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Portuguese excellence from Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot saw Manchester United cruise through to the Europa League quarter-finals against Real Sociedad.
The home side played out three 1-1 draws in their last three games, including the reverse fixture last Thursday, where a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty denied United the advantage heading into the second leg.
Ruben Amorim made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Arsenal last Sunday, as 18-year-old Aidan Heaven made his first ever Manchester United start after signing from Arsenal in January. Joshua Zirkzee also returned to the starting 11 after scoring in Spain last week.
Socieidad also came into the game winless in their last three, losing 1-0 at home to Sevilla on the weekend. They made seven changes from the side that suffered the aforementioned defeat, with star midfielder Martin Zubimendi returning to the midfield.
Despite this, the Spanish side got off to a flying start, as captain Mikel Oyarzabal went down from a Matthijs De Ligt challenge from behind in just the first five minutes of the game. After a lengthy VAR check, De Ligt entered the book and a penalty was awarded, with Oyarzabal converting from the spot in the 10th minute.
Just four minutes after he dispatched from 12 yards out, Igor Zubeldia went crashing into Rasmus Hojlund from behind as the ball was flashed across to the Norwegian striker in the six yard box. This time, the penalty was immediately awarded with Zubeldia booked, and a much shorter VAR check confirmed the on-field decisions. Bruno Fernandes sent his penalty into the bottom right hand corner moments later to tie up affairs.
United forcefully pushed for the lead from here, and came close on the half hour mark when Joshua Zirkzee went on a run down the left hand side. He squared the ball to Rasmus Hojlund, who flicked the ball across goal towards the right post but it trickled just wide. This summarised what turned out to be an other frustrating night for Hojlund, who for all his effort just couldn’t find the clinicality to get himself a goal.
The Red Devil’s dominance pinned Sociedad up against the wall and forced them into many careless fouls. Pablo Matin was their second of seven players to enter the book in the 39th minute.
Bruno Fernandes had the chance to provide the assist to get his side in front with a deep free kick in the 42nd minute, but the midfielder selfishly went for goal and blasted the ball high into the Stretford End.
Ruben Amorim made no changes at half time, but his side clearly didn’t need any after Patrick Dorgu won his side another penalty in the 49th minute after a collision with Aritz Elustondo. Another prompt VAR check once again confirmed the spot kick, and a minute later once again Bruno Fernandes converted to pick up his brace and put his side in the lead.
Sociedad lacked discipline after this, represented by the normally level-headed and sensible Martin Zubimendi entering the book. To try and restore order, Imanol Alguacil made his first changes in the 55th minute, with Ander Barrenetxea, Jon Aramburu and Benat Turrientes replacing Sheraldo Becker, Igor Zubeldia and Pablo Matin.
Just eight minutes after his introduction though, Jon Aramburu swept at Patrick Dorgu’s legs as the Danish full back ran through one-on-one with Alex Remiro. The Spanish midfielder was swiftly dismissed, and Sociedad would be forced to play with 10 men. Tensions were riding high, which also saw captain Mikel Oyarzabal enter the book a minute later for dissent.
Both sides reigned in the changes throughout the last 15 minutes of the game, with Toby Collyer and Christian Eriksen replacing Casemiro and Joshua Zirkzee. Takefusa Kubo and Aritz Elustondo were replaced by Orri Óskarsson and Hamari Traore for Los Txuri-Din. Despite these switches, the home side still dominated, as a boisterous Old Trafford crowd urged their side to grab a third.
United believed they had won a third penalty in the 84th minute when Patrick Dorgu was once again brought down in the box by Hamidi Traore, but a VAR check reversed the decision to deny Fernandes a chance to score a hat-trick of penalties.
Nonetheless, the Portuguese midfielder wasn’t to be denied a hat-trick after being played in behind by Alejandro Garnacho in the 87th minute. After an excellent first touch, the 30-year-old composed himself and slammed the ball home into the bottom right-left corner to seal the tie for his side.
They weren’t done yet though, as Rasmus Hojlund found space down the left gand side in the 91st minute after an excellent bit of skill to flick the ball away from the Sociedad defence. He sent a ball into the box, which was met by Diogo Dalot who sent the ball into the roof of the net to bag United’s fourth.
Ruben Amorim’s side now go on to face Lyon in the quater-finals, but face Leicester, Nottingham Forest and fierce rivals Manchester City before the first leg in April. Sociedad travel to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in an attempt to bridge a seven point gap to a European spot, currently held by 7th place Real Betis.
