MADRID, 3 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Sociedad lost (0-1) this Thursday against Manchester United but secured first place in Group E thanks to the goal difference with the ‘Red Devils’, who will go on to play the ‘Play-offs’ after the last day of the Europa League group stage.
La Real, who came from two consecutive defeats in the League against Valladolid (1-0) and Betis (0-2), conceded their first defeat in Europe but guaranteed direct passage to the round of 16. Garnacho’s goal after 17 minutes was not enough for Erik ten Hag’s men to take first place in an even game at the Reale Arena.
Imanol Alguacil’s men entered the game better, pouring all their play into the rival field, but Manchester United’s punch made the English hit first. Cristiano Ronaldo leaked a ball into space for the young Garnacho to debut his scoring account with the ‘Red Devils’, after a good shot with his left foot that beat Remiro over the top. The Hispanic-Argentine winger had the double in his boots, but his hit went high.
It was a jug of cold water for Imanol Alguacil’s men, who until now had entered the match better. However, Ten Hag’s men, spurred by the goal, raised their pressure lines and began to reach the rival goal more often, knowing that they needed another goal to be first.
Cristiano, very participative, was about to score the second after receiving a gift from the ‘txuri-urdin’ defense, but sent the ball high into a lob. Before heading to the locker room, the Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea had his share of the spotlight with a spectacular double intervention, first to Gorosabel’s shot from the edge of the box, and then to put a saving hand on Pablo Marín’s point-blank shot.
With the return of the protagonists to the field of play, Real Sociedad once again offered a better version, with numerous approaches to the rival area, but without specifying between the three sticks. Carlos Fernández, twice, and Guevara tried it from inside the area, but they did not finish, against a United that went for the game in the final moments.
Ten Hag then put together an attacking team and even placed Maguire as an attacking partner for Cristiano Ronaldo, in a desperate attempt to score one more goal to be leaders. However, the defensive solidity of the San Sebastián side dispelled any English attempt to score the second goal, thus closing an even match that did little for the Manchester side.
