Turin (Italy) (AFP)
Manchester United took a serious option on qualifying by correcting Real Sociedad 4-0 Thursday in Turin in the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League thanks to a brace inspired by their fit midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese opened the scoring on a misunderstanding of the Basque defense (27th), then doubled the lead in the second period on a well-brushed ball transmitted by Marcus Rashford (57th), before the goals of Marcus Rashford (65th) and Daniel James (90th) to seal this recital.
Although this game was played behind closed doors on neutral ground (at Juventus Stadium in Turin) due to health restrictions in Spain, these three goals allow the Mancunians to return to England with the advantage of away goals. ... and allow them to already have a foot in the round of 16 before the return match on February 25.
And the score could have been even higher for the Basques, who escaped a 5th goal from young Mason Greenwood for a limit offside (69th).
Reversed from the Champions League, the Mancuniens did not have good memories of their confrontations against Spanish teams in C3 since their eliminations against Sevilla in the round of 16 of the 2017-2018 edition and in the semi-finals of the 2019 edition -2020.
But they approached this competition - the only one they can still reasonably hope to win this season given the distance that separates them in the league from rival Manchester City - with seriousness and application.
Goalkeeper Alex Remiro made three big saves at the start of the game (2nd, 16th, 19th), but only delayed the deadline for the Basques, who have to top it all lost Joseba Zaldua, visibly out hamstring injury (73rd).
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