Manchester United vs Real Sociedad LIVE: Europa League latest score as teenager Ayden Heaven starts in last 16

Manchester United resume their fight for the one remaining title they can win this season as they host Real Sociedad for the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday.

Ruben Amorim’s side were held to a 1-1 draw in the opening leg in San Sebastian last week, with Joshua Zirkzee scoring the opener before Mikel Oyarzabal levelled proceedings with a late penalty. But they’ll need more of that magic against Real Sociedad, with this competition the final opportunity for the Red Devils to win silverware this season and rescue what has otherwise been a dismal campaign.

The visitors have been on a middling run of their own, having lost four of their last six games including a 1-0 loss to Sevilla in their last outing, and sit 11th in La Liga. But all the pressure is on United – especially after some of their players were labelled “overpaid” and “underperforming” by owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Follow updates from Manchester United v Real Sociedad in our live blog below:

Man Utd vs Real Sociedad – Europa League

Man Utd eye place in quarter-finals after holding Spaniards 1-1 last week in first leg
Man Utd XI: Onana, Dalot, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Heaven, Dorgu, Casemiro, Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee, Hojlund
Real Sociedad XI: Remiro, Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz, Marin, Zubimendi, Mendez, Becker, Oyarzabal, Kubo

Manchester United FC 0 – 0 Real Sociedad de Fútbol

Man Utd vs Real Sociedad

19:59 , Jack Rathborn

Feeling the nerves yet, United fans?

19:57 , Arthur Ferridge

Just a couple of minutes to go until kick-off, and this is going to be a big one.

It is a potentially season-defining match for United, who are out of both domestic cups and cut well adrift of European places in the Premier League, languishing in 14th place.

It’ll be tricky to scrape together £2bn for a stadium without qualifying for Europe!

Plenty riding on this one, then. Let’s get into it.

Amorim on team news, Heaven, and Højlund

19:53 , Arthur Ferridge

Ruben Amorim speaks ahead of the match on his lineup choices, saying Ayden Heaven is ready for his first senior start while Rasmus Højlund just needs to break his duck.

On Heaven: “We always think that in the first games we need to be patient, but he showed real confidence. With all the problems we’ve had we trusted him to win this game.”

On Hoijlund’s goal drought: “He can score in the next game. That is always the idea and again we show a lot of good things he is doing for the team. He just needs a little confidence.”

Man Utd CEO makes vow over summer transfer window

19:45 , Arthur Ferridge

Man United CEO Omar Berrada said he is planning to invest in the summer transfer market as he expects the club to compete in the Champions League next season.

“It’s about planning properly for the summer transfer window, having clear idea about the type of players we want to bring in. We’re making some big efforts to get us in the best financial position,” he said.

“I think, even if we’re outside of Europe, we’ll be in a position to invest in the squad. Our ambition is to win the Europa League to be in the Champions League next season, which we think is where we belong. There are a lot of people working very hard to put us in the best position possible this summer.”

He speaks as the Jim Ratcliffe ownership has faced heavy criticism for its transfer spending, which many fans see as somewhat misguided.

Ruben Amorim tells Manchester United players to stop ‘fighting’ with each other

19:40 , Flo Clifford

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has told his players to stop “fighting” with each other after Rasmus Hojlund’s frustrated reaction towards Diogo Dalot in the 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad.

Striker Hojlund, who has not scored in 19 games for United, was furious with Dalot when the wing-back failed to cross the ball to him in the 19th minute. Dalot instead cut-back to Alejandro Garnacho.

Hojlund would have had an open shot at goal, with Amorim saying that Dalot’s decision was “not the best”, and the 22-year-old Dane did not hold back as he remonstrated towards his team-mate.

Ruben Amorim tells Manchester United players to stop ‘fighting’ with each other

After a hellish season, Manchester United turn to Heaven

19:37 , Richard Jolly

Ayden Heaven makes his first start for the club, with the injured Leny Yoro dropping out of the team.

Rasmus Hojlund, without a goal in his last 20 games, is back against a Sociedad side who are scarcely prolific.

The good news for them is Martin Zubimendi, who missed last week’s first leg, is fit.

‘Overpaid’ and ‘underperforming’ Manchester United left with only one way to save their season

19:30 , Flo Clifford

The overpaid, overrated and over the hill have been overrun, overcome and overwhelmed too many times this year. One more defeat and their season will be over.

Manchester United have to confound their critics, a category that also seems to include their co-owner. Sir Jim Ratcliffe had made some disparaging comments about some of the squad. Andre Onana, Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund, three who were named in a complaint – albeit that United will have to use their funds in the summer paying for players who were bought in 2022 and 2023 – could have a significance if they are to beat Real Sociedad. “It is also important to give us more energy to continue the season,” said Ruben Amorim. They are not the normal comments of a United head coach in the first half of March.

‘Overpaid’ and ‘underperforming’ Man Utd left with only one way to save their season

Scholes rips into new stadium project: “Pie in the sky”

19:29 , Arthur Ferridge

Paul Scholes is incredibly sceptical of Manchester United’s stadium project.

“It is all a bit pie in the sky,” the Manchester Untied legend told TNT Sports before kickoff after Omar Berrada outlines his plan to finance the club amid a £2bn investment in new facilities.

“Words are cheap,” he added. “I won’t believe it till I see it.”

New stadium “very exciting” for Amorim

19:26 , Arthur Ferridge

Ruben Amorim has spoken out on Manchester United’s plans to build a new stadium.

Early images of the planned £2bn stadium were announced on Tuesday to great acclaim – the stadium’s distinctive silhouette, featuring three massive spires and a grand canopy, will house 100,000 fans.

Speaking before kick-off, Amorim called the stadium “very exciting,” but given his recent struggles, one must wonder whether he will ever coach there.

Man United CEO Omar Berrada adds that United will be financing the stadium, but says they are already preparing for the investment and planning to avoid impacting on-pitch performances.

Ruben Amorim responds to Jim Ratcliffe’s criticism of ‘underperforming’ Manchester United squad

19:22 , Flo Clifford

This will be the first game for Man United since that particularly sharp criticism from Ratcliffe on Monday.

Manager Amorim – never one to sugar-coat any criticism – was quick to agree, saying that both he and many of his players were “underperforming”.

Will that be the metaphorical boot up the backside some of them need, or will it have a disastrous impact on a squad already low on confidence? Only time will tell.

Ruben Amorim responds to Jim Ratcliffe’s criticism of ‘underperforming’ Man United

Karen Carney calls on Sir Jim Ratcliffe to invest in Man Utd Women

19:16 , Jack Rathborn

“Nobody expects Man Utd to not be focused on the men’s team, but it is disappointing and surprising for a club of such history that has been forward thinking and world-leading not to be investing in one of the fastest growing areas in sport,” Carney tells TNT Sports.

“I thought they wanted to be the best in class, leaders in their field, for me it’s sad and I’m disappointed, I hope it changes.”

Paul Scholes shares views on new Manchester United stadium

19:10 , Jack Rathborn

“I was quite excited about it, this stadium holds many memories for me, I’ve played in great stadiums, Bernabeu, Nou Camp, this place has it as well, but it’s about time Manchester United caught up. It’s sad to say goodbye, but it’s time to move to a better, bigger stadium,” Paul Scholes tells TNT Sports.

“If it’s deliverable, I don’t know, £2bn, can that money be raised? It’s an exciting week, communicating with the fans, that hasn’t happened for a long time. It’s only words, but there were some exciting things in there.

“We’re saying three to five years to deliver a team and a squad to compete, they’re all words, talk is cheap, when that happens, I’ll be as excited as everyone else. The stadium as well, when it happens, the same.”

All to play for tonight…

19:02 , Arthur Ferridge

There is nothing to separate United and Sociedad ahead of tonight’s tie after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

It is a historically low-scoring tie, with just nine goals scored in their seven European meetings, but a single goal could be enough to make the difference today. Should we remain level at full-time, though, extra time and penalties await. Such was the fate which befell Liverpool on Tuesday night as they were dumped out of the competition by Paris Saint-Germain.

Joshua Zirkzee and Mikel Oyarzabal, the first leg’s goalscorers, both return to the starting XI’s for their respective sides. Will they be the ones to make the difference tonight?

Man Utd vs Real Sociedad starting line-ups

18:52 , Jack Rathborn

Man Utd XI: Onana, Dalot, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Heaven, Dorgu, Casemiro, Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee, Hojlund

Subs: Harrison, Mee, Amass, Fredricson, Lindelof, Collyer, Eriksen, J Fletcher, Ugarte, Scanlon

Real Sociedad XI: Remiro, Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz, Marin, Zubimendi, Mendez, Becker, Oyarzabal, Kubo

Subs: Marrera, Barrene, Oskarsson, Javi Lopez, Olasagasti, Sergio Gomez, H. Traore, Aramburu, Turrientes, Martin, Beitia, Mariezkurrena

Team news dropping soon

18:45 , Flo Clifford

Confirmed line-ups will be out in the next few minutes.

Until then, here’s everything you need to know about the planned new stadium:

Everything we know about Man Utd’s new stadium as first pictures released

Real Sociedad fans arrive at Old Trafford before Europa League tie

18:42 , Jack Rathborn

Manchester United announce plan to build ‘world’s greatest stadium’ to replace Old Trafford

18:40 , Flo Clifford

Then just the next day came the bombshell news that Ratcliffe and United management are planning to build a £2bn new stadium…

Man Utd announce plan for ‘world’s greatest stadium’ to replace Old Trafford

Manchester United would be ‘bust at Christmas’ without cost-cutting measures, Jim Ratcliffe says

18:30 , Flo Clifford

Man United have been in the headlines a lot this week, starting with this eye-catching interview with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The billionaire businessman went into detail on the club’s dire financial position, as well as criticising some “overpaid” members of his squad and fully backing beleaguered manager Ruben Amorim.

Man United would be ‘bust at Christmas’ without cuts, Jim Ratcliffe says

Man Utd vs Real Sociedad

18:16 , Jack Rathborn

Recap of the first leg

18:00 , Flo Clifford

Ordinarily, a draw away from home in first leg of a European knockout round is one to be celebrated, putting any team in the driving seat to progress.

Manchester United’s home discomforts under Ruben Amorim, however, will make Old Trafford a jittery place come next Thursday, after a 1-1 first-leg draw in the Europa League last 16 was secured at Real Sociedad.

As often with this misfiring fallen giant, things could, and perhaps should, have been so much better in the Basque Country. Their crucial European adventure remains alive, but with plenty still to do to edge one step closer to that pivotal return to Champions League football next term.

Manchester United show promise but familiar flaws leave Ruben Amorim a headache

Predicted line-ups

17:45 , Flo Clifford

Man Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Heaven; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Zirkzee, Hojlund, Garnacho

Real Sociedad XI: Remiro; Elustondo, Aguerd, Zubeldia, Munoz; Mendez, Turrientes, Zubimendi; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea

Confirmed line-ups will be released around 7pm.

How can I watch the match?

17:30 , Flo Clifford

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7pm. Subscribers can also watch online via discovery+.

You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for £30.99 per month.

Mason Mount back in Man Utd training

16:58 , Jack Rathborn

Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte trained on the eve of Manchester United’s Europa League match against Real Sociedad, but Leny Yoro was among the absentees.

The key round-of-16 tie is all square after last week’s first leg ended 1-1, Joshua Zirkzee’s opener cancelled out by a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty.

United defender Yoro looks set to miss the return fixture after coming off with an issue midway through Sunday’s draw with Arsenal.

Mason Mount returns to Manchester United training ahead of Europa League clash

Man Utd vs Real Sociedad team news

16:58 , Jack Rathborn

Young striker Chido Obi is not eligible to feature for United in the Europa League, while long-term absentees Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Altay Bayindir remain on the sidelines. Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer are also not yet fit to return.

Leny Yoro also won’t feature after being forced off against Arsenal with a foot issue and joins Harry Maguire on the sidelines, with January acquisition Ayden Heaven among the options to replace the Frenchman.

In a boost for the Red Devils, Manuel Ugarte has returned to training and could be involved at Old Trafford. Patrick Dorgu is also available despite serving a domestic suspension, dealt to him after being sent off against Ipswich.

As for Real Sociedad, Luka Sucic and Jon Aramburu are major doubts after missing out on Monday’s training session, joining Jon Pacheco on the injury list.

However, Alvaro Odriozola and Arsen Zakharyan are both back in contention after recovering from fitness issues, while highly-touted Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi is set to start after missing the first leg through illness.