

Bruno Fernandes continued his magnificent season with a goal in each half as Manchester United took firm control of their Europa League last-32 tie with Real Sociedad.
Fernandes took advantage of hesitant defending to open the scoring in Turin and then stroked in from the edge of the area for a second – which was awarded by VAR after he was initially flagged offside.
Marcus Rashford and Daniel James – who both missed several chances – then scored on the counter to leave next week’s return leg looking a formality.
Sociedad were top of La Liga when the draw was made but were poor throughout a game played in Italy because of Covid-19 restrictions.
They failed to test United goalkeeper Dean Henderson seriously and were constantly caught out on the break by the pace of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s frontline.
Even Manchester City hero David Silva – who joined Sociedad last August – was kept quiet on an off night.
Classic ‘away’ performance
The match was played at the home of Juventus as Spain has placed restrictions on travellers from the UK.
That decision could not have helped La Reales who, apart from in a manic opening few minutes, were second best all night.
Former United winger Adnan Januzaj curled narrowly wide inside 70 seconds, and Eric Bailly was beaten easily moments later by Alexander Isak, who saw his effort tipped wide.
But Solskjaer’s side soon took a grip and Rashford could have already scored twice before he played a part in the opener.
His pass over the top played Fernandes in and when defenders Igor Zubeldia and Robin le Normand collided with goalkeeper Alex Remiro, the Portuguese midfielder had a tap-in.
Fernandes’ second was a sublime finish from the edge of the area, digging the ball out from under his feet after a touch on from James. The flag was raised but after a lengthy check, the goal was awarded.
Since his debut 12 months ago, Fernandes has scored 33 times in all competitions, with only four players within the top five European leagues finding the net more often.
The playmaker is in good company – as they are Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski (53), Juventus talisman Cristiano Ronaldo (40), another former United forward in Romelu Lukaku (38) and Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Braut Haaland (36).
By now, United were totally in control and Fred freed Rashford to drill in low from the left-hand side of the area.
James saw another ruled out for offside and was denied by a good save as a naive Sociedad defence were cut open time and time again.
And the former Swansea man did get his goal in added time, firing through the legs of Remiro to give Solskjaer’s side a deserved cushion to take into next week’s home leg.

Player of the match
Bruno FernandesBruno Fernandes
Real Sociedad
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Squad number21Player nameSilva
Average rating6.19
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Squad number11Player nameJanuzaj
Average rating5.79
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Squad number19Player nameIsak
Average rating5.39
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Squad number10Player nameOyarzabal
Average rating5.33
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Squad number4Player nameIllarramendi
Average rating5.26
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Squad number20Player nameNacho Monreal
Average rating5.24
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Squad number8Player nameMerino
Average rating5.22
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Squad number1Player nameÁlex Remiro
Average rating5.16
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Squad number24Player nameLe Normand
Average rating5.06
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Squad number5Player nameZubeldia
Average rating5.05
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Squad number2Player nameZaldua
Average rating5.02
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Squad number7Player namePortu
Average rating4.82
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Squad number18Player nameGorosabel
Average rating4.79
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Squad number22Player nameBarrenetxea
Average rating4.79
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Squad number16Player nameGuevara
Average rating4.77
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Squad number25Player nameBautista
Average rating4.75
Manchester United
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Squad number18Player nameBruno Fernandes
Average rating8.01
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Squad number10Player nameRashford
Average rating7.32
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Squad number19Player nameDiallo
Average rating7.31
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Squad number26Player nameHenderson
Average rating6.94
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Squad number11Player nameGreenwood
Average rating6.92
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Squad number21Player nameJames
Average rating6.92
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Squad number8Player nameMata
Average rating6.92
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Squad number39Player nameMcTominay
Average rating6.90
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Squad number17Player nameFred
Average rating6.73
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Squad number29Player nameWan-Bissaka
Average rating6.68
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Squad number3Player nameBailly
Average rating6.62
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Squad number27Player nameAlex Telles
Average rating6.57
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Squad number31Player nameMatic
Average rating6.42
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Squad number9Player nameMartial
Average rating6.29
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Squad number5Player nameMaguire
Average rating6.21
Line-ups
Real Sociedad
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Remiro
- 2ZalduaSubstituted forGorosabelat 73′minutes
- 5Zubeldia
- 24Le NormandBooked at 88mins
- 20Monreal
- 21Silva
- 4IllarramendiSubstituted forGuevaraat 74′minutes
- 8Merino
- 11JanuzajSubstituted forPortugués Manzaneraat 80′minutes
- 19IsakSubstituted forBarrenetxeaat 80′minutes
- 10OyarzabalSubstituted forBautistaat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Portugués Manzanera
- 12Muñoz
- 14Guridi
- 15Sagnan
- 16Guevara
- 17Merquelanz
- 18Gorosabel
- 22Barrenetxea
- 25Bautista
- 28López
- 36Zubimendi
- 44Marrero
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 26Henderson
- 29Wan-BissakaBooked at 8mins
- 3Bailly
- 5Maguire
- 27Telles
- 39McTominaySubstituted forMaticat 60′minutes
- 17Fred
- 21James
- 18Bruno FernandesSubstituted forMataat 83′minutes
- 10RashfordSubstituted forMartialat 68′minutes
- 11GreenwoodSubstituted forDialloat 83′minutes
Substitutes
- 1de Gea
- 2Lindelöf
- 8Mata
- 9Martial
- 13Grant
- 19Diallo
- 23Shaw
- 31Matic
- 33Williams
- 38Tuanzebe
- 74Shoretire
- Referee:
- Sandro Schärer
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Real Sociedad 0, Manchester United 4.
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Second Half ends, Real Sociedad 0, Manchester United 4.
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Attempt saved. Juan Mata (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
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Foul by Ander Guevara (Real Sociedad).
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Amad Diallo (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Offside, Real Sociedad. Mikel Merino tries a through ball, but Portu is caught offside.
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Goal! Real Sociedad 0, Manchester United 4. Daniel James (Manchester United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eric Bailly following a fast break.
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Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad).
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Daniel James (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Real Sociedad. Jon Bautista replaces Mikel Oyarzabal.
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Hand ball by Andoni Gorosabel (Real Sociedad).
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Attempt blocked. Ander Barrenetxea (Real Sociedad) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Portu with a cross.
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Andoni Gorosabel (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Alex Telles (Manchester United).
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Substitution, Manchester United. Amad Diallo replaces Mason Greenwood.
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Substitution, Manchester United. Juan Mata replaces Bruno Fernandes.
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Attempt missed. Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
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Foul by Portu (Real Sociedad).
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Alex Telles (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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