Zubimendi absent vs Man Utd
Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi isn’t playing against Manchester United tonight.
Sociedad and United are facing off in the Last 16 of the Europa League at Anoeta.
However, the Arsenal target is absent from Imanol Alguacil’s squad due to illness.
Alguacil said: “He had a very bad night and woke up with a fever. We decided to send him home.”
Word from Spain
Not a classic but Manchester United should be ahead. Both Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee failed to score from their best moment of the half.
With Real Sociedad missing their best player in Martin Zubimendi through illness, the home side look flat.
This is a golden chance for Ruben Amorim’s men to take control of the tie – but as yet they have not done so.
HT: Real Sociedad 0-0 Man Utd
Half-time at the Anoeta.
Manchester United and Real Sociedad are goalless.
Relive all the action from the first half below:
Word from Spain
Rasmus Hojlund has not scored since mid-December and cut a frustrated figure when Diogo Dalot wasted a promising position by failing to cross for him.
He made his feelings known in no uncertain terms to the defender.
Otherwise there was not been much to worry Ruben Amorim as his team have looked largely comfortable and had the best openings so far.
Man Utd eye Mateta
Manchester United are monitoring Crystal Palace star Jean-Phillippe Mateta and could make a shock summer swoop.
United manager Ruben Amorim admitted following their FA Cup penalty defeat to Fulham that his side is suffering from a goalscoring problem, which means securing a striker in the summer has now become a priority.
Top of the list is Viktor Gyokeres, who Amorim’s former striker at Sporting Lisbon.
But despite Gyokeres being keen on the idea of a reunion with the Portuguese tactician, he’s pushing for a move to a Champions League club.
This has led to Man Utd casting their net wider, and they’ve watched Mateta’s last three Premier League matches.
The Redc Devils’ scouts were also watching on as Mateta was pole-axed by the kung fu assault by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round tie, which saw the Eagles ace ferried to hospital before receiving 25 stitches in a head wound.
Real Sociedad 0-0 Man Utd
Kickoff!
Manchester United’s crucial Europa League clash is in full swing at the Anoeta!
