MANCHESTER UNITED were left to rue missed opportunities as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie.
Joshua Zirkzee scored his first European goal for the Red Devils, before a tame Sociedad outfit levelled through Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty.
United, perhaps, deserved more. And should’ve come away with a lead going into the second-leg at Old Trafford next week.
Ruben Amorim’s side started on the front foot and found space on the counter attack, which has been a rarity this season.
They even survived any threatening chances at Andre Onana’s goal in the first half, too.
Sociedad, in truth, offered very little and made seven changes from their 4-0 demolition away at Barcelona this past weekend.
The game plan should’ve been simple at half-time: simply pass the ball in behind to Rasmus Hojlund, with Sociedad slow at back.
But United’s dominance was soon rewarded when Zirkzee’s shot crept past Alex Remiro in the 57th minute.
But the noise and the Poznan came back into the Reale Arena after Oyarzabal’s spot-kick, after a VAR check sent referee Ivan Kruzliak to the monitor to check a Bruno Fernandes handball, drew the LaLiga side level.
The equaliser woke the home side up at the end, who had offered nothing until that point, but United remain unbeaten in Europe this season.
Here SunSport’s Katherine Walsh runs the rule over how each Manchester United star performed in the Basque Country.
Andre Onana – 5
The under-fire keeper was surely delighted to avoid any shots being peppered his way in the first half.
I guess you can say he attempted to command his area a bit more and made decisions early.
Wasn’t called upon to save anything of note before being sent the wrong way for Oyarzabal’s penalty and was under pressure from then on.
Noussair Mazraoui – 6
Moved into the back three with Harry Maguire injured and added some all-important aggression at the back.
Solid both defensively and in possession. The Moroccan won most of his duels and played some good and accurate long passes around the pitch.
Made an important sprint to deny lively sub Sheraldo Becker the ball at the death.
Matthijs de Ligt – 7
Came up against a rather weak Sociedad front-line but got a vital foot in to stop a chance on the stroke of half-time.
Was very disciplined when making some key tackles and his importance ramped up after the equaliser as Becker sent several dangerous crosses into the box.
The Dutch international slipped with a Sociedad player behind him but got a vital toe to clear the ball and save Onana in the 86th minute.
Leny Yoro – 6
Still a kid, still new to United and definitely full of promise. Took another step forward here as well, with a couple of key interceptions.
Importance clearance at the start of the second half, was followed up by an excellent defensive touch at the front post moments later.
The teenager is becoming stronger, making it tougher on strikers, and his growing confidence means he is now stepping into midfield
Diogo Dalot – 3
Loved by the players, highly rated by former managers, but so often the scapegoat for supporters. Think that’s harsh?
You should have seen his lack of instinct to cross a first-time ball into Hojlund, who make a great run into the box and was five yards from Sociedad’s goal line inside 20 minutes.
He’s not a real wing-back. It took a while for him to get into things and did better to find Fernandes for a chance inside the box just before half-time.
But so, so sloppy in possession. Gets himself into too many good areas to keep making the wrong decision in a side so short of goals.
Casemiro – 6
The five-time Champions League winner looked to launch the ball forward at the earliest opportunities to try and release one of his forwards.
His efforts were rewarded for Zirkzee’s opener, when Dalot collected his long pass and laid on Garnacho for an assist.
But United desperately lack a No 6, as Sociedad benefited from far too many gaps in midfield. On the whole, Casemiro operated well in tight spaces with Zirkzee.
Bruno Fernandes – 5
Was denied the opener when Sociedad defender Aritz Elustondo blocked his shot off the line with his thigh five minutes before half-time.
Minutes later, United’s forever creative master chipped a lovely cross into Dalot for a fleeting straight on header.
But just when United were on top, the club captain was so unlucky to concede a penalty via a jumping hand ball after the ref was sent to monitor in the 70th minute.
Was booked for mouthing off to the ref in the 55th minute. That could hurt United later on, if he picks up too many bookings in Europe.
Patrick Dorgu – 6
With five outfield players on the bench, Dorgu worried Amorim when he signalled a knock to his thigh inside 30 minutes. But he carried on.
The physical wing-back showed Dalot the benefits of whipping early crosses in.
Did he make up for being sent off against Ipswich last week? Kind of.
United look so much more threatening with him is in the side.
Alejandro Garnacho – 6
Amorim kept swapping his flanks, but he got his first bit of success on the left hand side, but sorely lacked in end product AGAIN.
The young Argentine fired far too many powerless shots at Alex Remiro. He is without a goal since the end of November.
But his brilliant pull-back to assist Zirkzee brought United’s opener.
The 20-year-old looked devastated when he was withdrawn for Christian Eriksen,with 12 minutes of remaining.
Joshua Zirkzee – 7
Went from crying on the pitch after missing the fifth penalty against Fulham on Sunday, to gun fingers after opening the scoring tonight.
And what a crucial goal it was in the 57th minute, with United fans growing tired of watching so many scuffed opportunities.
Just as he did against Marco Silva’s side, he worked hard throughout the pitch and had some tidy moments of link-up play when he dropped deep to create.
No doubting there’s a good player in there – he just isn’t blessed with pace and his follow-up attempt on Fernandes’ chance was far too casual.
Rasmus Hojlund – 6
The under-fire Dane might not deserve all the hate he gets. His lively display in Spain was not matched with ball deliveries from his team-mates.
He made smart driving runs and was right to be furious with Dalot and co. for their lack of service on several occasions.
None of his team-mates provided balls he could run on to, in fact, they were always quite short in the second half.
Drew fouls but again lacked a striker‘s instinct when he dummied on a few crosses.
Subs:
Christian Eriksen (’78 for Garnacho)
Didn’t do much after coming on. In fact, only offered a scuffed high cross in added time.
Victor Lindelof (’88 for Yoro)
Important clearance from Becker in the 92nd minute.
Toby Collyer (’88 for Zirkzee)
Unused: Heaven, Amass,
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