Manchester United Vs Real Sociedad
Manchester United Vs Real Sociedad Thursday 25th February 2021 – 20:00 (BT Sport)
UEFA Europa League, Round of 32
Pick: Real Sociedad or Draw
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 22nd February 2021)
Preview: After a resounding 4-0 first-leg victory in Turin, only a capitulation of epic proportions will see Manchester United fail to reach the next round. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad are out to 66/1 in the To Qualify market ahead of this second leg at Old Trafford.
UEFA Europa League Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Manchester United – Reds firmly in driving seat?
The Red Devils ran riot in the first leg, scoring four unanswered goals and seeing another disallowed as Manchester United took a giant stride towards the Europa League Round of 16. A competition they would reach a semi-final in last term, ultimately bowing out at the hands of eventual winners Sevilla as United’s European endeavours were ended by Spanish opposition for a third consecutive season.
With the remaining Spanish sides left at this stage – Granada and Villarreal – both winning last week, more Spanish woe could await further down the road. But United have at least gone some way to narrowing the odds of another predictable conclusion to their continental skirmish. That 4-0 victory has also opened the possibility of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer resting key players ahead of this return leg.
However, the Norwegian must guard against complacency. He should also be aware that the club’s record in England versus Spanish opposition makes for disconcerting reading, having won only one of the last nine such matches (D4 L4). Recent form is, however, more encouraging (W3 D4) with Sunday’s 3-1 win at Old Trafford over Newcastle helping to consolidate second place in the Premier League table.
Real Sociedad – La Real daunted when it matters?
On all three previous occasions that they have travelled to an away venue in UEFA competition after losing the opening leg, Real Sociedad have subsequently lost the return encounter. It is the sort of damning statistic which pours cold water over any faint hopes the Spaniards may still harbour about turning a 4-0 first-leg deficit around in England, having comfortably been second best in Turin last time.
La Real were marginal outsiders first time around. Though would have been shorter still had it been held at their San Sebastian residence in Spain, as opposed to Juventus Stadium in Italy. To lose so handsomely, though, was both a genuine shock and a departure from recent form. Making a swift return to winning ways with a 4-0 scoreline of their own last Sunday, at home to lowly Alaves.
That latter triumph should have gone some way to restoring confidence within the visiting dressing room. However, there does appear to be a mental block in the big games this season. Champions League regulars Napoli finished ahead of Imanol Alguacil’s men in Group F, claiming one point from six against the Italians. Meanwhile their record versus the sides above them in Spain reads no win in four (D1 L3).
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Manchester United Vs Real Sociedad Betting Advice
La Liga hardly covered itself in glory last week. Three of its five representatives in either the Champions League or Europa League lost their opening legs. Real Sociedad fared the worst of all though, which required some effort after Barcelona’s chastening evening at the Camp Nou, with La Real beaten 4-0 by Man Utd. Despite such a dominant display, we can get close to evens about a second United victory.
Manchester United Vs Real Sociedad – Key Facts:
- A 4-0 first-leg victory over Real Sociedad ended a nine-game winless run against Spanish opposition for Man United. They have won one of the past nine such meetings in England (D4 L4).
- Man Utd are unbeaten in seven competitive matches (W3 D4) while Real Sociedad‘s sole defeat in four (W3) came in last week’s reverse fixture, which was held at a neutral venue.
- This will mark the fourth meeting between the clubs. Manchester United are well on top, winning two previous encounters to nil and are yet to even concede.
It seems inevitable that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes a few alterations to the side which won so impressively this time last week. The visitors, meanwhile, have no option but to go strong and hope a miracle unfolds at Old Trafford. The Spanish outfit lost to nil on their sole visit there in October 2013. La Real invariably travel well in Europe, though, unbeaten in three (W1 D2) this season while keeping a clean sheet in four of their last six such fixtures.
Best Betting Odds – Manchester United Vs Real Sociedad
Manchester United – 10/11 (Betfair)
Draw – 27/10 (PaddyPower)
Real Sociedad – 16/5 (Bet365)
