Manchester United travel to San Sebastian in Spain this week, for Thursday’s big Europa League Group E showdown with Real Sociedad.
While both sides are already confirmed as progressing from the group, the identity of the first-placed team – and therefore the one that goes straight into the round of 16 in March – is yet to be decided.
To overhaul Real Sociedad, United will need to win by two clear goals or more at Reale Arena. Any other result would see us finish second, a fate which would require us to play two additional games in February – home and away in a play-off, against one of the sides dropping out of the Champions League after finishing third in their groups.
TEAM NEWS
Anthony Martial is back in team training for United, after a month-long lay-off, while Erik ten Hag was optimistic about the prospect of Antony returning from his one-game absence when speaking after Sunday’s win over West Ham. Victor Lindelof also missed the Hammers game through illness, with Harry Maguire featuring alongside Lisandro Martinez at centre-back, as Raphael Varane is still out.
Ten Hag is likely to give a further update on his squad when he sits down in Spain for his pre-match press conference on Wednesday evening, but Bruno Fernandes is free to play as the one-match suspension he picked up at the weekend only applies to Premier League games.
The hosts have a number of gaps in their attacking ranks, with Takefusa Kubo ruled out due to a dislocated shoulder. Former Manchester City playmaker David Silva is also expected to miss the game, joining longer-term absentees Mikel Oyarzabal and Umar Sadiq on the sidelines. Momo Cho, the young French forward, is absent with a hamstring injury.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Dalot, Martinez, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Ronaldo
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