Manchester United battled to a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad in their Europa League Round of 16 clash on Thursday night.
The Red Devils carved out several promising chances in the first half but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Bruno Fernandes came agonisingly close to scoring, only to see his goal-bound effort heroically cleared off the line.
La Real struggled to trouble United’s defence, and it was the visitors who struck first through Joshua Zirkzee in the 57th minute.
However, Sociedad clawed their way back into the game, levelling the score from the penalty spot in the 70th minute following a highly controversial VAR decision against Fernandes.
Both sides pushed for a late winner, creating nervy moments at either end, but neither could land the decisive blow.
With the tie delicately poised, everything will be on the line when the two sides meet again at Old Trafford for the second leg.
Player Ratings
Andre Onana – 7/10
Onana had a quiet first half with little action but was unable to deny La Real from converting their penalty.
He made a crucial save in the injury time.
Leny Yoro – 7/10
Yoro enjoyed a comfortable evening at the back, barring a late scare when Oskarsson got the better of him.
Matthijs de Ligt – 7/10
De Ligt seamlessly stepped into the heart of United’s back three in Harry Maguire’s absence.
Much like Yoro, he had a relatively less troubled night but produced a brilliant last-ditch tackle when called upon.
Noussair Mazraoui – 7/10
Mazraoui showcased his adaptability by slotting into the left centre-back role.
While he didn’t offer much in terms of ball distribution, he remained defensively solid for most of the game.
Diogo Dalot – 6/10
Dalot made a poor decision in the first half when he failed to deliver a simple cross to Rasmus Hojlund, squandering a promising attacking opportunity.
Patrick Dorgu – 6/10
The wing-back played a crucial role in United’s attacking moves, injecting much-needed intensity and energy into a position that has often lacked dynamism.
Casemiro – 7/10
The former Real Madrid star looked right at home in Spain, enjoying time on the ball as Real Sociedad failed to put him under pressure.
Bruno Fernandes – 6/10
The United skipper squandered a golden chance to score just before the break after Dalot picked him out with a precise cut-back.
He needlessly picked up a booking for dissent and was then harshly penalised for a handball, leading to Sociedad’s equaliser.
Alejandro Garnacho – 7/10
Garnacho struggled to make an impact in the early stages and could only find the side netting with a shot early in the second half.
However, he made amends with a well-timed assist for Zirkzee’s opener.
Joshua Zirkzee – 7/10
The Dutch forward showed great composure, opting for a first-time strike to put United ahead with a clinical finish.
Rasmus Hojlund – 6/10
An improvement in his overall performance but still no goal since December.
Substitutions
Christian Eriksen – 6/10
Eriksen came on with just 12 minutes left and to provide a match-winning spark.
Victor Lindelof – NA
Too late to rate.
Toby Collyer – NA
Too late to rate.