tackle but hurts himself in the process. The United defender picks up a yellow card after getting back to his feet.
59th min: Double change for United as Rashford and McTominay replace Van de Beek and Lindelof. Sociedad also make two changes, Navarro and Elustondo on for Marin and Gorosabei.
55th min: Shaw crosses in from the left but he doesn't find Fernandes in the middle. United have started well since the break but Sociedad are just starting to enjoy a bit more possession.
51st min: Rashford and McTominay are both warming up on the sidelines... could we see a change from Ten Hag shortly?
48th min: Big change for Sociedad! Sorloth looks certain to head home from a cross into the box but Martinez gets up high and deflects the goal-bound effort over.
We're underway! No changes at the break for either side.
HALF-TIME: Real Sociedad 0-1 Man United
44th min: Massive double save from De Gea! He's at full stretch to dive to his right for a one handed save and then barely has time to get to his feet to block Marin's rebound from inside two yards. Brilliant from the Spaniard.
42nd min: Big chance for Ronaldo! The Portuguese runs onto a ball over the top and it sits up nicely for him as attempts to lift it over the goalkeeper but he puts just too much on it and the ball comes down to land on top of the net.
41st min: Merin picks up the ball on the edge of the box but his effort is weak and De Gea easily gathers.
39th min: United are looking pretty solid at the back so far with Martinez winning plenty of headers. Sociedad yet to fully test them, really.
34th min: Fernandes crosses into the back post but it's just beyond Ronaldo and the ball goes out of play. United are keen to get to that two-goal margin before half-time.
32nd min: De Gea is yet to make a save and a wild shot from Marin keeps it that way. It's well wide.
27th min: Garnacho causing problems again. Fernandes plays him in this time and the Argentine beats his man but slips at the crucial moment and his shot goes well over the bar.
24th min: Merino goes down after a hefty challenge and looks to be holding his shoulder. It looks painful but after being assessed by the physio he's fit to continue.
21st min: Merino carries the ball forward and looks to unleash a shot from the edge of the box but Lindelof gets a crucial block in.
17th min: GOAL! Real Sociedad 0-1 Man United
Garnacho has looked lively from the off and he's got his first goal for the club. A brilliant through ball from Ronaldo into the left channel sees the teenager use his pace to outrun the defender and rifle the ball past the goalkeeper from a tight angle.
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14th min: Garnacho runs at Sociedad's defence at pace again before cutting inside, however his final pass goes straight through everyone and out for a goal-kick.
12th min: Sociedad may be missing the magician David Silva but Mikel Merino is pulling a few strings from midfield at the moment and trying to find some pockets of space.
10th min: Garnacho does well down the left before crossing in but there's nobody in the box to convert. Seconds earlier Ronaldo went down in the box but there's not much in it, no penalty.
6th min: Chance for Fernandez! The Sociedad striker is played through but fires into the side netting at the near post. The flag goes up for offside anyway.
4th min: A cagey start by both teams so far with some early battles in the middle of the park. Van de Beek looks to be playing just behind Ronaldo.
We're underway!
5 mins to kickoff: The atmosphere is building at the Reale Arena as the teams prepare to come out the tunnel. Just over 2,000 United fans are said to have made the trip and they'll need to be extra loud tonight if they are two cheer their team on to victory.
15 mins to kickoff: All eyes will be on Van de Beek this evening and Ten Hag has explained why he's finally given him the nod tonight.
“I think always when you play it has to be special, the first time [he starts], he was injured, he’s back, he has to work himself back and we need him today," Ten Hag told MUTV.
Asked what he expects from the midfielder, he added: “Definitely scoring abilities, he’s good in movements, in between the lines, getting in behind, good in transition, counter-press, he has those capabilities and he has to show it today."
35 mins to kickoff: Donny van de Beek has been handed a big chance, with United needing a win by two goals or more to avoid a playoff match in the Europa League knockouts. It's the first start of the season in any competition for the 25-year-old Dutchman who was left off the Netherlands World Cup roster entirely.
65 mins from kickoff: The lineups are out a bit early, and Erik ten Hag has thrown a few fringe players on knowing this match is less meaningful. Donny van de Beek and Alejandro Garnacho start for the Red Devils against a full-strength Real Sociedad side. In exchange, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga are rested, with Harry Maguire also sat in favor of Victor Lindelof.
90 mins from kickoff: "All I care about is MUFC!" United supporters at the outdoor bars in San Sebastian.
100 mins from kickoff: Man United will be in their third strip at the Reale Arena:
2 hours from kickoff: A matchup against one of these clubs in the Europa League knockout playoffs will be awaiting Man United in February if they can't beat Real Sociedad by two or more goals.
2 hours 30 from kickoff: There are unconfirmed reports that Cristiano Ronaldo, Alejandro Garnacho, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, and Donny van de Beek are all starting for United in Spain. We're an hour away from finding out if that's true.
3 hours from kickoff: This is probably a welcome that's a tad aggressive from Real Sociedad's official account.
What time is Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United?
Real Sociedad play host to Manchester United at Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain. It kicks off at 5.45 p.m. GMT on Thursday, November 3.
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| Date | Thurs, Nov 3 | Thurs, Nov 3 | Thurs, Nov 3 | Fri, Nov 4 |
| Time | 17:45 GMT | 13:45 ET | 13:45 ET | 04:45 AEDT |
How to watch Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| TV channel | BT Sport 1 | TUDN | — | — |
| Streaming | BT Sport website/app | fuboTV, Paramount+, ViX+, TUDN site/app |
DAZN | Stan Sport |
UK: Europa League matches are carried across BT Sport streaming and TV platforms. United's match will be shown on BT Sport 1.
USA: Viewers can watch the match on TUDN, which is streamed on fuboTV, offering a free trial to new users. The match will also be streamed for subscribers of ViX+ (Spanish) or Paramount+ (English).
Canada: Every Europa League match all season long is broadcast in Canada via DAZN.
Australia: Every Europa League match all season long is streamed in Australia via Stan Sport.
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United lineups
Cristiano Ronaldo started the wins over Sheriff Tiraspol and West Ham last week and keeps his place. Harry Maguire was also back in the fold and didn't put a foot wrong, but is rested in favor of Victor Lindelof who was said to be ill but makes the lineup.
Donny van de Beek gets a surprise start in midfield alongside 18-year-old Alejandro Garnacho who impressed against FC Sheriff last time out in Europa League play.
Antony is injured, while Jadon Sancho is ill and Anthony Martial not quite fully fit, so none of those three forwards will be involved. Raphael Varane remains sidelined, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka is back in the squad and on the bench.
Manchester United lineup (4-3-1-2): De Gea (GK) — Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Shaw — Eriksen, Casemiro, van de Beek — Fernandes — Ronaldo, Garnacho.
Jon Karrikaburu led the line for Sociedad in their last Europa League outing but Imanol resorts back to two up front in Carlos Fernandez and Alexander Sorloth for this one.
Former Man City star David Silva — who won the controversial penalty by which La Real sealed victory at Old Trafford — is expected to be out until January with a thigh injury, and Takefusa Kubo has a shoulder injury. Full-back Alex Sola is fit, but is only able to make the bench.
Real Sociedad lineup (4-1-3-2): Remiro (GK) — Gorosabel, Le Normand, Pacheco, Rico — Zubimendi — Mendez, Marin, Merino — Fernandez, Sorloth
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Real Sociedad vs Manchester United odds
United have turned a corner since they last played Sociedad in September with things finally starting to click under Ten Hag. United's attacking talent are linking up well with Marcus Rashford finding his best form and that will cause plenty of concern for the Spanish side.
However, Sociedad have conceded just once in five matches in the Europa League this season, winning all five games. David de Gea could well be in for a busy night at the other end.
MORE: Sporting News betting expert provides his best bet for the game
| UK (Sky Bet) |
USA (Caesars) |
Canada (Sports Interaction) |
Australia (Ladbrokes) | |
| Real Sociedad win | 11/5 | +220 | 3.05 | 21/10 |
| Draw | 12/5 | +250 | 3.40 | 12/5 |
| Manchester United win | 11/10 | +115 | 2.18 | 23/20 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 8/11 | -138 | 1.71 | 8/11 |
| Both teams to score | 4/7 | -163 | 1.56 | 3/5 |