Key events
Ruben Amorim makes three changes to the side that wasn’t that dreadful against Arsenal: Leny Yoro is injured, replaced by Ayden Heaven, only recently signed from Arsenal and making his first start; Patrick Dorgu, suspended in the league, replaces Victor Lindelöf; and Rasmus Højlund is in for Christian Eriksen.
I’m going to write these down, then we’ll wonder what they might mean.
Teams!
Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Heaven; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Garnacho, Zirkzee; Hojlund. Subs: Harrison, Mee, Amass, Fredricson, Lindelof, Collyer, Eriksen, Fletcher, Ugarte, Scanlon.
Real Sociedad (4-3-3): Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Marin, Zubimendi, Mendez; Becker, Oyarzabal, Kubo. Subs: Marrero, Barrenetxea, Oskarsson, Lopez, Olasagasti, Gomez, Traore, Aramburu, Turrientes, Martin, Beitia, Mariezkurrena.
Referee: Benoît Bastien (France)
Preamble
The humans among us tend to operate on two, often competing levels: rational and emotional. Occasionally, though, these two aspects coalesce, which is where Manchester United find themselves tonight: they must progress tonight because they must finance yet another rebuild for yet another manager, and they must progress tonight because the alternative promises two months of unrelenting misery. Football, it’s like life, yeah?
Both sides will know that really, this tie should already be over – United’s superiority in the first 70 minutes of the first leg ought to have seen them build a near-unassailable lead. But they didn’t, of course they didn’t, instead giving away a freakish penalty after which Sociedad might’ve won as their visitors folded in predictable fashion. And now, with Martin Zubimendi back and Mikel Oyarzabal unlikely to play as poorly again, they arrive at Old Trafford with every chance.
Ah, Old Trafford. United have struggled badly at home this season – yes, and away – so much so that they’ve opted to kick away from the Stretford End in each of the last three games. Just as well, perhaps, given we learnt earlier this week that it’s not long for this world, the old place likely be replaced by the world’s largest circus tent; sometimes the hilarity writes itself.
In the meantime, though, we’re all set for a night of desperate tension and terrible entertainment. Football, it’s like life, yeah?
Kick-off: 8pm GMT
Leave a Reply