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How Manchester United should line up vs Real Sociedad in Europa League fixture

United play Real Sociedad on Thursday evening.

Manchester United take on Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 tonight. United crashed out of the FA Cup fifth round on penalties against Fulham last weekend, meaning their only hope of winning a trophy this season is the Europa League.

Ruben Amorim's side finished third in the Europa League table and will now face Spanish side Real Sociedad across home and away legs with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

United made the trip to San Sebastian on Wednesday after a final training session at Carrington and they will hope to secure a positive result to bring back to Manchester for the second leg. Regarding the team news, Patrick Dorgu is available because his suspension only applies to domestic fixtures, but Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte have been ruled out of the match.

Chido Obi is also ineligible because he wasn't included in United's revised Europa League squad. Here is how our writers think United should line up...

Steven Railston

Maguire and Ugarte have been ruled out of this match, which is a huge blow because both players would have been guaranteed starters in San Sebastian. It never rains but it pours in Manchester, and it feels logical for Amorim to start Mazraoui and Casemiro in place of those absentees.

Casemiro will be motivated to perform at his very best in the country where he spent the majority of his career and starting Mazraoui on the right side of the back-three is a no-brainer.

It feels like blind hope to persist with Hojlund at this stage, but I'd pick him to lead the attack after showing glimmers of promise at the start of the game against Fulham. It's slightly harsh to drop Zirkzee, who hasn't done much wrong, but Eriksen will help provide more control in midfield.

George Smith

United's squad is decimated by injury concerns, with Maguire and Ugarte the latest to join an ever-growing list. It means room to make changes is very, very limited.

Dorgu will make a brief return from his three-match domestic ban and ought to be a shoo-in at left wing-back, allowing Dalot to start on the opposite flank. Mazraoui is versatile and should take Maguire's spot in the back-three.

Casemiro is an obvious replacement for Ugarte in midfield and should partner Fernandes, who has been better as one of the two No.8s recently. Garnacho must return to the starting XI, supporting Zirkzee and Hojlund in attack.

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