How to follow United v Real Sociedad live

The Reds were runners-up to Villarreal the last time we were involved in this competition and we will hopefully go one further under Erik ten Hag this time around.

With the World Cup starting in Qatar in November, this is the first of six group games to be played in the space of eight weeks, so here’s everything you need to know ahead of the fixture…

HOW TO WATCH

There’s nothing like the magic of European nights at Old Trafford, so book your seats to see our new signings in action. Tickets for United v Real Sociedad are available to Official Members now at tickets.manutd.com.

If you can't make it to the Theatre of Dreams, the game kicks off at 20:00 BST and will be shown live on BT Sport 1 in the UK.

You can watch exclusive build-up and post-match reaction live on MUTV, which you can now access on ManUtd.com and in the United App. Pre-match coverage will start at 18:55 BST on Thursday and will be followed by live radio commentary during the 90 minutes.

Two-minute highlights of the game will be available from midnight, with more in-depth versions to follow.

TEAM NEWS

United are still waiting for positive news on the fitness of Anthony Martial, who has missed our last three games with the Achilles problem he picked up in the win over Liverpool, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been absent recently with a knock. Thursday could provide Ten Hag with a good opportunity to rotate his side, with 10 Reds having started each of our last four games during the last fortnight.

Spanish media are reporting that Real Sociedad centre-back Robin Le Normand will miss the game: the French centre-back is struggling with a metatarsal injury. He would be a significant absentee for Imanol Alguacil’s side, as he has played the full 90 minutes in each of their four league games so far this season. Vice-captain Mikel Oyarzabal is still recovering from the ACL injury he picked up in March, but Umar Sadiq, the replacement for Newcastle United signing Alexander Isak, scored on his debut at the weekend. The Nigeran international equalised after Alvaro Morata gave the visitors Atletico Madrid an early lead in the eventual 1-1 draw.

FORM GUIDE

United will be looking to continue our recent Premier League momentum, with wins over Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester City and Arsenal over the last fortnight taking us from bottom of the table to fifth, and three points off the top. Games with Crystal Palace, Sheriff and Leeds United follow hot on the heels of this encounter, ahead of the September international break.

La Real have played fewer games this term, with the La Liga season just four fixtures old. The Basque club have won both of their away outings, against Cadiz and Elche, by a single goal. Their fixtures at the Reale Arena have seen them lose 4-1 to Barcelona, having taken the lead, and draw with Atletico.

ONES TO WATCH

Even at the age of 36, former Manchester City midfielder David Silva is still the side’s creative fulcrum, although there is a rich seam of youth running through Alguacil’s team. Deep-lying midfielder Martin Zubimendi is an ever-present who, at 23 years old, is being courted by some of Europe’s top clubs, while Mikel Merino also adds to an impressively technical engine room. The exciting Japan international Takefusa Kubo has been picked up from Real Madrid after several seasons out on loan in La Liga and La Real now have significant presence in attack with the pacy Sadiq joined by six-foot-five striker Alexander Sorloth, who has been loaned from RB Leipzig for the season.

PAST MEETINGS

United and La Real can look back upon four previous head-to-heads, with the first two coming in the Champions League during the 2013/14 season. Inigo Martinez’s early own goal was enough to give the Reds victory in the Old Trafford game, while United survived a Marouane Fellaini red card to secure a goalless draw in San Sebastian, on the way to progressing from the group.

Two seasons ago, we faced the Basque outfit in the Europa League round of 32. Due to Covid restrictions, the ‘away’ leg was played at the Juventus Stadium in Turin and we ran out 4-0 winners, with Bruno Fernandes scoring twice and Marcus Rashford and Daniel James also finding the net. The return leg in M16 finished 0-0.

EUROPA LEAGUE FIXTURES

THURSDAY 8 SEPTEMBER

17:55 BST KICK-OFFS

Group A
FC Zurich v Arsenal
PSV Eindhoven v Bodo/Glimt

Group B
AEK Larnaca v Rennes
Fenerbahce v Dynamo Kyiv

Group C
HJK Helsinki v Real Betis
Ludogorets v Roma

Group D
Malmo v Braga
Union Berlin v Union Saint-Gilloise

20:00 BST KICK-OFFS

Group E
UNITED v Real Sociedad
Omonia Nicosia v Sheriff Tiraspol

Group F
Lazio v Feyenoord
Sturm Graz v Midtjylland

Group G
Freiburg v Qarabag
Nantes v Olympiacos

Group H
Ferencvaros v Trabzonspor
Red Star Belgrade v Monaco