Manchester United, Real Sociedad draw 1-1 in Europa League clash

In the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie, Manchester United and Real Sociedad played to a 1-1 draw, with Joshua Zirkzee scoring for United before Mikel Oyarzabal equalized with a penalty awarded after a VAR review of a handball by Bruno Fernandes. Despite a strong performance from United, who controlled much of the match, their inability to secure a win frustrated them, as Sociedad's equalizer came from their first shot on target. The match saw United struggling with injuries, limiting their options, while Sociedad failed to capitalize on late opportunities. The outcome leaves the tie delicately poised ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford, where United will aim to leverage home advantage. Both teams are aware of the stakes, with United hoping to revive their season with a trophy and Sociedad looking to make a deep run in the tournament. The draw reflects both teams' challenges and the potential for a closely contested second leg.