Match ends, Manchester United 1, Real Sociedad 0.
Man UtdManchester United1Real SociedadReal Sociedad0
Manchester United moved a step closer to the Champions League knockout stages with a narrow victory over Real Sociedad.
Inigo Martinez's second-minute own goal - which also owed much to superb work by Wayne Rooney - ensured United maintained their unbeaten record in the competition this season.
United manager David Moyes will have made three points his sole objective after the disappointing 1-1 Premier League draw at home to Southampton on Saturday and in a week when their European campaign has been reduced to a sideshow by revelations in former manager Sir Alex Ferguson's new autobiography.
And on the night when United gave a trial to Old Trafford's new 'singing section', they at least had something to celebrate - unlike the 6,000 colourful visiting fans who followed Sociedad.
The La Liga side made United work hard for the win but it was one they fully deserved despite some anxious moments, particularly when Antoine Griezmann hit the post with a first-half free-kick.
Rooney was once again United's main source of danger as he continued the outstanding form he has shown this season.
If there are any complaints from Moyes, they will have centre on his side's inability to finish the game off earlier - as well as some questionable defending that offered Sociedad hope.
And at least Moyes was finally able to move the agenda away from his predecessor Ferguson, who has claimed the headlines this week and overshadowed this important Champions League game as he raked over his 26 years in charge at Old Trafford.
Once again, this was not a fluent United performance but the result will give them added confidence ahead the return meeting away to Sociedad in a fortnight.
Moyes decided against risking striker Robin van Persie, who has been suffering with toe and groin injuries - but Rooney's irresistible form meant the Netherlands international was not missed early on as United were ahead inside two minutes.
Rooney demonstrated perfect technique and speed of thought to evade three defenders in the area, only to curl a shot against the post with keeper Claudio Bravo beaten. As Sociedad appeared to have survived, Martinez sliced the rebound hopelessly into his own net.
Sociedad had a valid claim for Javier Hernandez being offside as Martinez did his unwitting work but Dutch referee Bas Nijhuis and his officials were unmoved by the complaints.
Rooney was at the heart of everything early on and almost added a second after 12 minutes - but Bravo was equal to his volley from Rafael's cross.
From hesitant early beginnings, Sociedad grew in confidence into the game and were desperately unlucky not to equalise before half-time.
David De Gea had already saved athletically from Haris Seferovic but he could do nothing to stop Griezmann's free-kick and was relieved as it bounced away off the woodwork.
Sociedad continued to improve after the break but United were creating chances as Phil Jones saw his header blocked by Bravo and Antonio Valencia's low, angled shot struck the post.
Fortunately for United, Sociedad had lost the impetus they gather in the early moments of the second half and did not make United pay for those missed chances.
Manchester United boss David Moyes: "Yes [I was frustrated] because we had it on Saturday in a Premier League game when we lost a late goal. If we had scored five or six today it wouldn't would have looked out of place.
"I'm concerned we gave away couple of free kicks on the edge of the box. But Wayne Rooney was absolutely terrific tonight, I was shouting at him in the last five minutes though.
"We just want a top player like Wayne to play well. I said from day one that his training was great. I think England have seen that. But we need to see it all the time."
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 2Pereira da SilvaBooked at 27minsSubstituted forSmallingat 59'minutes
- 4Jones
- 6Evans
- 3Evra
- 16Carrick
- 11Giggs
- 25A Valencia
- 10Rooney
- 26KagawaBooked at 34mins
- 14HernándezSubstituted forYoungat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Smalling
- 13Lindegaard
- 17Almeida da Cunha
- 18Young
- 28Büttner
- 31Fellaini
- 44Januzaj
Real Sociedad
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Bravo
- 2Martínez
- 3González
- 6Martínez
- 24de la Bella
- 5BergaraBooked at 39mins
- 17ZurutuzaSubstituted forCastroat 75'minutes
- 11VelaBooked at 22mins
- 10Prieto ArgarateBooked at 42minsSubstituted forPardoat 68'minutes
- 7Griezmann
- 8SeferovicSubstituted forAgirretxeat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Agirretxe
- 13Zubikarai
- 14Pardo
- 15Ansotegi
- 18Castro
- 19Cadamuro
- 23Ros Añón
- Referee:
- Bas Nijhuis
Match Stats
Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamReal Sociedad
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Real Sociedad 0.
Post update
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Mikel González.
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Attempt blocked. Ashley Young (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Giggs.
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Attempt missed. Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Wayne Rooney.
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Offside, Manchester United. Shinji Kagawa tries a through ball, but Wayne Rooney is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Alberto De la Bella (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Markel Bergara.
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Foul by Antonio Valencia (Manchester United).
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Iñigo Martínez (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Ashley Young (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Wayne Rooney.
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Offside, Real Sociedad. Mikel González tries a through ball, but Imanol Agirretxe is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Shinji Kagawa.
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Michael Carrick (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Imanol Agirretxe (Real Sociedad).
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Ashley Young replaces Javier Hernández.
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Attempt missed. Rubén Pardo (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Ryan Giggs (Manchester United).
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Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Gonzalo Castro replaces David Zurutuza.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Imanol Agirretxe replaces Haris Seferovic.
