Manchester United will be keen to turn Premier League form into Europa League success when they host Real Sociedad.
The English giants begin their Group E quest when they welcome Real Sociedad to Old Trafford on Thursday evening.
Much has been said about their turnaround since Antony and Marcus Rashford fired them to a big win over Arsenal. It was their fourth in a row since the poor start to life under Erik ten Hag.
The manager will be comforted by recent form and historic form against the Spaniards. Last season, they won the two-leg knockout tie 4-0.
This match though will be tricky for Ten Hag with 5 players out injured including Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka; both who have lost their starting place under the new manager.
Sociedad will look to bounce back and return to winning ways after they held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
“Europe is always something special and you don’t know your opponents that well. But I think they will be good opponents,” Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag said.
“Real Sociedad are a really great club in Spain, now sixth in the league, and I saw them, coincidentally, play at the weekend against Barcelona and they competed really well so they will be tough opponents.
“There are the other two teams too – Sheriff beat Real Madrid last year, so they must be good. We have to be really well prepared to do well in this competition.”
Real manager Imanol Alguacil on new signing Umar Sadiq ahead of Man Utd tie: “He can give us a goal. It has been seen as soon as he entered. He performs very well in those forward positions, where he uses his body very well.
“We have players behind to give him good goal situations and hopefully we can be successful in front of goal because that’s what we lack.”
Bruno Fernandes has a great history against the Spanish out and has netted two goals against Sociedad in the knockout clash last season.
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