Manchester United vs Real Sociedad predictions: Shots on target in short supply at Old Trafford
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- Sociedad have produced fewer than four shots on target in seven of their last 11 matches
- Man Utd have faced fewer than four shots on target in six of their last 10 games
- Recommended Bet: Under 3.5 Real Sociedad shots on target
Thursday’s Europa League round of 16 second leg represents the last chance for Manchester United and Real Sociedad to salvage something from disappointing seasons.
The Red Devils returned from San Sebastian with a creditable 1-1 draw last week and repeated that scoreline with an encouraging display at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
But there is no dressing up the dismay United fans feel about a campaign which has seen them mired in the bottom half of the Premier League and recently dumped out of the FA Cup by Fulham.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad slipped to 11th in LaLiga after a 1-0 home defeat to Sevilla on Sunday and appear fatigued by an unforgiving schedule over the past two months.
Team news
United boss Ruben Amorim is hopeful that Manuel Ugarte can return after a two-game absence with a minor injury.
Even so, the Portuguese coach could stick with a similar line-up to the one he deployed in San Sebastian, as United enjoyed an edge in terms of height and physicality.
Patrick Dorgu should return at left wing-back with Diogo Dalot switching back to the right side of the formation.
But Harry Maguire remains out — alongside Amad Diallo, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Lisandro Martinez — with Lenny Yoro a fresh doubt after he suffered a foot injury against Arsenal.
As for La Real, neither midfielder Luka Sucic or right-back Jon Aramburu were involved in the team’s training session on Monday afternoon.
Aramburu was injured against Sevilla on Sunday, but replacement Hamari Traore may not be fit enough to last 90 minutes after only recently returning himself.
Spanish international midfielder Martin Zubimendi should get the green light to feature after missing the first leg.
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The stats
Real Sociedad’s total of 21 goals in the Europa League this season is the third-highest tally among all teams in the competition.
Manchester United’s average possession of 57.7% is the highest of all the clubs while their pass completion ratio of 85.8% is the joint-third best.
Only four clubs have committed more fouls than Real Sociedad in this season’s Europa League.
Fewer than three goals have been scored in Man Utd’s last three games and three of Real Sociedad’s last four.
Six of the last seven clashes between these clubs have also failed to produce a third goal, with the one exception being United’s 4-0 win in San Sebastian back in February 2021.
Prediction
The tight and occasionally chaotic nature of the first leg suggests that goal chances could be limited in the Old Trafford decider on Thursday.
Both goalkeepers were forced to kick long on numerous occasions by their opponents’ press and that meant neither team was able to build up in a controlled manner.
United had the better of the opening 70 minutes and deservedly led through Joshua Zirkzee’s first-time finish, but the game turned on a penalty award to the hosts.
Despite scoring from that spot-kick, the Basque outfit managed to muster only two further shots on target in the 90 minutes.
That was the seventh game in their last 11 played that Imanol Alguacil’s side have failed to tally more than three shots on target.
Meanwhile, United are not as easily bypassed in Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation, which sees them string five across the back when out of possession
Only four of their last 10 opponents have registered more than three shots on target, which may be a problem that Real Sociedad face on Thursday.
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