No wonder Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't want to play in the Europa League after this frustrating night for Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo wanted to quit United this summer partly because he did not want to turn out in Europe's second-tier competition and he will like it even less after this shock loss.
He made his second start of the season against Real Sociedad and had a goal disallowed and missed a great chance as United's four-game winning run came to an abrupt end. Ronaldo, in his first European game since 2002 outside the Champions League, was one of six changes made by Erik ten Hag and his gamble backfired as United struggled to get out of second gear.
They were undone by former Manchester City great David Silva and he won a dubious penalty for handball against Lisandro Martinez for Brais Mendez to convert.
The result was a sobering one for United after their four-match winning streak, which included victories over Liverpool and Arsenal, and Ten Hag still has much work to do.
Harry Maguire was another of the six changes and the England centre-half did not seize his chance to convince Ten Hag he should get his regular starting place back.
Both sets of fans impeccably observed a minute's silence in memory of The Queen and the players wore black armbands, while the flags at Old Trafford were flown at half-mast.
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This sombre mood may have contributed to United's flatness and they were also hindered by their six changes. They slowly improved and Christian Eriksen threaded a pass through to Ronaldo, only for the alert Jon Pacheco to head the ball behind.
Anthony, the Stretford End's new darling, then saw a left-foot curler saved and United were the better side without hurting Real. Ronaldo headed home from Diogo Dalot's cross, but he was narrowly offside.
Casemiro was a positive on his full debut and he was tidy in possession and tracked back well to deflect a shot from Sadiq Umar wide before having a drive saved.
Silva was back in Manchester and the little magician conjured up a fine chance for Real when he laid the ball off for Mendez to shoot narrowly wide.
Ten Hag brought on Bruno Fernandes at half-time to gee United up and he made an instant impact crossing for Ronaldo to head wastefully wide.
Real responded and half-time substitute Alexander Sorloth headed wide from Takefusa Kubo's excellent cross before Martinez, another change at the interval, made a goal-saving interception from another one of his crosses.
Martinez was unlucky to give away a penalty when Silva's shot came off his right knee to hit his left arm and Mendez scored on 58 minutes to register a famous win for the Basque club.
