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Fernandes coolly sent the keeper the wrong way to slot home his first penalty, following up with a second in the opposite corner and then completing his hat-trick with a goal from open play - Getty Images/Carl Recine
Manchester United’s hopes of a trophy and, with it the riches of Champions League qualification, live on in this most turbulent campaign after another match-winning turn from their man for all seasons, Bruno Fernandes.
Really, where would they be without him? On a night when they were much too good for a poor Real Sociedad, United carved chance after chance and missed the vast majority of them. It is a good job, then, that Fernandes has a cooler head in front of goal.
Behind to Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty, Fernandes scored twice from the spot himself to give United the lead before completing his hat-trick late on with the kind of composed finish that had eluded his team-mates for much of the evening.
That goal, in many ways, typified Fernandes, who now has six goals in as many games and is willing this team forward and hoping they can at least finish a torrid season with a flurry and something tangible to show for it.
He must have burst 60 yard through the centre of the pitch to receive Alejandro Garnacho’s pass after a quickfire United breakaway instigated by Diogo Dalot, who would add a fourth goal in stoppage time.
Ultimately, Sociedad – reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Jon Aramburu was sent off – were not good enough to punish United’s earlier profligacy. Lyon now lie in wait in the quarter-finals.
10:29 PM GMT
And finally here’s Ruben Amorim speaking to TNT Sports
10:05 PM GMT
Bruno Fernandes speaks to TNT Sports
09:56 PM GMT
Full time: Man Utd 4 (5) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Well, from a very slow start, United just got better and better. Into the last eight. Real Sociedad surround the referee as his linesmen come to stand with him.
09:54 PM GMT
90+4 min: Man Utd 4 (5) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Eriksen, on for Zirkzee, shoots tamely at Alex Remiro.
09:54 PM GMT
90+2 min: Man Utd 4 (5) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Lyon in the quarter-final for Manchester United after their best home performance under Amorim.
09:51 PM GMT
GOAL!
Manchester United 4 Real Sociedad 1 (Dalot) Dorgu and Hojlund on the left of the box seem to be playing a game of after you, Claud until Hojlund flicks the ball with his heel past Traore and scoots down the outside to cut it back to Dalot and the right wing-back, coming in off the flank spanks a rising shot into the roof of the net from 16 yards.
09:47 PM GMT
GOAL!
Manchester United 3 Real Sociedad 1 (Bruno Fernandes) Starts in the Manchester United box. Mazraoui passes it up to halfway where Garnacho cushions it then bombs into the Sociedad half, draws out the left centre-back then rolls in Bruno who lashes a shot across the keeper and in at the left post. Hat-trick for the captain.
09:46 PM GMT
No penalty
Traore hooked his leg round and played the ball. Dirgu had said to the ref that it was a clean tackle. Fair dos to him.
09:45 PM GMT
Manchester United penalty
Another VAR check. Four pens in one night?
Dorgu went down when Traore slid in.
09:44 PM GMT
82 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Bruno’s disguised pass down the inside left tees up a Zirkzee shot that is turned away to the right then Mazraoui dips his shoulder to glide in from the right after beating his man and stands up a cross to the back post that Zirkzee heads back and across. He was going for goal and duly missed but Hojlund may have bought a ticket and had a lunge at it to turn it in but let it go by.
09:41 PM GMT
80 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Collyer’s first contribution is to foul Oyarzabal. On comes Traore as the fifth sub. The free-kick is 40 yards out and headed away by Heaven. When Sociedad pop it back into the box, Oskarsson can’t control it and United clear their lines.
09:39 PM GMT
78 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
First change for Amorin: Collyer → Casemiro.
09:38 PM GMT
77 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Bruno’s attempt to thread an almost impossible pass through to Zirkzee rebounds back to him and he slashes a shot wide. Seconds later he has another go and does no better.
09:36 PM GMT
74 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Manchester United have deserved their lead but have to concentrate. Orri Oskarsson is coming on for Kubo and he gets into very dangerous positions.
09:33 PM GMT
71 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
One Manchester United corner brings another when turned behind. This one falls at Hojlund’s feet but he can’t find a way through the congestion. Bruno traps the clearance with a raised leg and when it drops he bends a deep cross looking for Casemiro. Sociedad bundle it out for a throw-in.
09:31 PM GMT
68 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Garnacho storms down the right and fizzes over a cross pulled back for Hojlund who shoots into a Sociedad leg. It wasn’t on target anyway.
09:26 PM GMT
65 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Bruno Fernandes floats the free-kick from left to the right of the box. Dalot heads it back and De Ligt lashes a volley over the bar from 16 yards or so.
09:24 PM GMT
63 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Red card for Aramburu. VAR check as he trips Dorgu but 40 yards from goal.
No VAR confirms the sending off. Oyarzabal is booked for protesting. Was it denial of a goalscoring opportunity with Aguerd covering? Yes, according to the officials.
09:22 PM GMT
62 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Casemiro saves Dalot’s bacon when the right-wing back is hustled and then mugged by Barrenetxea to cross from the byline. Casemiro slides in to make a crucial block with Oyaazabal lurking in the middle.
09:21 PM GMT
60 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
09:19 PM GMT
58 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Zirkzee with another intelligent lay-off lets Hojlund run at Zubimendi who has slotted in at centre-back in a back-three. The forward bullies the midfielder down the inside-left channel then shoots aiming for the back pots but drags it way wide.
09:18 PM GMT
56 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Barrenetxea → Marin
Aramburu → Zubeldia
Turrientes → Becker.
Now Garnacho, looking for Hojlund but this time from th right, fizzes his cross straight at the keeper at the near post.
09:16 PM GMT
54 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Heaven chips a 50-yard pass up the left to Dorgu who whips the cross in from the byline and Alex Remiro smothers it at the near post. He was looking for Hojlund behind the keeper in the centre of the six-yard box but Bruno by the 18-yard line was the better option and he’s leeting Dorgu know that.
09:14 PM GMT
52 min: Man Utd 2 (3) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Cue paean for Bruno Fernandes from Robbie Savage. ‘He’s been criticised for his work rate but he’s been magnificent. Where would they be without him?’
09:10 PM GMT
GOAL!
Man Utd 2 Real Sociedad 1 (Fernandes, pen) Again fools the keeper who dives to his right and he rolls it into the other half of the net.
09:09 PM GMT
Penalty stands
Bruno picks up the ball again.
09:08 PM GMT
Man Utd penalty!
Going to VAR again after Dorgu went down in the box. He ran into the defender, Elustondo. More a collision than a foul but he had put the ball past him as he pounced on to the parry from Zirkzee’s shot.
09:07 PM GMT
46 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
We’re underway and United are attacking with the same kind of urgency they found after falling a goal behind.
08:54 PM GMT
Half-time verdict
08:52 PM GMT
Half-time: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Finely poised. The first leg was a dog of a game but this has been very enjoyable, good tempo, plenty of attacking intent, lots of mistakes. Liverpool vs PSG it ain’t but it has been entertaining. United have had far more bite going forward but one worries that their naivety will let Sociedad in. Oyarzabal, Kubo and Zubimendi are terrific players.
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Bruno Fernandes releases his frustration after equalising - Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
08:50 PM GMT
45+4 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Becker, who was a very lively sub in San Sebastian but hasn’t done much here, thumps a shot from 25 yards that had plenty of power but was straight as an arrow down Onana’s throat.
08:49 PM GMT
45+2 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Terrific pass from Casemiro should have set up Zirkzee but he couldn’t make the right contact and moments later Bruno picks his head up in the penalty area and dinks a pass to where he thinks Hojlund should be but the forward didn’t make the move. Up go the Bruno hands.
08:47 PM GMT
45 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Four minutes of stoppage time are coming by virtue of the two VAR checks for the pens.
08:47 PM GMT
43 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Man Utd break quickly after a refereeing error turns a stonewall corner into a goalkick for United. Bruno sprays a pass from right to left for Zirkzee who takes it in his stride and runs in a straight line down the inside-left channel. Hojlund makes a run across him to take a defender away but Zirkzee snatches at the shot from 22 yards when he could have gone closer and scuffs a pea-roller at Alex Remiro.
08:43 PM GMT
41 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Zirkzee is also playing well. Plenty of flicks and good control in tight areas for the former boo boy. Bruno makes a spectacular mess of a free-kick awarded for Zubeldia’s foul on Dorgu which brought him a yellow card. He gets his angles and distance all wrong and makes a gift of a goalkick for Sociedad.
08:41 PM GMT
40 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Bruno’s corner floats to Dorgu to the left of the D and he puts his laces through a volley that wobbles, swerves and dips but not enough to creep under the bar.
08:40 PM GMT
38 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Bruno Fernandes spears a pass from left to right for Garnacho who faces up Munoz then clips a cross aimed for Hojlund that Aguerd hacks over.
08:39 PM GMT
36 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
No doubt that Hojlund looks sharper and more engaged than he has done for months. As if all the efforts of his team-mares and manager to boost his confidence have paid off.
08:37 PM GMT
34 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
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08:34 PM GMT
32 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Hojlund goes close and really should have buried his effort from six yards even if it may have been erased for offside. Bruno chips the ball over the left centre-back Zubeldia. Dorgu, who may have been inches offside, heads it back to Zirkzee who shimmies his way to the byline and then puts it on a plate for Hojlund but the Denmark centre-forward flicks it past the far post. Right idea, wrong execution.
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Hojlund spurns a good chance - DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
08:31 PM GMT
29 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Heaven has shown a couple of lovely touches but he is stationed on the left of the three and Sociedad are flooding the space between him and Dorgu to keep knock, knock, knockin’ on Heaven’s door. No, you shut up.
08:29 PM GMT
27 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
After a good spell from Manchester United they switch off after conceding a corner on the left. Sociedad play it short to Kubo who is allowed to run 10 yards in towards the box and try to beat Onana at the near post with a whipped shot. Onana is awake and catches the ball around his midriff.
08:26 PM GMT
25 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
United corner on the right flicked goalwards by Zirkzee. Up goes the cry of ‘handball!’ but it hit Zubimendi on the thigh. Man Utd work the ball back over to the left for Dorgu to let fly with a shot that does not even come close to breaking his duck.
08:24 PM GMT
22 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Perhaps this United team should start every game a goal down and they might be more alert. Bruno crosses with his left and Alex Remiro comes out to punch and moments later Hojlund, who is running the channels diligently, is penalised for catching Zubeldia who made a meal of it. It was never a foul.
08:19 PM GMT
19 min: Man Utd 1 (2) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
Like so often, they needed the goal to wake them up. First Garnacho shoots at the keeper, then crosses menacingly for Dorgu who is thwarted at the back post then Bruno was fed by a cute pass from Casemiro round the corner to whip over a cross that seemed to invite a Hojlund tap in but he made a dog’s dinner of it, ultimately because he was clipped. But still not sure whether he was clipped at the same time the defender also touched the ball.
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08:16 PM GMT
GOAL!
Man Utd 1 Real Sociedad 1 (Bruno Fernandes, pen) Stutter run, sits the keeper down to the right and rolls it into the left.
08:15 PM GMT
VAR checking
He was onside but did Zubeldia just get a nick on the ball from the wrong side? Bruno injected a spark and will take the penalty that has been confirmed.
08:14 PM GMT
12 min: Man Utd 0 (1) Real Sociedad 1 (2)
For the 10th time in their last 12 matches under Amorim at Old Trafford, Man Utd have conceded the first goal. They have been rubbish so far but hold on...
They’ve been given a penalty for a foul on Hojlund. But was he onside?
08:10 PM GMT
GOAL!
Man Utd 0 Real Sociedad 1 (Oyarzabal, pen) Gave Onana the eyes and the keeper dived to his right so Oyarzabal slotted it into the bottom left.
08:09 PM GMT
Penalty to Sociedad
De Ligt screws up his face but he booted him across the achilles as Oyarzabal nipped ahead of him. It was definitely a pen.
08:09 PM GMT
8 min: Man Utd 0 (1) Real Sociedad 0 (1)
VAR sends the ref to the monitor. De Ligt definitely kicked the back of Oyarzabal’s ankle. It’s going to be a pen.
08:08 PM GMT
7 min: Man Utd 0 (1) Real Sociedad 0 (1)
Sociedad get in down the United left again and Elustondo combines with Kubo, receives the return pass and fizzes a cross through the six-yard box. De Ligt challenges Oyarzabal for it and seems to catch him. The ref thinks he got the ball first but VAR tells him not to restart the game yet...
08:05 PM GMT
5 min: Man Utd 0 (1) Real Sociedad 0 (1)
Onana releases it quickly with a flat, 60-yard punt looking for Garnacho but it skips off the turf quickly and Alex Remiro comes out to gather.
08:04 PM GMT
3 min: Man Utd 0 (1) Real Sociedad 0 (1)
Dorgu has to be on his toes after Kubo diddles Heaven with a feint and then nutmegs him to burst towards the byline. The left wing-back reads the danger and knocks it behind for a corner. The corner is headed out at the near post and Onana catches the second bite at the cherry.
08:02 PM GMT
1 min: Man Utd 0 (1) Real Sociedad 0 (1)
Manchester United decide to attack the Stretford End again in the first half, as they have done in their last couple of home games despite a 70-year tradition of doing it the other way round. Lots of smoke blowing over the pitch from the fireworks and flame throwers that greeted the teams.
07:58 PM GMT
Out come the teams
Manchester United in red, white and black, Sociedad, despite no colour clash with their home strip, in gold shirts and black shorts.
07:46 PM GMT
A last few words from Amorim
07:34 PM GMT
Amorim on telling Sir Jim Ratcliffe to eff off
As revealed by the minority shareholder, he and his manager have a good relationship. He tells Amorim over coffee where he’s going wrong, and the manager tells him to f--- off.
Amorim: “Like I said, we’re very honest with each other. We’re kind of the same, and it’s a good thing to be able to talk like that.”
07:31 PM GMT
TNT Sports talks to CEO Omar Berrada
07:17 PM GMT
Paul Scholes on the ground redevelopment plans
07:13 PM GMT
Your teams in black and white
Manchester United Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Heaven; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Garnacho, Zirkzee; Hojlund.
Substitutes Harrison, Mee, Amass, Fredricson, Lindelof, Collyer, Eriksen, Fletcher, Ugarte, Scanlon.
Real Sociedad Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Marin, Zubimendi, Mendez; Becker, Oyarzabal, Kubo.
Substitutes Marrero, Barrenetxea, Oskarsson, Lopez, Olasagasti, Gomez, Traore, Aramburu, Turrientes, Martin, Beitia, Mariezkurrena.
Referee Benoît Bastien(France)
07:11 PM GMT
Manchester United ‘risk’ Arsenal-style decline with new £2bn stadium
Manchester United announced plans for a stunning new 100,000-seat stadium on Tuesday but chief executive Omar Berrada admitted the ambitious £2 billion project comes with “a risk”.
United intend to demolish Old Trafford and build a new stadium as the centrepiece of a huge 260-acre regeneration project that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe hopes will be to Manchester what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.
Telegraph Sport revealed in February last year how Ratcliffe wanted to create a so-called “Wembley of the North” and believes the project offers a “once-in-a-century” opportunity.
07:06 PM GMT
Team news
06:57 PM GMT
Zubimendi returns for La Real
06:56 PM GMT
Heaven starts for Man Utd
06:22 PM GMT
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06:21 PM GMT
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06:20 PM GMT
Preview: Champions League here we come
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of the second leg of the Europa League round of 16 match between Manchester United and Real Sociedad which starts with an aggregate score of 1-1 after they threw away their deserved advantage of Joshua Zirkzee’s opener when Mikel Oyarzabal equalised from the penalty spot after Bruno Fernandes handled Takefusa Kubo’s corner. Credit to them in this chastening season for weathering a late storm from the home side, who really should have won it but for Orri Oskarsson’s profligacy and a late, fine save by Andre Onana.
Given that winning this trophy – the only one left to the home side while Sociedad still have a Copa del Rey semi-final, second leg to come – not only comes with prestige but a Champions League place, marching on would give United’s season a gloss it would hardly warrant. And yet they are the team in better if hardly scintillating form, playing well enough to beat Arsenal in Sunday’s draw while Sociedad’s slump to 11th in La Liga was compounded by the home defeat by Sevilla at the weekend which leaves them in danger of their worst finish since 2018, before the appointment of Imanol Aguacil who led them first to ninth then three sixth-places, one fifth and one fourth.
The visitors should have the much coveted Martin Zubamendi back after illness tonight while Manchester United may have Manuel Ugarte back in the fold and Patrick Dorgu, suspended for domestic matches, will come back in. Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro, Mason Mount, Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo are all out.
They have a very good home record in knockout matches in this competition with 10 wins and five draws from 15 games stretching back to 2012 and a defeat by Ajax when Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge.
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