Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad LIVE! Europa League result, match stream and latest updates today

Manchester United vs Real Sociedad - LIVE!

A packed Old Trafford fell silent in tribute to the Queen before Manchester United kicked off their Europa League campaign with defeat to Real Sociedad. The gates to the ground had just opened when Buckingham Palace announced that the nation’s longest reigning monarch had died at the age of 96.

United’s European opener went ahead as planned following direction from the Football Association and UEFA, with the Queen’s death overshadowing Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad. The club said they shared “the sorrow of the entire nation” in a statement that recognised “her immense contribution to public life” while offering condolences and sympathy to the Royal Family.

After a slow opening period, Real Sociedad improved after the break and took a 59th-minute lead as Brais Mendez converted a penalty following a contentious handball decision against half-time introduction Lisandro Martinez. It proved the deciding goal of this Group E opener as Erik ten Hag’s side saw their four-game winning run come to an end.

Manchester United vs Real Sociedad latest news

• GOAL - Mendez scores opener from spot

• OFFSIDE - Ronaldo header ruled out

• Man United team news: Ronaldo and Casemiro start

• Prediction: Man United 2-1 Real Sociedad

Manchester United FC 0 - 1 Real Sociedad de Fútbol

Match report

23:02 , Matt Verri

Manchester United fell to an opening Europa League defeat as Brais Mendez’s penalty gave Real Sociedad a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

The match took place 90 minutes after Buckingham Palace confirmed the passing of Her Majesty the Queen at the age of 96. A minute’s silence was observed ahead of kick-off, with both sets of players wearing black armbands.

“The club recognises her immense contribution to public life, including sport, both here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth, and around the world,” Manchester United said in a statement.

“Everyone connected with Manchester United joins the wider football family in sending our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to The Royal Family.”

Read our full report

Elsewhere...

22:02 , Matt Verri

West Ham got their Europa Conference League campaign up and running with a 3-1 victory over FCSB.

Bowen, Emerson and Antonio with the goals as the Hammers come from behind to get the job done.

FT: Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad

21:54 , Matt Verri

United beaten in their opening Europa League match.

Mendez’s penalty proves to be the difference, Sociedad fortunate to get that decison.

Erik ten Hag and his side unable to make it five wins in a row.

21:51 , Matt Verri

90 mins: Straight into the wall, not what was required.

Massive chance for Sociedad to counter, they should finish it off but De Gea can come out to claim the pass.

Three minutes added on.

21:49 , Matt Verri

89 mins: It feels like it’s Ronaldo or no-one for United, in terms of getting back into this.

Great footwork from him outside the box, draws a foul. 25 yards out and nobody else will be getting near this ball.

21:47 , Matt Verri

86 mins: Ronaldo very hopefully throws himself to the ground in the box, not getting a penalty for that.

Not been his night - got into great positions so many times but hasn’t been able to make it count.

21:44 , Matt Verri

83 mins: Malacia off, McNeill on to make his United debut for the last ten minutes or so.

All these changes haven’t really helped the flow of the match. Sociedad well on track for an important win to start the group-stage.

21:42 , Matt Verri

81 mins: Garnacho gets his first chance to run with the ball, lays it back to Fred.

He swings it in towards the back post, Sancho, Ronaldo and Fernandes all there. Sancho lines up a big volley, takes an even bigger swing at thin air.

21:38 , Matt Verri

77 mins: Casemiro with a decent strike from 25 yards out, heading for the bottom corner before it was parried away.

Relatively comfortable though, Remiro hasn’t been forced into anything that will concern him.

21:35 , Matt Verri

74 mins: Real Sociedad doing a good job of slowing things down, halting United’s momentum.

Garnacho and Sancho on for the hosts as Ten Hag looks to get his side back into it.

21:31 , Matt Verri

70 mins: Bright run from Cho, his first involvement since coming on. Tries to slide in Sorloth but it’s behind the striker.

Munoz flies into a dreadful challenge on Antony, absolutely cleans him out. Lucky it’s only a yellow card.

21:28 , Matt Verri

67 mins: Elanga has a couple of shots blocked, on both occasions the home fans want a penalty for handball. Very optimistic.

United starting to build the pressure though, pinning Sociedad back.

21:25 , Matt Verri

65 mins: Initial corner was poor but the cross that followed wasn’t. Sensational from Fernandes, Casemiro completely free at the back post but his header is into the ground and over the bar.

Silva off for Sociedad, Cho on in his place.

21:24 , Matt Verri

64 mins: Great turn from Antony on the halfway line and he drives straight at the Sociedad backline.

Ronaldo waiting at the back post, Antony wins a corner as he looks to keep on dribbling into the box. Corner again is a poor one, this time from Fernandes.

21:22 , Matt Verri

61 mins: Sociedad full of confidence now, Mendez free in the box and he lifts a cross towards the back post. Nobody there.

Replays again of that penalty - feels very harsh. Flew up off Martinez’s knee.

GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Real Sociedad | Brais Mendez 58'

21:19 , Matt Verri

Mendez makes no mistake from the spot.

De Gea went the right way but he couldn’t get there - really good penalty.

21:18 , Matt Verri

VAR will check this for sure. Hit Martinez’s knee and bounces up onto his arm, as he threw himself in front of Silva’s effort.

Decent chance this is overturned... or not. It’s been given. United very unlucky there.

PENALTY SOCIEDAD

21:17 , Matt Verri

Sorloth’s introduction has had a big impact for Sociedad.

Again the cross is fired in, he’s there for a tap-in at the back post but Martinez does brilliantly to turn it behind.

Corner falls to Silva, his shot is charged down by Fernandes - penalty for handball!

21:14 , Matt Verri

54 mins: That’s as close as Sociedad have come, by a long way. Brilliant cross whipped in, Sorloth too strong in the air for Martinez but he powers the header over the bar.

Great chance that for the visitors, should really have scored.

21:12 , Matt Verri

52 mins: Back pass to Remiro briefly gives Fernandes some hope of intercepting it, but just about has enough pace on it.

More of the same since the restart. Not a huge amount of pace in the match, United the better side though.

21:09 , Matt Verri

48 mins: Ronaldo will not be happy until he gets on the scoresheet.

He picks the ball up 25 yards out, hammers an effort and it’s wobbling all over the place. Just flies over the bar.

21:07 , Matt Verri

46 mins: That’s a big, big chance for Ronaldo.

30 seconds into the second-half. Antony slides it wide to Fernandes, he clips a cross in and Ronaldo is all set to head home from a few yards out at the back post, but he barely makes contact.

Back underway

21:05 , Matt Verri

Two changes for United - Eriksen and Dalot off, Fernandes and Martinez on.

We’re up and running again at Old Trafford.

Across Europe

20:53 , Matt Verri

HT: Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad

20:48 , Matt Verri

Low-key opening 45 minutes at Old Trafford, it’s goalless at the break.

Ronaldo the closest to opening the scoring when his header found the back of the net, but the offside flag was raised.

20:45 , Matt Verri

43 mins: Sadiq stops running as Dalot challenges him, assuming the whistle is about to be blown. It is not.

Ronaldo not moving particularly well at the moment, bit of a limp. Half-time might be coming up at a good moment for me.

20:43 , Matt Verri

40 mins: Antony has had a very quiet night so far, vast majority of United’s attacks coming down the left with Eriksen and Elanga.

This time Eriksen finds Antony, who brings it down superbly to get the crowd excited. Merino swiftly across and he hammers the ball into Brazilian, that’s one way of clearing it.

OFFSIDE

20:38 , Matt Verri

36 mins: Ronaldo thinks he’s scored but the flag is up.

Dalot whips a cross into the box, brilliant leap from Ronaldo and he thunders a header past Remiro. Offside flag swiftly up though, correct decision.

20:36 , Matt Verri

33 mins: Ronaldo takes matters into his own hands, running at the Sociedad defence, straight through about four players.

Not really a gap there, does well to win a corner.

It’s another poor delivery, Silva of all people at the near post heads it away.

20:33 , Matt Verri

30 mins: Elanga has been superb so far on the left wing, but far United’s most dangerous player.

Again he breaks into space, cuts it back towards Fred but it’s behind the Brazilian. Should have done better with the pass there.

20:31 , Matt Verri

28 mins: Silva cushions the ball in the box, into Mendez’s path and he whips an effort just wide of the post.

United on the break, Fred jinks away from his man and is brought down. Elustondo knew what he was doing.

20:28 , Matt Verri

26 mins: As close as United have come - they’re starting to click into gear now.

Eriksen with a brilliant reverse pass, Ronaldo briefly looks to be in on goal inside the box. Touch doesn’t quite bring it under his control though, headed behind for a corner.

Eriksen deep for Antony, curled back into the six-yard box but the goalkeeper comfortably claims.

20:26 , Matt Verri

23 mins: Really nice run from Elanga as he skips into the box. Cuts the ball back to Fred, his shot is deflected behind for a corner.

Maguire and Ronaldo staying close together. Swung in towards them, through everyone though and out of play. Dalot flicked it away from Maguire’s path.

20:22 , Matt Verri

19 mins: Antony really does play on the edge. Shoves Merino out of play as the Sociedad man sees the ball out of play, and then boots the ball at him.

Silva with a couple of loose touches for the visitors, not what we’re used to from him.

20:18 , Matt Verri

16 mins: Kubo with a lovely pass across the face of United’s goal, Silva not far away from having a tap in on his return to Manchester.

Best moment the visitors have had - really as close as either side have come to threatening a goal.

20:17 , Matt Verri

14 mins: It’s been a low-key start at Old Trafford, not surprising considering the circumstances.

Ronaldo presses Remiro, Sociedad goalkeeper sends a pass straight out of play. United quickly on the attack, Ronaldo through on goal but he loses control of the ball as he tries to work it back onto his right foot.

20:13 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Fred looks to play the ball through to Elanga, he’s so quick and very nearly gets on the end of what was an overhit pass.

Elustondo steps across him, draws the contact and tumbles to the ground. Clever enough to win the free-kick.

20:11 , Matt Verri

8 mins: United looking confident in possession in the early stages, as you’d expect after a good run of results.

No real chances yet for either side though.

20:08 , Matt Verri

5 mins: Casemiro floats a cross into the box, Remiro looks set to claim under no real pressure at all.

Instead drops it and lands on his own centre-back - luckily for him Elanga and Ronaldo couldn’t get to the ball before it was cleared away.

20:05 , Matt Verri

3 mins: Antony typically enthusiastic in chasing down Kubo, Casemiro then gives the Sociedad man a shove and sends him out of play. No foul given,

As we saw against Arsenal, Antony has no problem in getting involved in some challenges.

KICK-OFF

20:03 , Matt Verri

Underway in Manchester as these two sides get their Europa League campaigns up and running.

Minute’s silence at Old Trafford

20:02 , Matt Verri

Both sets of players and those inside the ground taking part in a minute’s silence. Black armbands being worn, as we mentioned earlier.

Hoardings look to have been blacked out too.

Players are out

19:59 , Matt Verri

Teams are out onto the pitch at Old Trafford, Maguire leading the United players out.

Plenty of support for Sociedad in the ground, away fans have travelled in numbers.

Not long now...

19:51 , Matt Verri

Kick-off coming up at Old Trafford in just under ten minutes’ time.

Erik ten Hag clearly keen to keep up his side’s strong run of form, taking this competition seriously.

Antony got his United career off to the perfect start against Arsenal - more of the same tonight? We’ll find out very soon.

Two seasons ago...

19:41 , Matt Verri

Manchester United beat Real Sociedad 4-0 on aggregate when the sides met in the knockout stages of the Europa League in 2021.

All of those goals came in Spain for United - they’ll be hoping for some on home soil tonight.

Football responds to passing of Her Majesty the Queen

19:31 , Matt Verri

West Ham and Manchester United are to hold a minute’s silence ahead of their respective European matches on Thursday evening, following the passing of Her Majesty the Queen.

West Ham are starting their Europa Conference League campaign against Romanian side FCSB at the London Stadium, while United are in Europa League action against Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, where flags will be flown at half-mast. Both matches will go ahead as planned and players from both sides will wear black armbands.

The passing of Britain’s longest reigning monarch at the age of 96 was confirmed by Buckingham Palace at 6:30pm BST.

Arsenal’s Europa League match away at Swiss side FC Zurich had already kicked off at 5:45pm and a minute’s silence was held ahead of the start of the second half, only minutes after the Palace’s announcement.

Read more on that here

Elsewhere in the Europa League...

19:22 , Matt Verri

Strong United side

19:11 , Matt Verri

Maguire, Casemiro and Ronaldo all start for Man United, in what is a strong side. Antony in from the off too, after his goalscoring debut against Arsenal.

Interesting that De Gea starts, Dubravka very much the No2. No minutes even in the Europa League for the new signing.

Real Sociedad team news

19:01 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Remiro, Gorosabel, Elustondo, Pacheco, Munoz, Zubimendi, Mendez, Merino, Silva, Umar, Kubo.

Subs: Sola, Illarramendi, Zubeldia, Barrenetxea, Cho, Zubiaurre, Guevara, Navarro, Sorloth, Turrientes, Gonzalez, Karrikaburu.

Statement from Manchester United

18:57 , Matt Verri

“Following direction from the FA and UEFA, tonight’s UEFA Europa League fixture against Real Sociedad will take place as planned at Old Trafford.

“A minute’s silence will be held before kick-off which will allow the teams, match officials and everyone in attendance to pay their respects to Her Majesty, The Queen. Both teams will wear black armbands and the flags at Old Trafford will fly at half-mast as a sign of our utmost respect.”

Man United team news

18:52 , Matt Verri

Man United XI: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Fred, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Elanga, Ronaldo

Subs: Dubravka, Heaton, Fredericson, Martinez, Varane, Wan-Bisaaka, Fernandes, Iqbal, McTominay, Sancho, Garnacho, McNeill

Minute’s silence

18:43 , Matt Verri

There will be a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off, following the passing of the Queen.

Match will still go ahead as planned.

United on the up

18:40 , Matt Verri

Two defeats to start the season. Four wins on the bounce since then.

Not many saw that coming after the heavy defeat to Brentford last month, but Ten Hag has managed to turn things around.

Performances not always convincing, but that won’t bother him too much for now.

Hosts in the building!

18:28 , Matt Verri

Prediction

18:17 , Matt Verri

Such has been the level of United’s recent form, it’s difficult to envisage Sociedad causing them too many problems.

United are likely to rotate, but those coming in will have real motivation to deliver.

Man United to win, 2-1.

Ten Hag: Everyone gets game-time

18:06 , Matt Verri

Erik ten Hag is confident he will be able to give everyone in his squad enough minutes, even if there will be frustration from certain individuals at points.

“Maybe I cannot keep them all happy every game but everyone gets their game-time if they perform well, it’s quite clear,” said Ten Hag this week.

“But what I say, we need everyone - we have a lot of games to cover. There is a lot coming in front of us, and the national teams of course - the World Cup - but also all of the cups in England.

“The Europa League where we are now getting in and, of course, the Premier League.”

Early team news

17:55 , Matt Verri

United have confirmed their 25-man squad for the competition, with Phil Jones and Brandon Williams the notable exclusions.

Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo will likely start, alongside Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire. Anthony Martial, however, is still injured and the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Donny van de Beek are doubts.

Sociedad, meanwhile, have suffered a blow with French defender Robin Le Normand set to be ruled out.

Man United predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Elanga; Ronaldo

How to watch Manchester United vs Real Sociedad

17:45 , Matt Verri

TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s game will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate, with coverage beginning at 7:15pm.

Live stream: BT Sport subscribers can also watch it online through the BT Sport website and app.

LIVE coverage: Follow all the action right here with us!

Good evening!

17:31 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Manchester United vs Real Sociedad.

Erik ten Hag takes charge of United in Europe for the first time, as his side look to make it five wins in a row across all competitions.

We’ll have all the latest build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8pm BST from Old Trafford.