Real Sociedad welcome Manchester United to the Reale Arena on Thursday for the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
The Spanish side will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Barcelona by dispatching Ruben Amorim’s men.
Here are three reasons we believe Sociedad can pull off a first-leg win.
Strong Home Form
Real Sociedad are not favourites to win this game but they have such strong home form, that it would be foolish to write them off. Their record at home since November reads; two defeats in 14 games.
This is in sharp contrast with their away form, where they’ve struggled, losing four of their last five matches.
At this stage of the competition, avoiding defeat at home is crucial, allowing you to play with more freedom on the road.
Man United’s Injury Woes and Fatigue
Manchester United’s injury concerns and fatigue could be a significant factor in Thursday’s clash.
The absence of the likes of Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez has been keenly felt over the past month, leading to an overuse of an already small squad.
Bruno Fernandes has been asked to do everything, and at some point, the congested fixture list could see the United captain run out of gas.
Who will score the goals for Man Utd?
Manchester United’s lack of goalscoring firepower is a major concern. Despite performing better in European competitions than in the league, the Red Devils have struggled to find the back of the net consistently.
The likes of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have failed to impress, with 12 goals combined in all competitions this season.
It’s basically Fernandes or Bust for Amorim. Scoring goals is crucial at any stage, particularly in a fixture that has historically been a low-scoring affair.
Our prediction for this one is a slim 1-0 victory for Real Sociedad.
