With the first leg ending in a tightly contested 1-1 draw in San Sebastian, both teams will be eager to seize the advantage and secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
United took the lead in Spain through Joshua Zirkzee’s well-taken strike, only for Mikel Oyarzabal to equalize from the penalty spot after a controversial VAR decision. Despite dominating large portions of the match, Ruben Amorim’s side was left frustrated by missed opportunities and Sociedad's resilience.
Now, back on home turf, United will look to capitalize on their unbeaten Europa League record this season and their strong performances at Old Trafford.
Man Utd vs Real Sociedad Key Information
• Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025
• Kick-off time: 8:00 PM
• Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
• Referee: B. Bastien (FRA)
• TV channels: BBC Radio 5 Live (Gbr), BBC Radio (Gbr), beIN Sports MENA English 1 (Gbr), Discovery+ UK (Gbr), Premier Sports 1 ROI (Irl), TNT Sports 1 (Gbr), TNT Sports Ultimate (Gbr)
• Odds: Man Utd – 17/20 | Draw – 12/5 | Real Sociedad – 16/5
Man Utd team news
Manchester United are grappling with a significant injury crisis ahead of their Europa League second leg against Real Sociedad, with Leny Yoro being the latest addition to their lengthy list of absentees.
The French defender was forced off at halftime during the Arsenal match due to a foot injury, replaced by young Ayden Heaven, and remains doubtful for Thursday's clash.
Other key players sidelined include Harry Maguire, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans, and Lisandro Martinez.
However, there is a glimmer of hope as manager Amorim provided a positive update on Manuel Ugarte's recovery. The midfielder, who missed the first leg, has been training and could return to action for the decisive encounter at Old Trafford.
Man Utd expected lineup v Real Sociedad (3-4-3)
Coach: Ruben Amorim
Onana; Yoro, de Ligt, Lindelof; Dorgu, Fernandes, Eriksen, Dalot; Garnacho, Hojlund, Zirkzee
Real Sociedad team news
Unlike Manchester United, Real Sociedad will field a nearly full-strength squad for their upcoming match.
Only Jon Pacheco, Álvaro Odriozola, and Arsen Zakharyan are unavailable due to injury.
Croatian midfielder Luka Sučić is doubtful after missing the weekend's game against Sevilla, although he has returned to training following a knee injury.
The return of key player Martin Zubimendi is expected to provide a significant boost for coach Imanol Alguacil as they aim to progress to the quarter-finals.
Real Sociedad expected lineup v Man Utd (4-3-3)
Coach: Imanol Alguacil
Remiro; Elustondo, Aguerd, Zubeldia, Muñoz; Marin, Turrientes, Mendez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
H2H record
Manchester United and Real Sociedad have faced each other seven times in European competitions, when it comes to head-to-head with United holding the upper hand historically.
The Red Devils have won three of their seven meetings with Real Sociedad, while the Spanish side has managed just one victory.
The remaining three encounters have ended in draws. Across these matches, United have scored seven goals compared to Sociedad's two.
Their most recent clash was the first leg of this tie in San Sebastian, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Prior to this season, their most notable encounters came during the 2022/23 Europa League group stage, where Sociedad secured a narrow 1-0 win at Old Trafford before United triumphed 1-0 in Spain.
As both teams look to advance to the quarterfinals, history slightly favors Manchester United, especially with their strong home record against Sociedad.
Odds for Man Utd and Real Sociedad
The stage is set for a thrilling second leg as Manchester United and Real Sociedad battle it out for a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals.
With the tie delicately poised at 1-1 after the first leg, both sides will be desperate to find the edge at Old Trafford. However, neither team has been firing on all cylinders in front of goal, setting the tone for another tightly contested encounter.
Both clubs are struggling domestically and know the Europa League represents their best chance of securing European football next season.
According to bet365, Manchester United are the favorites at 17/20, with odds of 12/5 for a draw and 16/5 for a Real Sociedad win. With everything still to play for, Thursday’s clash promises to be a gripping affair.
Odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.