It’s all to play for in the last 16 – come on, United!
MANCHESTER UNITED v REAL SOCIEDAD
THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2025 Kick-off 8pm • Round of 16, second leg
“We all know the fighting spirit the fans want to see, and I think we’ve seen more of it in recent games”
At this moment in time, our aim is simply to win the next game. We cannot look beyond that.
because it is only a week since we controlled the majority of the first leg over in Spain until the penalty decision, after which we had to survive the last 20 minutes as our opponents grew in confidence.
Tonight, that means beating Real Sociedad and, if we do that, we move into the quarter-finals of this season’s Europa League. We know already, as we welcome Imanol Alguacil and his players to Old Trafford, that it will not be a straightforward task, but we can approach this game with a positive mood
There were some mixed emotions after the first leg, as there were after our Premier League draw with Arsenal. It wasn’t the most beautiful of performances from us last Sunday, but it was a display of character, and that is fundamental to what we want to build as we move forward. We all know the kind of fighting spirit the fans want to see out on the pitch, and I think we have seen more and more of it in recent games. I come back to the point I keep repeating: the most important thing for us right now is
just to win the next game, because every good result helps us. Tonight, with the balance of the tie after the first leg, we know that if we win this game at Old Trafford then we will make progress in a big, important competition.
It is a clear goal and, although it will take hard work to make it happen, we know we can do it if we all work together.
Co-chairmen Joel Glazer, Avram Glazer Directors Bryan Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Michael Edelson, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill CBE, Omar Berrada, Sir Dave Brailsford, Jean-Claude Blanc
Secretary Rebecca Britain Honorary president Martin Edwards
The players line up ahead of last Thursday’s draw in San Sebastian, and tonight the Reds will be using the soundtrack of our home support to help us push for a quarter-final place
Our last-16 tie against La Real is on a knife edge, but home advantage and an atmospheric Old Trafford can make the difference for Ruben’s Reds tonight
Old Trafford is poised for one of the biggest nights of Manchester United’s season this evening, as we take on Real Sociedad for a place in the last eight of the UEFA Europa League.
The tie is locked at 1-1 ahead of this second leg, after Joshua Zirkzee gave us the lead only for a VAR-awarded penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal to level things up in San Sebastian a week ago. It means the Reds must find a way to progress – via victory in 90 minutes, in extra-time or on penalties – if our hopes of winning silverware this season are to remain alive.
Ruben Amorim’s team impressed on Sunday, in another 1-1 draw, this time against Arsenal, and left the field disappointed not to have won
the game after a slew of second-half chances. The tone and tenacity of our performance energised a defiant Old Trafford crowd, and those 90 minutes should inspire everyone for whatever is to come tonight: when the Theatre of Dreams is on its feet, and players and fans come together, not many opposition teams can cope.
La Real warmed up for this encounter with a 1-0 home defeat to Sevilla in La Liga, though coach Imanol Alguacil made several changes to the starting line-up, perhaps with tonight’s game in
mind. Leading players like Oyarzabal, Martin Zubimendi, Andre Barrenetxea and Take Kubo only featured in the second half, by which time Chidera Ejuke had already struck the only goal of the game for Sevilla. The full complement is expected to start in M16 tonight, so perhaps we should not read too much into La Real’s indifferent league form. After all, they lie 11th in Spain, we are 14th in England, so anything could happen! Our job in the stands is to make sure United’s players have a backing that increases the belief on the pitch, and that ultimately helps us seal a quarter-final spot against Lyon or FCSB. So, let’s get behind the lads!
United Women will play Manchester City in the last four of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, following a comfortable 3-1 fifth-round win over Sunderland at Leigh Sports Village. Leah Galton and captain Maya Le Tissier put the Reds two up before the break, and a third from Ella Toone made passage safe in injury-time. Marc Skinner’s side will now travel across town to meet the Blues, who beat Aston Villa 2-0 in the quarters, on the weekend of 12/13 April, with the winners set to face Chelsea or Liverpool at Wembley. United famously lifted the trophy last May, with a 4-0 victory over Tottenham.
Toone and Galton both found the net last Saturday to help advance United’s defence of the Women’s FA Cup to the semis
Second-half goals from Gabriele Biancheri and James Scanlon helped our Under-18s come from behind to beat Derby County 3-2 in the U18s Premier League North on Saturday. United went behind after just six minutes at the Rams’ Moor Farm Training Centre before Dan Armer headed us level. Derby regained the advantage just before the half-hour mark, until our recovery after the interval. The final result returned us to top spot, though Manchester City are just a point behind, with a game in hand. Keep up the good work, Reds.
Man of the moment Bruno Fernandes adorns the cover of the new issue of the club’s official magazine, Inside United, which is available at Old Trafford tonight. Across 12 in-depth pages, our captain talks about his five years at United, and IU is the only place you can read the exclusive interview in full. There’s also a look at Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu’s rise, a nod to Diogo Dalot upon the player reaching 200 United appearances, a Leah Galton interview, plus a deep dive on Sir Alex Ferguson’s arrival at the club in 1986 –and much, much more. Get your copy now!
Welsh forward Biancheri was on target
Referee Benoit Bastien (France) Assistants Hicham Zakrani, Aurelien Berthomieu (both France)
Fourth official Jeremie Pignard (France)
VAR Willy Delajod (France)
Assistant VAR Benoit Millot (France)
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Manchester United has thrown its support behind the government’s growth agenda by announcing its intention to pursue a new 100,000-seater stadium as the centrepiece of the regeneration of the Old Trafford area.
The stadium, and wider regeneration project, have the potential to deliver an additional £7.3 billion per year to the UK economy which brings large-scale social and economic benefits to the community and wider region, including the possible creation of 92,000 new jobs, more than 17,000 new homes as well as driving an additional 1.8 million visitors annually.
Conceptual images and scaled models of what the new stadium and surrounding area could look like were unveiled on Tuesday by Foster + Partners, the architecture group appointed to design the stadium district. These will provide a masterplan for more detailed feasibility, consultation, design and planning work as the project enters a new phase.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford.
“Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind
the best arenas in world sport. By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience, only footsteps from our historic home.
“Just as important is the opportunity for a new stadium to be the catalyst for social and economic renewal of the Old Trafford area, creating jobs and investment, not just during the construction phase, but on a lasting basis when the stadium district is complete. The government has identified infrastructure investment as a strategic priority, particularly in the north
of England, and we are proud to be supporting that mission with this project of national, as well as local, significance.”
Chief executive Omar Berrada said: “Our long-term objective as a club is to have the world’s best football team playing in the world’s best stadium. We are grateful for the feasibility work done by the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force... we have carefully considered its findings, together with the views of thousands of fans and local residents, and concluded that a new stadium is the right way forward for Manchester United and our surrounding community. We will now embark on further consultation to ensure that fans and residents continue to be heard as we move towards final decisions.”
Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Old Trafford holds so many special memories for me personally, but we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a new home, fit for the future, where new history can be made.”
Lord Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman, Foster + Partners, said: “This has to be one of the most exciting projects in the world
today, with incredible regional and national significance. It all starts with the fans’ experience, bringing them closer than ever to the pitch and acoustically cultivating a huge roar.
“The stadium is contained by a vast umbrella, harvesting energy and rainwater, and sheltering a new public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square. The outward-looking stadium will be the beating heart of a new sustainable district, which is completely walkable, served by public transport, and endowed by nature. It is a mixed-use miniature city of the future... creating a global destination that Mancunians can be proud of.”
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Manchester United could, and indeed should, have the best football stadium in the world. That means a stadium true to the traditions of the club, affordable to all, with nobody priced out, and a stadium that sets new standards in the game globally. I believe this vision can be realised, and if so, the benefits for Greater Manchester, the North West and the country will be huge.”
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It’s a massive night in the UEFA Europa League, with teams from across the continent vying to join either United or Real Sociedad in next month’s quarter-finals...
The final eight clubs left in the running to lift this season’s UEFA Europa League trophy will be confirmed tonight, and there could be plenty of tension in store, from Stadio Olimpico to Old Trafford.
There are seven other Round of 16 ties taking place away from M16 and, much like United v Real Sociedad, they all have outcomes that remain anything but a given, following an eventful set of first legs last Thursday.
Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, who threatened to condemn Ruben Amorim to defeat in his first home game as United boss before losing 3-2 here in November, do look the most assured bet for a spot in the quarter-finals however, having beaten Olympiacos 3-0 on home soil seven days ago.
The Norwegians now head to Greece looking to continue a famous European campaign that has already seen them take down teams such as Besiktas, Braga and Porto, although Olympiacos’s hopes of completing a turnaround may be boosted if the competition’s top scorer in 2024/25, Ayoub El Kaabi, can return from the injury that ruled him out of last week’s game.
The winner of that clash at 5.45pm will take on either Lazio or Viktoria Plzen in the last eight. They are also set to contest their second leg as one of four fixtures in tonight’s tea-time slot.
Italian outfit Lazio finished top of the 36-team league phase and managed to eke out a narrow advantage upon resuming their campaign in Czechia last week, with Gustav Isaksen’s 98th-minute winner earning a 2-1 triumph
for a side that ended the game with nine men following two red cards.
Nicolo Rovella and Samuel Gigot will subsequently miss tonight’s return outing at Stadio Olimpico, where Plzen will look to bounce back and take encouragement from the fact their opponents have only won one of their last seven two-legged ties in UEFA competition.
At the same time, Ajax are aiming to be the first club to win away at Eintracht Frankfurt in this season’s tournament, as the Dutch giants bid to overturn a narrow 2-1 deficit, having surrendered a lead in last week’s first leg in Amsterdam. After Brian Brobbey’s opener, goals from Hugo
Larsson and Ellyes Skhiri ensured Frankfurt didn’t miss their top scorer in the league phase, Omar Marmoush – who departed for Manchester City in January – although Ajax head coach Francesco Farioli believes his charges can take belief into the encounter in Germany from a spirited first-leg showing. “The way we played gives confidence,” he said afterwards. “We know where we want to go – forward, with strength and bravery.”
Whoever edges the aggregate scoreline in that one will be able to tune into the Tottenham Hotspur v AZ Alkmaar match at 8pm, knowing a quarter-final meeting with the winner awaits.
AZ currently have the upper hand as they head to north London following an imposing display that yielded a 1-0 victory in the first leg – a result that Spurs will be desperate to overturn, with the Europa League being their one remaining chance of lifting a trophy this term.
On the other half of the draw, there’s a big game at San Mames – the venue for the final in May – as Athletic Club of Bilbao look to keep their dream alive of hoisting the trophy in their own stadium, when they go head-to-head again with Roma. It’s the last (but certainly not least) of the four games due to get under way at 5.45pm, which Roma go into with a 2-1 lead, after Eldor Shomurodov’s 93rd-minute goal completed an enthralling come-from-behind triumph for the Italians seven days ago, shortly after Yeray Alvarez had been sent off for their La Liga opponents.
Like the progressor from the Eintracht v Ajax tie, the winner of this one will also have an eye on
tonight’s later fixtures, as they are due to face Rangers or Fenerbahce in the last eight, with those teams meeting at Ibrox at 8pm.
Rangers were brilliant on the counterattack in the first meeting in Istanbul, with two goals from Vaclav Cerny (no player has more direct goal involvements than his eight in this season’s competition) inspiring the Scottish heavyweights to a memorable 3-1 success away from home.
For context, it was the first time Fenerbahce have shipped three goals at home in a European knockout game since 2007 (excluding play-offs), but with Jose Mourinho in charge – winner of this trophy with United in 2017, of course – it would be premature to write his side off in Glasgow.
Romanian outfit FCSB are faced with the same task of overcoming a two-goal deficit away from home, in another of the 8pm games, if they are to reach the quarter-finals.
They go to Ligue Un’s sixth-placed club, Lyon, who won the first meeting 3-1 after Belgian forward Malick Fofana scored in the 86th and 89th minutes, with the clash previously looking to be heading for a 1-1 draw.
Those goals could prove vital for the French team, who look the favourites to face United or Real Sociedad in the last eight, when those games take place on 10 and 17 April.
United and Real Sociedad, plus the three match officials, line up ahead of our UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first-leg tie a week ago in Reale Arena, San Sebastian. This was the third time the Reds have visited the Basque Country to play in what was formerly known as Anoeta Stadium. Our first visit there was a 0-0 draw in 2013; the second a 1-0 United win in 2022 (Alejandro Garnacho scoring our winner), with the game seven days ago ending in a 1-1 draw. It means that the tie is perfectly balanced ahead of this evening’s second leg, after Joshua Zirkzee’s opener was cancelled out by a harsh penalty for handball against Bruno Fernandes – converted by Mikel Oyarzabal. Both sides could claim they did enough to bring a lead to M16 for tonight’s game, but the only aim for Ruben Amorim’s men this evening is clinching a place in the last eight with a home victory under the Old Trafford lights.
“We
Our skipper Bruno Fernandes discusses the
responsibility of being a Red, the squad’s adaptation to head coach Ruben Amorim, plus the collective goals for the games to come...
Throughout his half-decade at Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes has been a model of consistency, both with and without the armband he’s sported as club captain since the summer of 2023. A perennial scorer and supplier of goals, creator of chances and trampler of turf, the 30-year-old Portuguese has dug deep during the most trying campaign United have known in the Premier League era. Only Diogo Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho top Fernandes’s appearance haul this term, and the skipper has taken on even greater responsibility in recent weeks, often juggling duties between a deep-lying playmaker and a forward-roaming support in attack – not to mention an increasingly potent threat from dead-ball situations.
“Bruno is really important for us in the club, especially for me,” admitted head coach Ruben Amorim, speaking to the world’s media ahead of this month’s FA Cup visit of Fulham, in which Fernandes both equalised in normal time and netted his spot-kick in the subsequent penalty shoot-out. “He’s playing well in a difficult context,” added the boss. “He wants always the responsibility. He wants to win.”
Speaking in the aftermath of the Reds’ FA Cup exit and before last week’s Europa League Round of 16 first leg, Bruno gave his thoughts on a taxing season to date while retaining a sharp focus on what is still to come in the final weeks of 2024/25...
Firstly, Bruno, how would you assess the season so far from a collective point of view? Well, it’s not a great season by us. Obviously,
we’re not in the positions we want. We want to be [doing well] in the Premier League. We’re out of the two cups, the domestic ones, but obviously we still have a chance in the Europa League.
You’ve been singled out for praise a lot recently, with Ruben Amorim very keen to salute your influence. Even arriving as our new head coach with an exciting reputation, it has been a tough start for him. Could you tell us a little bit about what kind of figure he is?
He’s very, very into detail. He gives the right information to the players on the way he wants to play, and how he wants us to be on the pitch. The set-up I think is very clear for everyone. Obviously, if we look at the results, we could say that we’re not quite there yet, but we’ve been improving. Even if the results are not showing that, I can see and I think the other players can see some improvement on the way he wants us to play. But, obviously, at this club, everything is
In terms of positive recent signs, there was a great deal of character shown in the comeback at Everton and beating Ipswich
despite being down to 10 men for more than half the game. Reflecting on those games and having been through those experiences together, can you use those memories as a foundation to build on?
First of all, you have to use those two games to understand how to not start games, because we started both games very poorly. Obviously, the one against Ipswich, we conceded three minutes after the start of the game. But at Everton we had a very, very poor first half, but then in the second half we showed a completely different team. Against Ipswich, I think overall we did very well, even in the first half. Then with 10 men we had to show some resilience, fighting spirit, defend well and try on the counter to hurt them, and I think we did that very well. And even at moments we could have played a little bit more, and we did it with 10 men. Sometimes, when I think about it, [it’s like] we need – most of the time – to make things difficult for ourselves to become the team that we want to be, and that’s something we have to change. We have to start the games as strong as possible and then maintain that for the 90 minutes, so that we don’t put ourselves in a difficult position.
It has unquestionably been a very testing season, but positives can come from these experiences – in your opinion, what does this situation do for the togetherness of the club and the determination to come through it?
It’s obviously a tough period because this club is not used to being in the position we are in at the moment. It is used to winning trophies. We are playing for the demands of this club, the responsibility. So we just have to deal with all of that and understand that there is no going back when you come to this club. This club is about going for trophies. I aim for big, big goals, and that’s the main thing.
Finally, Bruno, with the end of the season just starting to come into view, what are your ambitions between now and the summer?
We need to go game by game. Obviously, as I said, the Europa League has to be a big aim for us. Winning a trophy, that’s something that this club always wants. By winning it, you can get
“There is no going back when you come to this club. This club is about going for trophies... and the Europa League has to be a big aim for us”
the qualification for the Champions League. So we have to focus on a game-by-game approach, trying to win all of them – as we always do, even if, as I said, the results don’t show that so far. That’s what we always have to do. Trying to aim for winning every game won’t be any different now. We just have to carry on getting into the process of getting to know better and better the way the manager wants to play, and try to do it in the best way we possibly can. That has to be the main aim for us now.
IT’S A MASSIVE NIGHT IN THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE FOR THE BOYS FROM THE BASQUE COUNTRY, WHO ARE BACK AT OLD TRAFFORD FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN 12 YEARS, AND HOPING TO TAKE A BIG STEP TOWARDS REACHING A FIRST EUROPEAN FINAL...
Nicknames: Los Txuri-Urdin (The White and Blues), La Real
Founded: September 1909
Ground: The Reale Arena (capacity 39,313)
All-time most appearances: Alberto Gorriz (1979-93), 599
All-time top scorer: Jesus Maria Satrustegui (1973-86), 162
Major honours: La Liga winners, 1980/81, 1981/82; Copa del Rey winners 1909, 1987, 2020
Top European achievement: 1982/83 European Cup, semi-finals
Real Sociedad probably don’t need any extra motivation to reach a first European final, but knowing the Europa League’s showpiece final is at San Mames in Bilbao – the home of Basque rivals Athletic Club – adds an extra frisson to the San Sebastian side’s continental campaign.
An inconsistent start in Europe this season, that yielded just four points from La Real’s opening four games, has given way to five wins, one draw and one loss in their last seven, with their refusal to accept defeat after going behind to the Reds a week ago testament as much to boss Imanol Alguacil’s inspirational leadership as captain Mikel Oyarzabal’s equalising penalty.
Though mid-table in La Liga – their loss to Sevilla on Sunday saw them drop to 11th – La Real have channelled some impressive European wins this season: against Ajax (2-0), Dynamo Kyiv (3-0) and a 7-3 aggregate domination of Midtjylland to reach the last 16.
Their 1-1 draw with United a week ago was also Alguacil’s 325th fixture in charge, taking him past the great Alberto Ormaetxea – manager for their two-time La Liga-winning zenith in the ’80s (turn the page for more) – and into third on the club’s all-time list.
The highly regarded 53-year-old, in the dugout since December 2018, now trails only John Toshack and Benito Diaz. “We have to live every moment in these ties,” said the former right-back about his team’s Europa League campaign a week ago. “Sometimes we have to suffer and other times try to generate chances to win. It’s about competing at all times.”
Latest news from the opposition camp, plus profiles and tactics...
defensively solid, but short of goals
What will have pleased Alguacil most last Thursday was the comeback. Despite winning 30 out of 33 points when scoring first in La Liga this season, La Real have the division’s worst record when conceding first, picking up just one point from 13 top-flight games in which they’ve gone 1-0 down. They remain defensively solid, however, and concede a shade over a goal a game, helped by Alex Remiro’s 12 clean sheets this season– a La Liga high alongside Atletico’s Jan Oblak. Though more prolific in Europe, La Real have struggled for domestic goals – only bottom side Real Valladolid have scored fewer – with energetic
Though homegrown midfield conductor Martin Zubimendi, whose controlling qualities do the work of two players, is expected back from illness, Alguacil should stick with the 4-3-3 set-up that started last week’s draw. Brais Mendez has licence to play highest of the three central midfielders – he was even deployed as an out-and-out playmaker in the first leg – and combines well with Takefusa Kubo’s industry on the right, the 23-year-old providing a pacy point of difference to all La Real’s intricate possession obsession. Centre-forward Orri Oskarsson, four Europa League goals to his name this term, offered a focal point from the bench and had two late chances, while Sheraldo Becker’s direct style caused problems down the right after his introduction. Centre-backs Igor Zubeldia and Nayef Aguerd, and forwardthinking left-back Aihen Munoz, are defensive fixtures, with Alguacil choosing between Aritz Elustondo or Jon Aramburu at right-back, depending on whether the former’s defensive diligence or the latter’s greater attacking threat is required.
The Reale Arena erupts after Oyarzabal’s penalty levels up the last-16 scoreline seven nights ago
Japan international Takefusa Kubo leading the way on five Liga goals, and Oyarzabal on 10 in all competitions.
Skipper Oyarzabal, born less than an hour from San Sebastian, is one of six members of last week’s starting XI to have graduated from their fabled Zubieta academy, with more on the bench. The club prides itself on selecting players not only from the Basque Country, but from the tiny province of Gipuzkoa, making what would be a first elimination of an English opponent taste all the sweeter if they can pull it off.
“We know it is complicated,” shrugged boss Alguacil last Thursday, “but why not?”
Martin Zubimendi
Courted by Liverpool for much of last summer, the stylish midfielder is expected to be on many a shopping list come season’s end after another impressive campaign as the perfect blend of Sergio Busquets’s positioning and Xabi Alonso’s ball retention. Zubimendi missed last week’s first leg through illness but the 26-year-old is expected to feature in tonight’s second leg, his ability to dictate a game’s tempo from in front of the back four highly prized by Imanol Alguacil.
Mikel Oyarzabal
Oyarzabal was one of La Real’s members included within Spain’s Euro 2024-winning squad – Alex Remiro, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino, now of Arsenal, the others –and he certainly had the biggest impact. The 27-year-old featured in every game, but it was in scoring the winner four minutes from time in the final against England – “your foot smells of goals” captain Alvaro Morata had told him on the morning of the game – that the 41-cap attacker delivered when it mattered most. Nearing 400 senior appearances with 100-plus goals in his 10th season since graduating from his club’s academy, Oyarzabal also bagged the winner in the 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021) to end his side’s 34-year trophy drought. The versatile no.10 took his Europa League tally this season to four with his penalty a week ago, while his brace against Dynamo Kyiv was crucial to knockout-stage progress. “You progress, get a bit closer, and think maybe one day you’ll play for La Real, but you never imagine this,” the unassuming Oyarzabal told The Guardian last year about his love for his local club. “You just play and what has to happen will happen.”
The 28-year-old Morocco centre-back has been back to his best since joining on loan from West Ham at the start of the season. Featuring among the top five percentile in accurate forward passes among defenders in Europe’s top five leagues this term, Aguerd is a frequent starter of his side’s attacks, with game-switching diagonal passes a particular speciality, and he brings an assured demeanour to the back four, complementing his gnarly centre-back partner Igor Zubeldia.
PLAYER
Jon Balda 22 Spain
PLAYER AGE NATION
Ander Barrenetxea 23 Spain
Orri Oskarsson 20 Iceland Sheraldo
Heartbreak in Hamburg in ’83 is just one tale of La Real’s Euro adventures...
Real Sociedad spent 65 years awaiting their European debut, but in the half-century since an inauspicious 5-0 aggregate defeat by Czech side Banik Ostrava in the 1974/75 UEFA Cup first round, the Basques have revelled in their status as underdogs from a fiercely proud ‘nation within a nation’.
Founded in 1909, the yo-yoing Txuri-Urdin (‘White and Blues’) established themselves in the top flight from the late ’60s with a collection of homegrown players that can cause Spanish football fans of a certain vintage to go weak at the knees. With a stellar spine of goalkeeper Luis Arconada, centre-back Bixio Gorriz, midfielder Jesus Mari Zamora and club-record top scorer Jesus Maria Satrustegui up front, La Real shone as a team for well over a decade following that European bow.
Beaten 3-0 by Internazionale in the 1979/80 UEFA Cup first round at San Siro, boss Alberto Ormaetxea’s bright young things delivered arguably the finest 90-minute display in club history in the second leg at a febrile Atotxa (La Real’s home stadium until 1993). Ormaetxea’s side pummelled the Nerazzurri of Giuseppe Baresi and Alessandro Altobelli 2-0, and were denied a late penalty for the finest of comebacks. “We entered the pitch with a knife between our teeth,” said Satrustegui, who scored both goals. “It’s a mythical game, the standard bearer for the attitude a team must have in a comeback.”
As for Inter’s Gabriele Oriali, he’d later recall: “I’ll never forget the crowd. Real deserved to go through.”
After Zamora scored at Sporting Gijon with 12 seconds of the 1980/81 Liga season remaining to win the club’s maiden league title, the Txuri-Urdin got their first crack in the following season’s European Cup. Beaten by CSKA Sofia, La Real returned to the tournament a year later and knocked out Vikingur Reykjavik, Celtic and Sporting – keeper Arconada living up to his ‘El Pulpo’ (the Octopus) nickname –to reach a semi-final against Hamburg. After a 1-1 draw at Atotxa, the injury-ravaged Basques
Real Sociedad’s 1982/83 squad had incredible quality, but the Spanish champions would be knocked out of the European Cup semi-finals in contentious circumstances
would be without regulars Inaxio Kortabarria, Agustin Gajate, Zamora and Satrustegui for the return leg at the Volksparkstadion. But with a 20-year-old Jose Mari Bakero – a future European champion with Barcelona and later La Real manager (below) – among the youngsters to impress, Diego Alvarez’s equaliser cancelled out Ditmar Jakobs’ opener with 10 minutes left. Then came the controversy. At half-time, the Swiss linesman had announced he could no longer continue and would be replaced by a local official. The gaggle of photographers in the tunnel as the teams re-emerged showed the intrigue of a German officiating a German club, which turned to outright Basque fury as Thomas von Heesen scored an offside winner late on. “But it’s offside, it’s offside. How can they not whistle?!” screamed TV commentator Jose Angel de la Casa over and over. Fans still call it ‘the robbery of Hamburg’, as their opponents progressed, before going on to lift the trophy.
“There’s a thorn that digs in our side as to the even-greater history we could have made with that team – which was already unthinkable,” Zamora, absent that day, later recalled.
Further German heartbreak would follow at the end of the decade in what proved to be the
last European hurrah for Arconada, Gorriz and Zamora, Satrustegui having already retired.
Copa del Rey winners in 1986/87 and La Liga runners-up the following year under ex-Liverpool forward John Toshack (whose Welsh-accented Spanish-English aphorisms amused many a local journalist), La Real had knocked out Dukla Prague, Sporting and Cologne to reach the UEFA Cup last eight against Stuttgart.
Though missing precocious young forward Jurgen Klinsmann, Stuttgart won on penalties. Two seasons later, Real Sociedad made it two shoot-out exits from two in Europe, losing to Partizan Belgrade in the UEFA Cup second round.
Despite boasting the 1998/99 UEFA Cup’s joint-top scorer in Darko Kovacevic, La Real lost to Atletico Madrid in the third round – the only time they have faced a Spanish team in Europe.
The dugout arrival of ’90s right-back Imanol Alguacil in 2018, plus a stable squad featuring academy graduates-turned-stalwarts Aritz Elustondo, Igor Zubeldia and Mikel Oyarzabal, has helped deliver not only the 2019/20 Copa del Rey but five successive seasons in which they’ve reached the knockout rounds of Europe.
With a first continental quarter-final up for grabs since shoot-out heartbreak against Stuttgart nearly 36 years ago, this proud community club will be more determined than ever to progress as they take on the Reds for the eighth time this evening.
DXC supports the Reds on and off the pitch connecting with fans and the community through technology. Discover more in the Manchester United App.
Our first dedicated Sikh supporters’ club were special guests at the recent Fulham game…
United’s ever-growing global network of supporters’ clubs was expanded recently, with the launch of the Stretford Sikhs.
A non-geographical community of Reds, which aims to join supporters of shared faith across the world, the group was welcomed to Old Trafford for the recent Fulham FA Cup tie, where members met club legend Denis Irwin at pitchside.
The branch is our 329th official supporters’ club across 90 countries. Others to join so far in 2025 include Guizhou, Indonesia Bekasi, Panjabi Red Devils, Albuquerque Red Devils, Birmingham Alabama, and Manchester United Supporters Team.
The launch of the Stretford Sikhs is the latest milestone in our ongoing push to champion equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives. It follows the opening of an additional multi-faith room at Old Trafford with United’s official Muslim Supporters’ Club.
The secretary of Stretford Sikhs, Preetam Singh, said: “Becoming the first-ever official Sikh MUSC is bigger than just football. It’s about representation, showing Sikh fans around the world that we truly belong in the game and creating a legacy that will inspire current and future generations.
“Manchester United has always been about diversity and inclusion and for us to now be
recognised officially by the club is a proud milestone. It’s a statement that football and Manchester United is for everyone, regardless of background or faith.”
Director of fan engagement Rick McGagh commented: “We are delighted to welcome the Stretford Sikhs to our global family of official supporters’ clubs. We look forward to working with them, and their members, to improve their experience and to bring more
communities together. I would encourage any fan who is considering joining a supporters’ club to do so or, if you are thinking about starting a new one, then get in touch and we can help you join the United family.”
Supporters can find out more about membership to the Stretford Sikhs by following @stretfordsikhs on X/Instagram
Old Trafford welcomes Fay Harrison, a young and talented footballer. Already a champion, we look forward to potentially seeing her playing in the red of United under the Old Trafford lights one day! Keep up the good work.
Many happy returns to Jay Levine for his 15th birthday today. Have a good one!
A very happy 10th birthday to Ollie Byrne. He’s here tonight for his first Old Trafford game.
‘Happy 40th birthday, Doug! I hope you’re enjoying your first trip to Old Trafford. Love, Robyn.’
Abbie McCarthy absolutely adores United and is here tonight from Ireland with her dad for her first game. Have the best time!
Many happy returns to Kai Moore, who turns 13 today.
Happy 11th birthday to Jacob for 2 March. Have a great time at the game tonight. Lots of love from Millie.
To James Sullivan: happy 22nd birthday. Love you lots, from Lucy.
Reuben Evans absolutely loves United and turns five on 15 March. Happy birthday!
A very happy birthday to Xavian, here tonight to celebrate turning six.
A very happy 15th birthday to Ellis Langford for 14 March, with love from Mom, Dad and Connor.
Wishing a very happy 70th birthday to lifelong United fan Paul McClelland. We hope you have a great time celebrating at the Theatre of Dreams.
To Mark Myer: Happy 61st birthday from Ed, all the family and everyone at United.
Maximilian, aged 12, has been travelling to Old Trafford from Norway every season since he was four. He loves the Reds and is back for tonight’s big game.
Welcome to Diane and Mark Lennon, from Armagh, who are over for tonight’s match.
Wishing William Read a happy eighth birthday. Lots of love from Mum, Dad and James.
Happy birthday to a huge United fan, James, who celebrates his 10th birthday on 15 March. With love from his big sister, Imogen, and all his family and friends.
A belated happy 74th birthday to Gerard Morgan. He’s pictured second from the left alongside his son, John, and fellow Reds Philip, Touser, Don, and John Mac. Gerard, John, Philip, and John Mac are all here for tonight’s game, with Gerard’s good friend Philip McGrattan stepping in for Don. Enjoy the match!
Wishing many happy returns to Remy Fazeli ahead of turning eight on 25 March.
‘Happy 11th birthday, Nihaal. We hope you have the best day and love your passion for United. We love seeing you support the team with such enthusiasm Lots of love, Mum, Dad, Dhiaan and Anaya.’
Wishing a very happy 14th birthday to Finley Turner, who loves bringing the passion of Jaap Stam to his own games!
Jaxon is a huge Alejandro Garnacho fan and turns six tomorrow. He’s here tonight as part of his birthday surprise. Happy birthday, Jaxon!
‘Happy 10th birthday, Lacey. Hope you have an amazing day and enjoy your first-ever game at Old Trafford! All our love forever and always, Mummy, Harley, Granny and Grandad.’
Happy 17th birthday to George Dickens, who has travelled from Northampton to celebrate his birthday at Old Trafford.
Wishing a happy 13th birthday to Alfie Hanks for 19 March. Enjoy watching the game tonight from the Stretford End. Lots of love, Mum, Dad, Henri and Ruby.
Charlie Shakeshaft had a great time on his first visit to
A big welcome to Goole Town Tiger Whites U10s, here tonight to
‘This tribute goes to our late brother, Sam Elliott (26.06.2000-26.11.2024), and also to our dad, Eamonn, who shared his love and support for United with Sam throughout his short life. Sam was a legend; Eamonn is a true United veteran and he’s hero to everyone around him, even while we go through this terrible time in our lives. ‘Long Live Stepr’. Love Jude and Rhiannon.’
In memory of Anish Gandesha, who recently passed away following a brave seven-year battle with cancer. He was a lifelong and passionate Red, standing by his club through the highs and lows with unwavering loyalty and wearing his United shirt with pride. His wife, Bina, and children, Suraj, Ria and Aaryan, have all been so strong, supporting him and being there throughout. Rest in peace, Anish.
Impact Season 2023/24
1,685 signed and charitable items distributed
500k+ attendances at free-of-charge sessions 40% female participation
£608,317
raised by season ticket holders and online fan donations
117 young people engaged projects
42,178
mufoundation.org/ourimpact
Spanish clubs have met the Reds in Europe more than any other nationality – tonight being game no.76 – prompting this alphabetical look at our connections with the Iberians...
ATHLETIC CLUB – United’s first-ever meeting with Spanish opposition came in our maiden continental campaign, as Matt Busby’s Babes were pitted against Bilbao’s Athletic Club. It set the tone not only for the Reds’ thrilling journey in European competition, but also the indefatigable spirit which would underscore much of the club’s story, as a 3-5 defeat in Estadio San Mames was followed by a rip-roaring 3-0 triumph at Maine Road, sending the Babes through to a semi-final tie with more Spanish opponents: Real Madrid.
BILL FOULKES – Though Real curtailed the Reds’ first European Cup foray, by the time the sides next crossed paths, in 1967/68, there was far less disparity between them. George Best nabbed the only goal of the semi-final first leg at Old Trafford, only for Real to take a 3-1 lead by half-time in the Madrid return. When David Sadler levelled the aggregate score with 15 minutes to go, however, the stage was set for a hero – and an unlikely one, as it transpired, as 36-year-old defender and Munich Air Disaster survivor Bill Foulkes motored forward and dispatched Best’s cross into the bottom corner. As Sadler later chuckled: “For Billy Foulkes to come striding through on to Bestie’s pullback and stroke the ball into the corner was too unbelievable for words.”
The Reds prepare for our fourth visit to Camp Nou, with our only competitive win at the venue – a dramatic 2-1 win over Bayern –yielding a Champions League trophy
CAMP NOU – Of the 14 Spanish stadiums United have visited for competitive fixtures, the home of Barcelona has been the most frequent destination. The seven trips to Catalonia may have yielded three draws and three defeats against Barça, but our solitary Camp Nou win was a doozy, coming against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final.
DAVID DE GEA – Seven Spanish players have represented the Reds at first-team level, none more than legendary stopper David De Gea (right), who clocked up 545 outings between 2011 and 2023, including 28 appearances against Spanish teams. The other six – Ricardo, Gerard Pique, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Victor Valdes and Sergio Reguilon – mustered a combined 516 between them, underlining David’s incredible longevity between the sticks.
ESTADIO DE RIAZOR – The home of Deportivo La Coruna was the scene of United’s first away win in Spain. Three years after lifting the Champions League trophy in Camp Nou (technically a neutral venue), goals from David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy secured a superb 2-0 first-leg win in 2001/02’s quarter-finals.
Striker van Nistelrooy wraps up a 2-0 victory over Depor at Estadio de Riazor in April 2002
FINALS – The Reds have gone head-to-head for silverware with Spanish opposition in five separate one-off finals, starting strongly with 1991’s legendary European Cup Winners’ Cup final victory over Barcelona, but then coming off worse in the next four showpiece occasions. Pep Guardiola’s Catalans were the Reds’ undoing in the Champions League finals of 2009 and 2011, before Real Madrid edged out Jose Mourinho’s United in the 2017 UEFA Super Cup and Villarreal narrowly claimed the 2021 Europa League following a mammoth penalty shoot-out.
GOALS – Across 75 meetings with Spanish clubs in all competitions, the Reds have scored 92 goals in total. The most netted in a
single game is four, which has happened on three occasions: 2003’s classic 4-3 win over Real Madrid at Old Trafford in the Champions League, 2021’s 4-0 Europa League triumph over Real Sociedad – which was played in Turin due to Covid-19 restrictions – and, most recently, 2023’s 4-1 home thumping of Real Betis in the same competition. Of United’s goal haul so far, 52 have come at home, 30 away and 10 at neutral venues.
HOODOO – There are just two Spanish teams who we’ve faced previously without ever winning: Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, both of whom have faced the Reds in the last decade. Atletico have triumphed over us twice in two-legged affairs: 3-0 and 1-1 in the 1991/92 Cup Winners’ Cup, and 1-1 and 1-0
in the 2021/22 Champions League knockouts. Sevilla, meanwhile, have been a more recent nuisance, emerging triumphant from 2018’s Champions League double-header (0-0 in Spain and 2-1 at Old Trafford), 2020’s one-legged Europa League semi-final (won 2-1 in Cologne during lockdown) and 2023’s Europa quarterfinal, where United’s two-goal lead at Old Trafford was undone by two late own goals and then obliterated in Seville by a 3-0 home win. The following month, the Andalusians lifted the trophy for a record-extending seventh time.
INVASION – For those who swelled Old Trafford for perhaps our most famous meeting with Spanish opposition, 1984’s Cup Winners’ Cup encounter with Barcelona, post-match joy apparently couldn’t be confined. Despite trailing 0-2 from the first leg, a Bryan Robson brace and Frank Stapleton’s second-half effort hauled Ron Atkinson’s side back from the brink and served up a legendary comeback win in which the final whistle inspired a full-scale pitch invasion. Two-goal hero Robson was chaired from the field, later admitting: “My back was slapped until it hurt. That’s why you play football, for those sorts of nights.”
JUAN MATA – Quite predictably, our longest-serving outfield Spaniard is also our top-scoring Spaniard. From the moment he descended on Carrington via helicopter, the gifted playmaker graced the United shirt with a wide array of attacking gifts, yielding 51 goals and 43 assists across eight-and-a-half seasons with the Reds. Since three of United’s seven Spanish first-teamers have been goalkeepers and Sergio Reguilon only spent half a season on loan at the club, Juan’s competition in the goalscoring stakes is thin, with only Ander Herrera (20) and Gerard Pique (two) joining their compatriot on our list of Spanish scorers.
KNOCKOUTS – United’s current wrangle for progress with Real Sociedad is the 22nd two-part knockout tie the Reds have contested with Spanish opposition, with an even split of outcomes. Across the 21 two-legged ties so far, we’ve prevailed on 10 occasions and exited 11 times. For the optimists, however, we have progressed in four of the last six; bypassing Real Sociedad, Granada, Barcelona and Real Betis in this competition between 2021 and 2023.
Real Betis were the last Spanish side we overcame in a two-legged contest, that tie also coming in the Europa League Round of 16
LEADERS – Of United’s seven Spanish players, both David De Gea and Juan Mata have worn the captain’s armband on a repeated basis. On his first outing as skipper, the latter enjoyed what he termed “the perfect day” as he scored the only goal of the Reds’ 1-0 win over Watford in 2016. Two years later, compatriot Ander Herrera was also named captain during United’s pre-season encounter with AC Milan.
MARK HUGHES – United’s first export to and import from Spanish football punctuated his Reds career with a short-lived stint at Barcelona. After returning from Catalonia in 1988, two years after his departure from Old Trafford, fate decreed that the Welshman would face his former side on the European stage. Sparky enjoyed the last laugh in 1991, bagging both goals as the Reds shocked Barça in the Cup Winners’ Cup final, and he also powered home an unstoppable header at the Stretford End during 1994’s thrilling 2-2 draw against them in the Champions League group stage.
NEVER SAY DIE – Some of the Reds’ greatest against-the-odds European nights have come against La Liga’s finest, with the tone set early on by a thrilling comeback aggregate victory over Athletic Club. Beaten 3-5 in Bilbao, United then roared to a 3-0 success back at Maine Road, where Johnny Berry lashed home a late clincher described in one match report as: ‘A goal which tore the linings from 65,000 throats and I dare say nearly burst 65,000 hearts.’ Similarly emotional occasions had happy endings against Spanish giants Real Madrid – beaten en route to the 1968 European Cup final by two unexpected late goals at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu – and Barcelona, whose two-goal first-leg lead was insufficient to withstand a tidal wave of emotion and endeavour as the Reds ran out 3-0 winners at Old Trafford in the 1984 Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals. Even in the current decade, M16 has hosted two late comeback wins over Spanish visitors, with Cristiano Ronaldo downing Villarreal in the dying seconds of 2021’s Champions League thriller and Antony capping a Europa League fightback to see off Barcelona.
OLD TRAFFORD –
Barring one solitary flit to Maine Road for Athletic Club’s 1957 visit, United have hosted 33 of 34 home ties
with Spanish opposition at Old Trafford. The Reds’ proud European home record has been sternly tested during that time, with 12 wins, 13 draws and eight defeats. Of the seven sides to undo United on home soil, Real Madrid are the only club to do it twice, winning here 3-2 in 2000 and 2-1 in 2013.
QUINTON FORTUNE – The South African powerhouse, having spent time in Tottenham’s youth system in the early 1990s, moved to Spain to learn his trade with Mallorca before stepping up to Atletico Madrid’s senior set-up, and a return to English football beckoned in 1999 when he joined Sir Alex Ferguson’s Treble winners. Quinny’s 126 appearances for the Reds included four meeting with Spanish sides.
RUUD AND RASHFORD – Two of the Reds’ most famous no.10s – Ruud van Nistelrooy and Marcus Rashford – share the honour of scoring the most goals (seven apiece) against Spanish opposition, heading a chart of 40 different players.
PIQUE – Though he only mustered two goals in 23 senior outings during his time at Old Trafford, legendary defender Gerard Pique (left) managed the distinction of becoming United’s first-ever Spanish goalscorer with his close-range header against Dynamo Kiev during the 2007/08 Champions League group stage. The Catalan’s second goal came in the same campaign, opening the scoring at Roma on matchday six.
SERGIO REGUILON – Our most recent Spanish player joined on a season-long loan at the end of the 2023 summer transfer window, as back-up for Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. The former Sevilla defender played 12 times for United – his best performance a cameo against Chelsea – but he rejoined parent club Spurs in January 2024, as Shaw and Malacia closed on returns.
TWELVE – Tonight is our 76th competitive meeting with Spanish opposition, with Real Sociedad one of 12 clubs we’ve faced from the country. Athletic Club were the first (1957, see A); Real Sociedad the most recent, in last week’s first leg. The clubs we’ve played most often are, perhaps unsurprisingly, Barcelona (15 games) and Real Madrid (11), with Valencia the only other opponent to reach double figures (10). Villarreal (seven), Real Sociedad (seven, soon to be eight), Deportivo La Coruna (six), Sevilla (five), Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club (both four) are next, with Celta Vigo, Granada and Real Betis each mustering one two-legged tie. Teams from Spain are responsible for more United games than any country except England, ahead of Wales (69), Italy (43) and Germany (37).
UNDERDOGS – Before the Messi era, Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ was the FC Barcelona standard. They won four consecutive La Liga titles in the early ’90s, and would claim Barça’s first European Cup by beating Sampdoria in 1992. The year before that, they were heavy favourites against United in the 1991 Cup Winners’ Cup final. But on a Rotterdam night wetter than a pint of Boddingtons, Alex Ferguson’s Reds snatched a 2-1 victory thanks to a double from Mark Hughes. It was a landmark moment for Ferguson’s United, and there was also a link to future brightness on the Barça side: in net
was Carles Busquets, father of future midfield great Sergio.
VALLADOLID – We’ve never met Real Valladolid but the La Liga club – now part-owned by legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo – did provide United with our first Spanish player, the goalkeeper Ricardo, in August 2002. He is most remembered for giving away, and then saving, a penalty in a 3-1 Premier League win over Blackburn, in the last of his five appearances.
WINTER TRAINING – Faced with the mid-season lull enacted by the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, then manager Erik ten Hag arranged for a December trip to southern Spain for his squad members who weren’t in international action. The Reds kept their collective eye in during friendly meetings with Real Betis and Cadiz and, although both ended in narrow defeats, the subsequent return to competitive action went smoothly, with 11 wins from the next 13 games. Moreover, the trip provided Kobbie Mainoo with his first sustained taste of senior involvement, laying the foundations for his exciting emergence.
X-RATED – The Reds have sustained five red cards against Spanish opposition down the years, a collection built in a wide variety of ways. Nicky Butt’s self-sacrifice for handling the ball on the goal-line during 1998’s 3-3 Old Trafford draw with Barcelona set the ball rolling, before Wayne Rooney joined him for sarcastically applauding referee Kim Milton Nielsen at El Madrigal seven years later. Perhaps most costly was Nani’s dismissal for catching Alvaro Arbeloa while United were leading Real Madrid in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final Champions League fixture, which swung in the visitors’ favour after Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo netted against
our 10 men. Later in 2013, Marouane Fellaini picked up his first red card after joining from Everton, following two cautions in a goalless draw with tonight’s visitors, and the Belgian was also present in 2017, restraining Eric Bailly in his attempts to reach Celta Vigo’s Facundo Roncaglia, a scuffle which resulted in both sides finishing the contest with 10 men.
YOUTH – With progress to the 2002/03 knockouts already assured, Sir Alex Ferguson opted to blood Academy talents in the dead-rubber trip to Deportivo La Coruna. Though the Reds gamely fell to a 0-2 defeat in Andalusia, the game did make history as United’s youngest-ever Champions League XI. Though Mark Lynch (above) was the only debutant on the night, he was one of 11 Academy lads who played a part.
ZZZZ... – No prizes for guessing the reference here: four successive goalless draws with Villarreal, spread across the 2005/06 and 2008/09 group stages. “It’s amazing we’ve not had a goal,” puffed Sir Alex Ferguson after the final, far-from-gripping instalment of the quadrilogy. Fingers crossed for the opposite outcome this evening: a memorable display at a roaring Old Trafford, please Reds! ●
The Reds play out one of our four goalless meetings with Villarreal
We’re into the knockout stage of the UEFA Europa League and there’s a job to do tonight against our La Liga opponents, but ahead of the game here are some Reds-related stats linked to the competition...
Our first Europa League tie of the season was against FC Twente at Old Trafford, a disappointing 1-1 draw that was followed by further draws at Porto and Fenerbahce. Thankfully things picked up after that...
3
United finished third of the 36 teams in this year’s league stage, a point behind Lazio (1st place) and Athletic Club (2nd). We were the only undefeated team across the eight games of the first phase.
18.8
United averaged this many shots in the league stage – the most of any side to reach the last 16. It is also our best shots-per-game ratio in a European ‘group’ stage since 2003/04.
10
This is our 10th UEFA Europa League fixture in a campaign where we’ve met nine different clubs and scored 17 goals, conceding 10. Tonight’s game is our fifth at Old Trafford with our record to date in M16 reading: three wins, one draw.
5
Rasmus Hojlund is our leading scorer in Europe this season, scoring five times from nine matches. His overall European record for the Reds is 10 goals from 15 matches.
64.4 %
Our all-time win ratio at Old Trafford in this competition (including the Fairs Cup and UEFA Cup) is a healthy one – we’ve
73,288
97
This will be our 97th game in the Europa League (and all its previous guises), with those matches coming against 48 different teams. The side we’ve faced most often? Well, tonight that will become Real Sociedad, who we take on for a sixth time in the competition (ahead of Ajax, five).
168
This is our all-time Europa League goal tally after the first leg in San Sebastian last week – 96 were hit at home, 63 away, and nine at neutral venues.
75,180
Our crowd v Rangers in January was big, but it’s not our biggest in the competition at Old Trafford. The figure above was recorded for our Round of 16 second-leg tie with Liverpool in March 2016.
This is how many fans were inside Old Trafford to watch United’s last home UEFA Europa League fixture, against Rangers in January –our highest attendance for a European game so far this season.
341
Bruno Fernandes played this many passes in the opposition half in the league phase, more than any other United player. He also scored one goal and
2022
This was the year in which we last welcomed tonight’s opponents to M16, a game settled by a contentiously awarded penalty for La Real. Brais Mendez scored from the spot that night, with Alejandro Garnacho netting the only goal of the return match. It was tight three years ago, and last week… will be it tight again tonight?
Story behind the shot
Club photographer Ash Donelon (above)
snaps our San Sebastian celebrations head-on, with his pitchside positioning as precise as Zirkzee’s second-half finish...
Image taken: During our Europa League Round of 16 first leg, Reale Arena, San Sebastian, Thursday 6 March 2025.
Ash says: “This was my third away trip to San Sebastian and it remains one of my favourite destinations – a scenic, tranquil city and the coastal sunshine provides some welcome relief from the Manchester winter! As usual, once I arrived at the stadium I made sure to secure a pitchside position nearest to the away section. In this instance the vast majority of travelling Reds had to watch the match through large plastic screens from high up in the stands, but this didn’t seem to dampen their spirits. When Joshua Zirkzee scored he raced towards the United supporters and I was able to take this shot of his trademark celebration. This caused the fans behind me to burst into a chant of ‘Follow, follow, follow, ’cause United are going to Bilbao!’, which they were still singing long after the match had ended. Although the home side pulled a goal back, it’s still all to play for, so I hope United can finish off the job at Old Trafford and continue the European adventure.”
Partington Street Reds participants recently enjoyed a session like no other, when two Manchester United Women players got involved with their weekly kickabout!
Just down the road from United’s Carrington training ground, Manchester United Foundation holds free evening football sessions every Tuesday from 5-7pm, for eight-18-year-olds to showcase their football skills in a positive and safe environment.
Led by Foundation coach Emma, the session is increasingly popular with budding female footballers, with over 30 young girls attending week in, week out to play the game they love.
Much to those girls’ excitement, one of the latest sessions included a very special visit from Reds duo Anna Sandberg and Evie Rabjohn, who immediately got stuck into the action by taking part in football-themed games, as well as a mini-tournament.
The activity was later followed by an inspiring Q&A where Anna and Evie shared stories of their journeys to become professional footballers.
“I love the opportunities that are being given to these young girls and boys through the Foundation and Premier League programmes like this,” said Evie.
“For me, I never had access to anything like this and to be able to come down and be somebody the girls can look up to, and see that these things are available, it’s brilliant.”
Funded by the Premier League Charitable Fund, the Foundation’s Street Reds (Premier League Kicks) sessions use the power of football and sport to engage and inspire young people.
In another celebration, both players were on hand to present coach Emma with the ‘Street Reds coach of the month’ award, recognising her
dedication to encouraging female participation. Acknowledging Emma’s efforts, Anna said: “It’s so important to have coaches like Emma. Being young and having this opportunity to play football with your friends, it must be the highlight of their week. She’s doing a great job, and it’s very well deserved.”
“We do the best we can to inspire girls within our schools and projects,” commented Emma. “Giving them a safe environment to play with
other girls, we try to be a role model to the young people we work with. To have two first-team players here interacting and playing with them, it’s a really special experience.”
Lily, who attends the weekly sessions, said: “I love Street Reds. It shows that girls can play, and it’s their choice if they want to; it’s not just for boys. Having the players here inspires us; we can look up to them and they give us aspirations to become a professional footballer.”
Forty students from Foundation partner special schools were at Old Trafford last week to help with preparations for the Reds most-recent game, against Arsenal.
As part of a work placement programme in the Megastore and Red Café, children got a taste of life in the workplace, including the opportunity to help organise and pack matchday hospitality gift bags provided by club partner Paul Smith. Those that took part will also have the opportunity to rejoin the work experience programme in the future.
“These opportunities are invaluable for our students,” Paddy Blagbrough, a tutor from Brentwood High School and Community College – one of three participating schools –told us. “It not only gives them the chance to try something they’ve never done before and learn more about roles in a workplace, but it also presents them with the opportunity to mix with children they don’t know, which is great for improving their social skills.”
Today marks 18 years of Manchester United Foundation.
It was on this day in 2007 that the charity officially came into force – established as a lasting legacy to the Busby Babes by nurturing the potential of young people across Greater Manchester.
A UEFA celebration match was played at Old Trafford on 13 March 2007 to recognise the Foundation’s inception (right), with the Reds overcoming a European XI –which included future Red Zlatan Ibrahimovic – in a 4-3 victory.
The Foundation now works across all 10 boroughs of our region and has since expanded to support young people in other areas of outreach, in Carlisle, Derbyshire, Derry/Londonderry and London. Last season, the
Foundation positively impacted more than 42,000 young people through its work, delivering over 33,000 sessions and events with almost 40,000 hours of delivery – generating more than £50m in social and economic value.
● Scan the QR code to the right to donate to the Foundation
Instagram: @manchesterunitedfoundation
facebook.com/ manchesterunitedfoundation
Twitter/X: @MU_foundation
TikTok: @manutdfoundation
YouTube.com /manutdfoundation
● Unlike the Champions League trophy, the Europa League trophy has no handles – so you’ll need both hands!
● It is 65cm high, 33cm wide and 23cm deep – and at 15kg it’s the heaviest of the European trophies. Lift with care!
● UEFA keeps hold of the original cup, with the winners receiving a full-sized replica – it’s hard to tell the difference!
Our mascot is here to test your knowledge! Answers at the bottom of each page...
Match these three former Reds to the Spanish sides they also played for…
Here are three hidden players from our last European game at home, against Rangers – but who are they?
4. Which Italian team finished top in the UEL League Phase: Lazio or Milan?
5. Who scored our first European goal this season?
7. How many season-long UEFA competitions are there?
8. Real Sociedad’s league in Spain is called ‘La ____’
1. Adnan Januzaj, who played for United and Real Sociedad, represents which country?
2. Which current forward scored his first United goal against Real Sociedad in 2022?
3. How many teams will qualify for the next round of the UEFA Europa League?
6. Which other ‘Real’ did the Reds play in the UEFA Europa League in 2023?
Which three of these words come after ‘Real’ to form a Spanish club?
See if you can get all five correct!
United were the only unbeaten team in the League Phase.
The Reds last won the UEFA Europa League in 2015.
Rasmus Hojlund is United’s top scorer in the competition this season.
Ruben Amorim appeared in a Europa League final as a player.
The only other English side in this season’s competition is Newcastle.
CROSSWORD – Across: 4. Lazio; 5. Eriksen; 7. Three; 8. Liga; Down: 1. Belgium; 2. Garnacho; 3. Eight; 6. Betis
Did you know, Joshua’s goal in the first leg saw us ring up a half-century of scorers in this competition’s history? Here’s the roll of honour and their respective records...
1. Marcus Rashford Apps: 42 Goals: 14
2. Bruno Fernandes Apps: 33 Goals: 10
His winner v Rangers in January took him to within four of Rashford’s tally, but Bruno has played nine games fewer.
3. Denis Law Apps: 10 Goals: 8
4. Bobby Charlton Apps: 11 Goals: 8
5. Anthony Martial Apps: 26 Goals: 7
6. Edinson Cavani Apps: 5 Goals: 6
‘El Matador’ has the best goals-per-game ratio (1.2) of any Red on this list.
7= David Herd Apps: 11 Goals: 6
7= Henrikh Mkhitaryan Apps: 11 Goals: 6
9. Mason Greenwood Apps: 18 Goals: 6
10. Rasmus Hojlund Apps: 9 Goals: 5
11. Wayne Rooney Apps: 10 Goals: 5
12= John Connelly Apps: 11 Goals: 5
12= Zlatan Ibrahimovic Apps: 11 Goals: 5
14. Paul Pogba Apps: 25 Goals: 5
The Europa League’s Player of the Season for 2016/17 netted the opener in the final that term, as United beat Ajax 2-0.
15. Jesse Lingard Apps: 22 Goals: 4
16. Juan Mata Apps: 30 Goals: 4
17. Arnold Muhren Apps: 3 Goals: 3 Zirkzee’s Dutch compatriot scored in each of his UEFA Cup outings for the Reds – two clashes with Hungarian outfit Raba Vasas Eto and an all-British tie with Dundee United at Tannadice Park.
18. Bryan Robson Apps: 10 Goals: 3
19. Amad Apps: 12 Goals: 3
20. Fred Apps: 26 Goals: 3
21= Javier Hernandez Apps: 3 Goals: 2
21= Marcel Sabitzer Apps: 3 Goals: 2
23. Odion Ighalo Apps: 5 Goals: 2
24= Sammy McIlroy Apps: 6 Goals: 2
24= Memphis Apps: 6 Goals: 2
24= Cristiano Ronaldo Apps: 6 Goals: 2
24= Gordon Strachan Apps: 6 Goals: 2
28. Mark Hughes Apps: 10 Goals: 2
29. George Best Apps: 11 Goals: 2
30= Antony Apps: 13 Goals: 2
30= Daniel James Apps: 13 Goals: 2
32. Ashley Young Apps: 14 Goals: 2
33= Christian Eriksen Apps: 15 Goals: 2
33= Alejandro Garnacho Apps: 15 Goals: 2
The Academy graduate opened his United account in this competition, against tonight’s opponents Real Sociedad, back in November 2022.
35. Scott McTominay Apps: 20 Goals: 2
36. Diogo Dalot Apps: 22 Goals: 2
37. Alan Brazil Apps: 2 Goals: 1
38= Peter Schmeichel Apps: 3 Goals: 1
A legendary goalkeeper and a United goalscorer in this competition, after his famous header against Russian side Rotor Volgograd in the first round of the ’95/96 UEFA Cup.
38= Kobbie Mainoo Apps: 3 Goals: 1
40= Gordon Hill Apps: 4 Goals: 1
40= Paul Scholes Apps: 4 Goals: 1
42= Lou Macari Apps: 6 Goals: 1
42= Wout Weghorst Apps: 6 Goals: 1
44. Frank Stapleton Apps: 7 Goals: 1
45= Andreas Pereira Apps: 8 Goals: 1
45= Joshua Zirkzee Apps: 8 Goals: 1
47. Jadon Sancho Apps: 10 Goals: 1
48. Ander Herrera Apps: 12 Goals: 1
49. Marouane Fellaini Apps: 13 Goals: 1
50. Harry Maguire Apps: 25 Goals: 1
Ahead of last week’s first leg against Real Sociedad, 25 players had lined up for United in European competition in 2024/25, and the Reds’ draw in the Basque Country saw Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu become the 26th, as he played his first-ever senior game on the continental stage.
Alejandro GARNACHO 51(33)138(5) 2 7(3) 4 10(11) 3
Sunday’s draw against Arsenal was Diogo Dalot’s 200th appearance for the Reds – the first being in a 3-0 win away to Young Boys on 19 September 2018 (above). It places Dalot 109th on our all-time appearances list, level with fellow full-back Harry Stafford (1896-1904).
Bruno Fernandes’s goal v Arsenal was his 12th of the season – a team high, and he’s now down to single figures for goals needed to reach 100 for United. What’s more, it was his third Premier League goal scored direct from a free-kick, and his second this term – no other player across the whole PL has more than one in ’24/25.
LC Tues 17Barnsley (H) (R3) 8pm 7-0
PL Sun 29Tottenham Hotspur (H) 4.30pm 0-3 73,587 4-2-3-1Onana
Sat 7 Nottingham Forest (H) 5.30pm 2-3 73,7783-4-2-1Onana
UEL Thu 12Viktoria Plzen (A) 5.45pm 2-1 11,3203-4-2-1Onana
PL Sun 15Manchester City (A) 4.30pm 2-1 52,7883-4-3Onana
LC Thu 19Tottenham Hotspur (A) (QF) 8pm3-457,4093-4-3 Bayindir
PL Sun 22Bournemouth (H)
Manchester United and Greater Manchester Police have very detailed emergency procedures and contingency plans in place to deal with any emergency scenario which might arise at the stadium. Part of these procedures can involve evacuation plans should such an eventuality be required. We strongly advise that should any unforeseen emergency incident develop then please remain in your position and listen carefully to any public address announcements or directions from the attendant stewards. Loudspeakers are located in the stands, concourse areas, hospitality areas, toilets and outside the stadium. Depending on the nature of the incident, whole stands, part stands or even the entire stadium may be evacuated. There is also an option to evacuate spectators on to the pitch. Our public address system operates on a stadium zone-by-zone basis. It may be that certain zones are affected by an incident but not others. In such an event our main attention will be focused on the zone concerned. If you hear an announcement in an area other than your own, you should ignore it and respond only to messages directed towards your section or by stewards. All spectators are asked to respond calmly and as quickly as possible to emergency directions.
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It’s all about X, Y and Z bunched together for our latest alphabetical quiz (but don’t worry, this won’t be the last one!). Good luck with these tricky posers...
The Reds met Yeovil Town in the FA Cup in both 2015 and 2018, but which Spanish midfielder found the net in both games?
Which goalscoring goalkeeper has made the most United appearances of any player with an ‘X’ in their name? 3.
2. 1. 4. 5. 10. 8. 9. 7. 6.
Which current squad member made his Reds debut against Young Boys in September 2018?
Zalaegerszeg faced United in the 2002/03 Champions League qualifying rounds as representatives of which nation?
Dwight Yorke became United’s then most-expensive signing in August 1998, taking the record from which player who had joined the previous month?
Who was the last player to wear the no.15 shirt for the Reds prior to Leny Yoro? Clue: He was a loan player.
Ashley Young’s first goals for United came in a Premier League brace against which London club?
Name the only competition in which the Reds have faced a team managed by Zinedine Zidane.
Joshua Zirkzee is the latest, but who was the first player whose competitive United debut included a Premier League goal, in 1996?
How many goals did Zlatan Ibrahimovic score in his only full season at Old Trafford: 28, 29 or 30?
Altay BAYINDIR
Victor LINDELOF
Noussair Mazraoui
Matthijs de Ligt
Harry MAGUIRE
Lisandro MARTINEZ
Mason MOUNT
Bruno FERNANDES
Rasmus HOJLUND
Joshua Zirkzee
Tyrell MALACIA
Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu
Christian ERIKSEN
Leny Yoro AMAD
Alejandro GARNACHO CASEMIRO
Diogo DALOT
Tom HEATON
Luke SHAW
Andre ONANA
Manuel Ugarte
Ayden heaven
Jonny EVANS
Kobbie MAINOO
Harry Amass
Toby Collyer
Dermot mee
Elyh Harrison
jack fletcher HABEEB OGUNNEYE JAYCE FITZGERALD
SEASON 2024/25
Alex Remiro
Alvaro Odriozola
Aihen Munoz
Martin Zubimendi
Igor Zubeldia
Aritz Elustondo
Ander Barrenetxea
Arsen Zakharyan
Orri Oskarsson
Mikel Oyarzabal
Sheraldo Becker
Javi Lopez
Unai Marrero
Takefusa Kubo
Jon Ander Olasagasti
Sergio Gomez
Hamari Traore
Jon Aramburu
Jon Pacheco
Nayef Aguerd
Benat Turrientes
Brais Mendez
Luka Sucic
Pablo Marin
Jon Martin
Aitor Fraga
Jon Balda
Inaki Ruperez
Luken Beitia
Arkaitz Mariezkurrena