Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 clash, Afrosport reports.
United, fresh off Sunday’s FA Cup elimination, needed to find a result in San Sebastian to improve their chances of securing silverware this season.
The Red Devils failed to break the deadlock in the first half despite three glorious opportunities to do so, but they eventually took the lead in the second half through Joshua Zirkzee, with the Dutch forward wrongfooting the goalkeeper off a cutback from Alejandro Garnacho.
United were comfortably in the lead, keeping Sociedad without a shot on goal, but all that soon changed as a video assistant referee (VAR) review caught a Bruno Fernandes handball from a Sociedad corner.
Referee Ivan Kruzliak awarded the penalty, and Spaniard Mikel Oyarzabal dispatched the spot kick comfortably, sending Andre Onana the wrong way to draw his side level.
The hosts made some changes to inject new life into the team, and it almost paid off as Iceland international Orri Oskarsson and Sheraldo Becker forced Onana into good saves.
United, however, held on for the draw, and both sides will rekindle their rivalry in the return fixture at Old Trafford next week.
All to play for between Real Sociedad and Man Utd 😤#UEL pic.twitter.com/Vcbel0ELBE
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) March 6, 2025
Elsewhere, it is advantage AZ Alkmaar as the Dutch club pipped Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 thanks to an 18th-minute own goal from Lucas Bergvall.
Spurs were lucky to have left the AFAS Stadium with just a goal deficit, with both sides to meet in north London in a week’s time.
Meanwhile, Nigerian forward Cyriel Dessers was on target as Rangers stunned Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce 3-1 away in Turkey.
Malick Fofana scored a brace in Lyon’s 3-1 win at FCSB; Nigerian striker Rafiu Durosinmi scored for Viktoria Plzen in their 2-1 home loss to nine-man Lazio.
At the Aspmyra Stadion in Norway, Bodo/Glimt defeated Olympiacos 3-0; Eintracht Frankfurt rallied to a 2-1 win away at Ajax; and Inaki Williams’ goal was not enough as 10-man Athletic Bilbao was beaten 2-1 away at Roma.
The first legs did not disappoint 🤤#UEL pic.twitter.com/cEwkaN5Fsp
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) March 6, 2025
