Manchester United faced Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie, ending in a 1-1 draw at the Reale Seguros Stadium. The match saw United initially take the lead with a goal from Joshua Zirkzee in the 57th minute, only for Sociedad to equalize through a penalty converted by Mikel Oyarzabal in the 70th minute after Bruno Fernandes was penalized for handball.

United appeared to be in control for much of the match, creating several scoring opportunities that could have put them ahead by more than one goal. Fernandes had a shot cleared off the line, and teammate Diogo Dalot missed a critical chance to assist Rasmus Hojlund just yards from goal. Zirkzee's goal came after a mistake from Sociedad's goalkeeper, Alex Remiro, who mishandled a relatively simple shot from the edge of the box, allowing the United forward to capitalize.

The draw left United feeling frustrated, as they had the momentum and were dominant until the penalty shifted the match's dynamics. Despite this setback, manager Ruben Amorim remained optimistic, noting that the return leg at Old Trafford would present a different challenge. Both teams will look to capitalize on the second leg, with United needing to convert their chances into goals to ensure progression in the tournament. Meanwhile, Sociedad's coach Imanol Alguacil expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, highlighting that they remain very much in the tie as they prepare for the return fixture.