Real Sociedad are the underdogs as they visit Old Trafford to face Manchester United in Thursday's Europa League round-of-16 second leg, and their task has become more difficult. La Real head coach Imanol Alguacil will be without midfielder Arsen Zakharyan against United after the UK government denied him entry into the country.
The battle for a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals is perfectly poised after the two teams played out a stalemate in San Sebastian last week. Joshua Zirkzee had fired United into a second-half lead before Mikel Oyarzabal equalised from the penalty spot, profiting from a VAR review on a Bruno Fernandes handball. Old Trafford is primed to host the biggest game of Ruben Amorim's turbulent tenure yet, in which defeat would spell the end of the season in March.
But while Amorim's options are depleted due to injuries, Alguacil has also been struck by a slice of bad luck in the build-up to the trip to Manchester.
According to El Diario Vasco, Zakharyan has been refused a visa by the UK government, ending the Russia international's 'odyssey' to M16 in failure.
It's claimed that the 21-year-old travelled to Paris on Wednesday with team-mate Hamari Traore, having been unable to fly with the rest of the La Liga club's squad.
He reportedly hoped to receive a last-minute work permit that would allow him to feature against United.
However, Zakharyan was forced to remain in Paris while Traore flew to Manchester on Wednesday night after the UK granted his visa request.
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