How to follow Real Sociedad v United

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 the La Liga side, 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.

Here's what you need to know before the game on Thursday kicks off...

HOW TO WATCH

The game, which gets under way at 17:45 GMT at Reale Arena, will be shown live in the UK on BT Sport. Fans can also watch exclusive pre-match, half-time and post-match shows via MUTV, ManUtd.com and the United App.

Our coverage will begin at 16:25 GMT, and will include live radio commentary. As always, our official channels remain the first destination for your team news - check your app notifications are switched on, so we can deliver it to you 75 minutes prior to kick-off.

Two-minute video highlights of the match will be available on the website and app from midnight.

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.

ONES TO WATCH

Imanol Alguacil's problems up front only magnify the attention on Brais Mendez, who has been the Basque club's star performer so far this campaign. The scorer of La Real's match-winning penalty at Old Trafford in September has seven strikes to his name in 2022/23, including five in La Liga, having joined from Celta Vigo in the summer.

Mikel Merino, who plays on the other side of the midfield diamond, boasts four assists in the Spanish top flight, second only to Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele, while key French centre-back Robin Le Normand has returned to the fold in recent weeks, having missed his side's opening three Europa League games through injury.

EUROPA LEAGUE FIXTURES

THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER

20:00 GMT KICK-OFFS

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

GROUP B
Dynamo Kyiv v Fenerbahce
Rennes v AEK Larnaca

GROUP C
Real Betis v HJK Helsinki
Roma v Ludogorets

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

17:45 GMT KICK-OFFS

GROUP E
Sheriff Tiraspol v Omonia Nicosia
Real Sociedad v UNITED

GROUP F
Midtjylland v Sturm Graz
Feyenoord v Lazio

GROUP G
Olympiacos v Nantes
Qarabag v Freiburg

GROUP H
Monaco v Crvena Zvezda
Trabzonspor v Ferencvaros