Manchester United v Real Sociedad: Europa League last-16, second leg - live

now 16.43 EDT 42 min A little earlier we discussed Amoriim’s coaching chops; well, the performances we’re seeing tonight from Zirkzee and Hojlund, though not world-beating, show they’ve listened and learnt. Meantime, United win a free-kick that Fernandes will swerve in … or paste over the bar for no apparent reason/ Share

1m ago 16.42 EDT 41 min Nie from Zirkzee again, controlling well, running across two men and sliding through for Hojlund … but Aguerd makes the tackle and the whistle then goes for a foul. Share

2m ago 16.41 EDT 40 min Fernandes sends the corner flat towards Dorgu on the edge of the box, and he volleys … just over the bar. Share

3m ago 16.40 EDT 39 min united keep it well, then Dalot sends it down the side for Garnacho, whose cross is blocked behind by Aguerd; Marin is then booked for I’m not sure what. Share

4m ago 16.39 EDT 38 min Excellent from Casemiro, flicking up to himself before finding Fernandes, whose lovely touch allows hi to set Garnacho away … but Elustondo makes a good challenge. Share

5m ago 16.38 EDT 37 min gosh, Heaven has some composure: under pressure inside his own box, he sways and eases back to Onana when he might easily have panicked. I’ve no idea if he’s good enough for the top level, but he definitely believes he is, and that’s a good chunk of the battle. Share

6m ago 16.36 EDT 35 min On Zirkzee, I’m not sure he has the physicality to excel in the Prem, but his touch and imagination are lovely. If he can take a bit more responsibility – he seems more eager to pass or dummy than to shoot – he’s a chance of developing into a useful squad player. Share

8m ago 16.34 EDT 33 min “That Hojlund ‘foul’ is now the way,” writes Philip Haran. |A forward lifts his hands, touches the defender and it’s a foul but a defender can push an attacker over and it’s ok.” I think that’s always been the way – even when attackers had more scope to get handsy, defenders were given more leeway. My sense is we’re trying to preserve the rarity of goals, so the game tends to side with defenders and keeprs. Share

10m ago 16.32 EDT 31 min Now Sociedad sweep forward, Becker crossing low from the left … and United clearing. This is a really fun contest, the 11th-best team in Spain the rough equivalent of the 14th-best team in England. Share

11m ago 16.31 EDT 30 min United are doing an unusually reasonable job of keeping possession and progressing the ball getting it forward. They find Zirkzee down the left side of the box, he totally diddles Elustondo on the outside, stands up the next man, and crosses low for Hojlund, making another good run and flicking across goal … and just wide of the far post. Share

14m ago 16.28 EDT 27 min Heaven plays Caemiro a ball he doesn’t want but the return is way too hard and forces the young defender to concede a corner. Which goes shot, Kubo allowed to mooch along the by-line and he’s opened a shooting lane … but fires straight at Onana. Share

16m ago 16.26 EDT 26 min Er, is this an engaging game of football featuring … Manchester United? I cannot believe what I’m seeing, dear reader. Share

17m ago 16.26 EDT 24 min Fernandes’ delivery is good – he’s got so much better at that in recent weeks – and Zirkzee makes first contact, only for Zubimendi to thigh then kick away … and Oyarzabal is one on one with Dorgu, who makes a terrific and important challenge. Share

18m ago 16.24 EDT 23 min A lovely touch around the corner form Hojlund gets United going again, Dorgu oozes down the left, stands up a cross, and a fine touch from the defenders, Munoz i think, takes it away from Dalot, Garnacho eventually winning a corner. Share

20m ago 16.23 EDT 21 min Hojlund is into this. he isolates Zubeldia down thevleft, brushes him off … and the ref appraises a foul for an arm to the phizog. Harsh, I think, but either way, we’re seeing Hojlund do much more of the stuff he’s there to do. Share

21m ago 16.22 EDT 20 min “It might have been unlucky for De Ligt to clip the Real player in the process of clearing the ball,” offers Andy Flintoff, “but maybe a better positioned defender wouldn’t have had to stretch to make the clearance in the first place.” I agree. I’d need to see it again, but generally speaking I was staggered United let Ten Hag sign him given they already had a centre-back with no recovery pace in Lisandro Martinez, and I’ve seen little to make me change that opinion – though a defender who goes up for set-pieces looking to force the issue makes a change. Share

23m ago 16.20 EDT 19 min Fair play to United, they started in their usual abysmal style, but they’ve been good since conceding and, as I type, Fernandes turns nicely around the corner for Dalot, flips the return to the back post, and Remiro does well, punching clear and nailing Hojlund too, then Casemiro shoots wide. Share

24m ago 16.19 EDT 18 min Zubeldia by the way, was booked for his tackle – and so too was De Ligt. Share

24m ago 16.18 EDT GOAL! Manchester United (2) 1-1 (2) Real Sociedad (Fernandes 16 pen) A delay, a leap, and a tap into the bottom-left. View image in fullscreen The captain makes sure. Game on! Photograph: Jan Kruger/UEFA/Getty Images Share Updated at 16.23 EDT

26m ago 16.17 EDT PENALTY TO UNITED! 14 min United have woken up! Lovely ball from Casemiro, over the top to Bruno, who bursts into the box, squares to Hojlund – brave move – and from behind, Zubeldia slides in to impede him as he shoots. He should’ve scored, but he’ll take what he’s got, and does now seem to be making the right runs. View image in fullscreen Rasmus Hojlund is clipped in the box. Penalty! Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters Share Updated at 16.19 EDT

28m ago 16.15 EDT 13 min Better again, Dalot swinging over a decent cross from the right and, at the back post, Dorgu is up well … heading just wide. Wing-back to wing-back, that’s what Amorim will want to see. Share

29m ago 16.14 EDT 12 mi Better from United, Garnacho moving in off the right to drill a low shot straight at Remiro. Share

29m ago 16.13 EDT 11 min United find it so difficult to start games; it’s as if someone sprinkles mogadon on their pasta. Share

30m ago 16.13 EDT GOAL! Manchester United (1) 0-1 (2) Real Sociedad (Oyarzabal pen 10) Two penalties in 30 minutes for Oyarzabal, who sweeps right as Onana dives left. And foul or not, Sociedad have earned it with how well they’ve started the game. View image in fullscreen Mikel Oyarzabal scores! Not a great start from United. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA Share Updated at 16.15 EDT

31m ago 16.11 EDT PENALTY TO SOCIEDAD! 9 min Yup De Ligt caught the achilles. Unlucky, but a pen. View image in fullscreen Referee Benoit Bastien goes to the VAR monitor before awarding the penalty. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters Share Updated at 16.13 EDT

32m ago 16.10 EDT 8 min The ref goes over for a look and to me it looks the kind of tackle you can allow or not allow … De Ligt tackles from side-on but he does go go through Oyarzabal’s back leg, and I think this’ll be given. Share

34m ago 16.09 EDT 6 min I’ve just realised my Discovery Player has lagged so I’m behind; Kubol down the right, crosses low, De Ligt cuts out, but did he take Oyarzabal first? Share Updated at 16.09 EDT

36m ago 16.07 EDT 4 min “Cold,” begins Pau; Howarth. “I remember being at Old Trafford New Year’s Day years ago, winds and hail blowing in your face and ended 0-0.” Share

36m ago 16.06 EDT 3 min Zirkzee heads the corner away and when the ball comes back, Onana comes to claim. And, usually, he sets away an immediate attack, going long for Garnacho … far too long. Share

37m ago 16.05 EDT 2 min Now it’s Oyarzabal running at the United defence and crossing; De Ligt clears but Sociedad have started quickly here, Kubo megging Heaven down the left of the box … but Dorgu is on-hand to tackle at cost of a corner. Share

38m ago 16.04 EDT 1 min A nice touch from Heaven to start, finding Dorgu; those two could build a pretty decent partnership, I think, and, as I type, Heaven steps inside and into Marin to make a decent challenge Share

42m ago 16.00 EDT Where is the game? United, I think, will hope to play into Zirkzee with Bruno backing him up, while getting Garnacho and Dorgu one-on-one with their markers; Sociedad will want to take the heat out of the game and target the space behind the wing-backs, as well as looking to get their attackers running off Casemiro and at De Ligt. Share

44m ago 15.58 EDT Our teams are tunnelled and here they come! Share

46m ago 15.56 EDT “The reason Højlund and United are scoring even fewer than they did under Ten Hag,” says Ben Barclay, “is because Amorim’s 5-4-1 narrow midfield box doesn’t establish enough attackers or get the ball to them. No striker can live off stubborn dogma, misplaced blame, and random counter-attacks. Amorim can’t coach his way out of a wet paper bag.” Can anyone? How does one? I dunno, though – he did an incredible job at Sporting, inherited a side on its arse in the middle of season at its busiest point and has had to deal with all manner of injury to a squad already not good enough and now largely unsuited to the way he wants to play. Maybe he’s not the right man for the job, but I’d want to see him in friendlier circumstances before I decided.

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50m ago 15.53 EDT Paul Scholes, who used to watch Oldham and play at Old Trafford, is complaining that he’s cold. I don’t get it, at all. On which point, when have you been the coldest at the game? Lots of United fans will say Boundary Park, Boxing Day 1991; for me, it’s St Andrews, 28 December 2005 (I think it was then and not February 2003). Share

55m ago 15.47 EDT Amorim tells TNT that Heaven is ready. You have to be patient with new players but he showed confidence in the last game and they trust him. He’s told Højlund he can score in the next game and shown him good stuff he does for the tea. He’s doing the right things, he just needs to get the first one. Asked about attacking the Scoreboard End in the second half, he laughs and says he’s not fussed about that. Otherwise, he has plenty of praise for Zubimendi, good at building and foiling attacks and able to change the nature of his team. Share Updated at 15.53 EDT

1h ago 15.43 EDT Email! “Let’s hope it’s an evening where ‘Heaven, nothing ever happens’ for the young man tonight!” beseeches Robert Hisnay. “Everyone is trying to get to the bar

The name of the bar, the bar is called Heaven

The band in Heaven, they play my favorite song

Play it one more time, play it all night long Oh, Heaven

Heaven is the place

A place where nothing

Nothing ever happens Heaven

Heaven is a place

A place where nothing

Nothing ever happens There is a party, everyone is there

Everyone will leave at exactly the same time

When this party’s over, it will start again

Will not be any different, will be exactly the same Oh, Heaven

Heaven is a place

A place where nothing

Nothing ever happens When this kiss is over, it will start again

Will not be any different, will be exactly the same

It’s hard to imagine that nothing at all

Could be so exciting, could be this much fun Oh, Heaven

Heaven is a place

A place where nothing

Nothing ever happens Heaven

Heaven is a place

A place where nothing

Nothing ever happens.” I’m anticipating a “Heaven knows he’s miserable now.” Share

1h ago 15.38 EDT It’s big night tonight for Højlund. He’s improved a bit in the last couple of games – he’s getting chances and missing them, rather than disappearing – and has done well in Europe since joining United. I think Amorim has him pegged, as it goes: “We have to look at Rasmus as a player – he has the pace, he has the technique, he’s scored some goals that are really hard to score. Sometimes he doesn’t choose the better run, sometimes he’s so anxious to touch the ball and he moves away from the goal. We address that in training but sometimes it is the confidence of the player.” If you look at his United goals, he’s had to create almost all of them for himself. That’s partly because he’s in a poor team playing poorly, but he does also need to get better at making the right runs – to the front post and down the channels – instead of spending entire matches fighting fruitlessly with defenders. Oh and on TNT, we’re seeing footage from Sunday of him chatting to Peter Schmeichel; I’ve actually heard via the big man that his mentality is spot-on. Share

1h ago 15.31 EDT As for Sociedad, the main man is back. Zubimendi is a lovely footballer, one of few able to control a game. I’d expect his team to have much better-quality possession, and Oyarzabal to have much better service; if United have any sense, their two 10s will get around him like Sam Allardyce’s Bolton did to Claude Makélélé. Share

1h ago 15.28 EDT Otherwise, having Dorgu back should make a difference. He gives the team balance, also bringing the pace and strength it so severely lacks, and his intelligence on and off the ball might be important tonight – already, he looks to be building an understanding with Bruno Fernandes. Ahead of that, I imagine Garnacho will play from the right, as he gives United a bit of width on that flank – he has the ability to go on the outside – withe the improving but still lacking Zirkzee operating as the left 10. Share

1h ago 15.23 EDT So that United team, then. I’m a little surprised Manuel Ugarte hasn’t come in for Casemiro, though he did fairly well against Arsenal, because United might want his scavenging ahead of the ball. Otherwise, though, it makes sense that it’s Heaven not Lindelöf: Heaven played well against Arsenal and has the physicality and pace to defend wide areas behind the wing-back, as well as being decent in the air and on the ball. Given neither De Ligt nor Mazraoui can run, United would look (extra-)vulnerable with a third defender unable to sprint. Share

1h ago 15.20 EDT More on that in a minute – we’re watching an interview with Amorim, who says he’s got a good relationship with Jim Ratcliffe, who enjoys being told to “fuck off” by him. . They’re both blunt, he explains, before going on to say he thinks it’s funny that you’ll be able to see United’s new ground from Liverpool, he’s pleased about that. He wants to take the club into it, but he’s focused on winning in the old one. Share

1h ago 15.17 EDT Imanol Alguacil, meanwhile, makes three changes: out go Benat Turrientes, replaced by Zubimendi; Luka Sučić, whose spot goes to Pablo Marin; and

Ander Barrenetxea, giving way to Sheraldo Becker. Share

1h ago 15.13 EDT Ruben Amorim makes three changes to the side that wasn’t that dreadful against Arsenal: Leny Yoro is injured, replaced by Ayden Heaven, only recently signed from Arsenal and making his first start; Patrick Dorgu, suspended in the league, replaces Victor Lindelöf; and Rasmus Højlund is in for Christian Eriksen. Share

2h ago 15.05 EDT I’m going to write these down, then we’ll wonder what they might mean. Share

2h ago 15.04 EDT Teams! Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Heaven; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Garnacho, Zirkzee; Hojlund. Subs: Harrison, Mee, Amass, Fredricson, Lindelof, Collyer, Eriksen, Fletcher, Ugarte, Scanlon. Real Sociedad (4-3-3): Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Marin, Zubimendi, Mendez; Becker, Oyarzabal, Kubo. Subs: Marrero, Barrenetxea, Oskarsson, Lopez, Olasagasti, Gomez, Traore, Aramburu, Turrientes, Martin, Beitia, Mariezkurrena. Referee: Benoît Bastien (France) Share

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