Manchester United host Real Sociedad in their UEFA Europa League opener on Thursday, looking to continue their impressive run with a home win.
After a disappointing start to the season, Manchester United have improved significantly and can now look back on four straight wins in all competitions.
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During this time, Manchester United defeated teams like Liverpool and Arsenal at home. They will be pretty confident of taking all three points against the Spaniards this week.
Real Sociedad have been very inconsistent in recent weeks and will need to improve to take anything from this game. The Spaniards have picked up two wins from their last four games and it remains to be seen if they can make a splash at Old Trafford.
The two teams have faced each other four times in the past, with Manchester United winning two of those encounters and the others ending in a draw. Real Sociedad will be looking for their first win against Manchester United in UEFA competitions, but they are a resurgent side and it is likely to be a difficult game for the visitors.
Manchester United sees the UEFA Europa League as a great opportunity to win a European trophy this season, and Erik ten Hag has the squad at his disposal to win the competition.
Manchester United Team news
Manchester United will have to do without some of their best players due to injury problems.
Erik ten Hag is expected to rotate his squad to keep the players fresh for the upcoming matches.
Striker Anthony Martial is out with an injury, as are Brandon Williams, Facundo Pellistri, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe.
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make his second appearance of the season.
The 37-year-old has not been a regular in Manchester United's starting eleven this season and will be hoping to put in a first-class performance here if given the opportunity.
David De Gea will likely continue to be the goalkeeper of Manchester United.
Harry Maguire, who has come under criticism, could partner Raphael Varane in Manchester United's central defence after Lisandro Martinez went off injured against Arsenal.
Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia are expected to start at full-back.
Manchester United is the better team in this match, so expect an offensive alignment.
Ten Hag will probably start with a midfield centre of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.
Antony, Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes are expected to operate behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who will lead the line for the Red Devils.
Probable lineup (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Sancho; Ronaldo.
Real Sociedad Team news
Real Sociedad will be without Mikel Oyarzabal, Carlos Fernandez, Diego Rico, Martin Merquelanz and Robin Le Normand due to injury.
Alex Remiro is expected to start in goal for the Spaniards, while Alex Sola, Aritz Elustondo, Andoni Gorosabel and Aihen Munoz will form the back four against Manchester United.
Martin Zubimendi is expected to start as a defensive midfielder in the diamond, while Mikel Merino and Brais Mendez will form the central midfielders.
Former Manchester City captain David Silva will start as a number ten, while Umar Sadiq and Mohamed-Ali Cho will form the visitors' forward line against Manchester United.
Expected formation for Real Sociedad (4-1-2-1-2): remero; solo; Sola, ilustondo, Gorosabel, Munoz; zubimendi; Mendes, Omar, Merino; selecto.
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad match report
- Manchester United is unbeaten in 29 of the last 32 Europa League matches.
- Manchester United have kept a clean sheet in their last four games against Real Sociedad on all occasions.
- Real Sociedad have not won in their last six matches against the English side, failing to score five times.
- Real Sociedad midfielder David Silva has three goals and assists in eight games against Manchester United.
- Manchester United is unbeaten in its last 18 Europa League matches at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo
- Cristiano Ronaldo is the player to watch out for in this game.
- The 37-year-old striker has barely gotten regular playing time this season and will want to prove to Erik ten Hag that he is worth it with a top-notch performance.
- Ronaldo is one of the greatest goal scorers football has ever seen and he has an exceptional record in European competitions.
- He will put in a strong performance against Real Sociedad and hope to play his way back into the Manchester United coach's favour.
man united vs real Sociedad prediction
We expect Manchester United to 2-0 Real Sociedad.
Manchester United will undoubtedly go into this match as favourites and will go into it with a lot of confidence and momentum.
Real Sociedad has been very inconsistent lately and is up against a much better opponent here.
It is unlikely that Real Sociedad will make life easy for the hosts, but they are not in a position to win the game and will probably be defeated in the end. The Hard Tackle bets on a 2:0 victory for the Red Devils.
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