Manchester United are heading into the second leg of their Europa League tie with Real Sociedad level after a 1-1 draw in San Sebastian.

The Reds were the better side for much of the contest and deserved their lead when it arrived on 57 minutes. Alejandro Garnacho's cross from the right was swept home by Joshua Zirkzee to end his goal drought.

However, this hard work would be undone moments later as VAR spotted Bruno Fernandes' handball in the area from a Real corner. Mikel Oryazabal fired home the spot kick which sparked the hosts into life but they could not find a winner.

READ MORE: Man United star Alejandro Garnacho sends Diogo Dalot message after Ruben Amorim response

READ MORE: 'This is too much' - Former Man United manager Jose Mourinho 'falls asleep' after defeat

After the match, opinion of United was less than positive from the Spanish press as they reflected on a missed opportunity for both sides to gain authority in the tie. Juan Cudeiro for El Pais was particularly scathing as he wrote: "Delicate as they are in football and in so many other things, Manchester United at least try to apply a plan.

"It is promoted by Ruben Amorim, a coach who seeks depth without much rhetoric and sets his tone based on incisive full-backs who hang off a defence of three centre-backs. The idea has not yet been implemented in England, surely because the level of most of the footballers is not worthy of the club's history.

"United, without depth on the bench, became mediocre. Amorim tried to control and called Eriksen for Garnacho, but the game became a back and forth game from which Real were able to take advantage."

Europa Press focussed their attention on Real Sociedad in the main, suggesting that despite 'the incentives of a big game in Europe, Real lacked bite in the first half.' "Real made too many unintentional passes and failed to look forward, while United defended comfortably," they continued.

"Ruben Amorim's men also found good opportunities on the counterattack, with Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu. The English pressure was better and the Red Devils even kept the ball but it was a call from the VAR, which detected a handball by Bruno Fernandes, which revived Real."

However, Amador Gomez at La Rioja was more complimentary of the Reds. "The San Sebastian team came out alive from Anoeta against Manchester United, clear favourites to advance to the quarter-finals of the Europa League next Thursday at Old Trafford, a competition in which the English team, despite its poor form, remains the only unbeaten team," he wrote.

"United stepped up after the break and Real, whose previous dominance had been completely fruitless, had to hold on at the back. Real, even without much conviction and without daring to finish off the game in the face of the risk that United would strike again, were much better than their opponents in the final stretch and had their moment with a shot by Oskarsson that went just wide when Anoeta was already celebrating the winning goal.

"Oskarsson did not score, but thanks to the intervention of the VAR, the problem was less for Real." United return to action on Sunday when they host Arsenal in the Premier League.