Man Utd vs Real Sociedad: Complete Head-to-Head Record
There were a few tough Europa League last 32 draws Manchester United could have got. Lengthy round trips for away legs against Dynamo Kyiv, Krasnodar or Maccabi Tel Aviv wouldn’t have been ideal, while Benfica will always be dangerous at any level.
The other tough draw to obviously avoid was Real Sociedad, La Liga leaders at the time of writing and in possession of numerous top quality players – including rising star Mikel Oyarzabal and Manchester City legend David Silva. But that was the one United got.
When they meet over two legs in late February it will be only the third and fourth occasions the two clubs have faced each other. Here’s a look back at how the past two went…
1. Man Utd 1-0 Real Sociedad - October 2013
United were drawn into the same Champions League group as La Real in 2013/14, the first season after Sir Alex Ferguson retired and with new boss David Moyes in charge.
United had endured a couple of wobbles under Moyes, although nothing like the setbacks that ultimately got him sacked a few months later and were reigning Premier League champions. La Real, on the other hand, had only returned to La Liga in 2010 and were in European competition for the first time since reaching the Champions League last 16 a full decade earlier.
A strong United had taken four points from their opening two group games – a home clash against Bayer Leverkusen and a difficult trip to face Shakthar Donetsk – while the Spanish visitors to Old Trafford had two defeats to their name.
But there was very little between them. Neither did much to test the opposing goalkeeper and an own goal from La Real defender Inigo Martinez in the second minute proved to the sole difference.
Ex-Arsenal forward Carlos Vela, future Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and emerging superstar Antoine Griezmann were all part of the Sociedad team.
2. Real Sociedad 0-0 Man Utd - November 2013
United travelled to northern Spain and La Real’s Anoeta stadium for matchday four of the 2013/14 group stage, which made for an even tighter game than the reverse fixture at Old Trafford.
The hosts didn’t muster a single shot on target, while United only had two. Their best two chances were a penalty that struck the woodwork from Robin van Persie and a chance from six yards out that Javier Hernandez put over the crossbar.
Still badly struggling to endear himself to United fans after a £27.5m transfer from Everton, Marouane Fellaini was sent off in the closing stages for a second yellow card.
The most significant event of the evening saw Ryan Giggs make his 950th United appearance. He would go on to finish the season as caretaker manager when Moyes was shown the door.
United would qualify for the knockout stages in the next game by thrashing Bayer Leverkusen, but this draw would be the only point La Real got from all six group fixtures.
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