Manchester United’s Europa League last-16 tie with Real Sociedad remains finely poised after the Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw in Spain.
Joshua Zirkzee’s first European goal for Manchester United was cancelled out by a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty, leaving the tie in the balance ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford.
Zirkzee’s strike, a low drive from the edge of the box, gave Manchester United a deserved lead 12 minutes into the second half.
However, Real Sociedad equalized through Oyarzabal’s penalty, awarded after a VAR review for a handball by Bruno Fernandes.
Manchester United dominated the game for almost an hour, with Andre Onana untested in goal before the penalty.
Fernandes had a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Aritz Elustondo in the first half, while the United captain also sent a free-kick just wide.
The equalizer appeared to unsettle Manchester United, and Onana was forced to make a diving save to palm away Brais Mendez’s 25-yard curler.
Orri Oskarsson then prodded wide from close range, before having a late chance to win it in added time, only for Onana to push away his goalbound effort.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim praised his team’s effort, saying, “One thing that I am sure – they’re anxious to score goals and win games. They are doing their best, and sometimes they want to do their best, but they’re not deciding the best way in their position.”
The second leg will take place at Old Trafford on Thursday, March 13, with Manchester United aiming to advance to the quarterfinals.
