As far as Europa League group matches go, this is just about as big as it gets. From the moment Sociedad won 1-0 at Old Trafford on matchday one, the reverse fixture was always going to be the crunch game in this section.
If Manchester United win by more than one goal, they will leapfrog the Spaniards and end the campaign as group winners. Any other result and they will remain in second place. United are 23/20 favourites with Betfred to get the result they need in the Reale Arena while the hosts are 9/4 to do the double over the Reds after Brais Mendez' 59th minute penalty stunned Old Trafford in September.
Erik ten Hag's side were just beginning to show signs of recovery after their shambolic start to the season when these sides met on matchday one but they are now undefeated in eight games since the hammering at City and ultimately look like a side heading firmly in the right direction.
Sociedad have won all five of their Europa League games, conceding just one goal in the process, but Imanol Alguacil's side have hit the buffers in La Liga, losing their last two games. They have only scored once in their last three domestic fixtures and are averaging less than 1.0 xGF across their last five games in all competitions.
Midfielder Mendez, the hero from from Old Trafford, is their top scorer this season but the Spaniard has scored just once in his last six games and Sociedad are struggling badly to generate any sort of cutting edge.
That bodes well for a United side that firmly on the improve defensively, even though they are missing Raphael Varane. Lisandro Martinez has quickly become a firm favourites with the fans and the Argentinian has marshalled the United rearguard to four clean sheets in their last five matches across all competitions.
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United prediction
Big chances were few and far between in the reverse fixture between these sides and, with the hosts struggling offensively right now, that might be the case once again.
If United can get their noses in front, they should be able to see this out and get the resullt they need. With that in mind, backing United to win to nil at 11/4 with Betfred rates a solid Europa League wager. It's also a bet we landed in Sunday's 1-0 win over West Ham.
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United p rediction: Manchester United to win to nil - 11/4
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United odds from Betfred
- Real Sociedad - 9/4
- Draw - 5/2
- Manchester United - 23/20
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