How Manchester United defeated Real Sociedad 1-0 but fell short of winning Europa League group

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Fernandes said to BT Sport: “He was good but he knows that we expect a lot from him. Obviously, he’s still really young, he’s doing really well.

“At the beginning of the season, he was not at his best. In the tour, he didn’t have the best attitude that he should’ve had. That’s why he didn’t get his chances until now.

“He’s getting his chances because he’s training better, he’s having a different attitude and he’s deserving his chances.”

The Manchester United manager had nice words for Alejandro Garnacho’s performance.

Three other groups have concluded play.

Group winners joining Real Sociedad in the round of 16:

• Feyenoord
• Freiburg
• Ferencvaros

Group runners-up joining Manchester United in the play-off round:

• FC Midtjylland
• Nantes
• Monaco

Group F was comically tight, as all four teams – Feyenoord, FC Midtjylland, Lazio, and Sturm Graz – finished with eight points, meaning goal difference and goals scored were needed to separate them.

Despite Manchester United’s victory, you’d have thought it was Real Sociedad who needed to win by two tonight, the way they attacked all match:

• Expected goals: 0.95 – 0.56
• Shots: 13 – 4
• Shots on target: 4 – 1
• Chances created: 9 – 3
• Saves: 0 – 4
• Possession: 48% – 52%
• Corners: 5 – 2
• Offsides: 1 – 2
• Fouls: 5 – 11
• Yellow cards: 2 – 3

Manchester United’s failure to overtake Real Sociedad for first place in Group E has significant implications for their season.

They’ll have to play two extra games in February, taking on one of eight teams dropping down the Champions League in a two-leg tie, with the winner advancing to the Europa League round of 16.

Here are United’s potential opponents for what is sure to be a challenging play-off:

• Barcelona
• Ajax
• Bayer Leverkusen
• Sporting Lisbon
• Red Bull Salzburg
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Sevilla
• Juventus

La Real have lost but they won’t care as it’s only by one goal! Real Sociedad win Group E, confirming their place in the last 16 of the Europa League!

Manchester United fall just short of their needed two-goal win, and will have to navigate a two-leg play-off against a team dropping down from the Champions League in order to reach the round of 16.

90+3′ Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United

For the first time all match, La Real are sitting deep and just trying to hold on. United are pinning them deep, keeping them under pressure. Anywhere will do for the home side now. Just minutes left!

87′ Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United

Just a few minutes plus injury time left in this one. United are leading but of course it’s not enough. They need to find another goal in order to overtake La Real for first place in Group E.

Dalot ends a Real Sociedad attack by swinging his arm out at Magunazelaia, and is quite unhappy to receive a booking for it.

83′ Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United

Brais Mendez and Sorloth come off, replaced by Zubeldia and Magunazelaia.

Garnacho and Eriksen also leave, making way for Fred and Maguire. Maguire appears to be playing as a forward!

79′ Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United

Real Sociedad are not sitting back by any stretch of the imagination, as Navarro beats Ronaldo on the right wing and has two chances to fire a shot on goal, both of which are blocked by Shaw.

Moments later it’s Sorloth trying his luck from the edge of the box. If the home side level this match, you have to assume that’s it for United’s chances of topping the group.

77′ Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United

We’re down to a quarter-hour left, and everything is still to play for. As things stand Real Sociedad will be the winners of Group E, but all it takes for United to overtake them is one more goal by the visitors.

69′ Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United

Real Sociedad have numbers as they break forward, but an errant cross sees their attack fizzle.

Moments later, Carlos Fernandez has a chance in front of goal but can’t direct his effort on target.

64′ Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United

Brais Mendez may have eluded a booking moments ago, but not this time. He cynically brings down Luke Shaw and the referee shows him a yellow card.

61′ Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United

Brais Mendez violently collides with Martinez. The United defender stays down for over a minute but is OK to continue.

Despite Martinez coming off the worse of the two, he’s surprisingly the one who earns a yellow card.

59′ Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United

• Rashford on for Van de Beek
• McTominay for Lindelof

• Elustondo on for Gorosabel
• Navarro for Marin