Manchester United produced a dominant display at Old Trafford, securing a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 second leg. The result ensured a 5-2 aggregate win, sending United into the quarter-finals in emphatic fashion.

Match Overview: A Strong Response from United
Real Sociedad made an early statement, taking the lead just 10 minutes into the match. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty after Matthijs de Ligt was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the box.

United, however, wasted no time responding. In the 16th minute, Rasmus Højlund won a penalty after being brought down inside the area. Captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up and calmly sent the Sociedad goalkeeper the wrong way to level the score.

The second half saw United take complete control. Just five minutes after the restart, United won another penalty following a foul on Patrick Dorgu. Fernandes stepped up again, burying his second penalty of the night to put United ahead 2-1.

Real Sociedad’s troubles worsened when Jon Aramburu was sent off in the 63rd minute for a reckless tackle on Dorgu, reducing the Spanish side to ten men. United capitalized on their advantage, and in the 87th minute, Bruno Fernandes completed his hat-trick with a well-taken finish from inside the box after a swift counter-attack.

The final blow came in stoppage time, as Diogo Dalot finished off a neat team move with a close-range goal, sealing a convincing 4-1 victory for the Red Devils.

 
Key Performances: Bruno Fernandes Leads the Charge
Bruno Fernandes - The Hat-Trick Hero
Bruno Fernandes was instrumental in United’s victory, converting two penalties and scoring from open play to complete his hat-trick. His composure, creativity, and leadership were on full display, proving why he remains one of United’s most important players.

Patrick Dorgu - A Menace Down the Flank
The young full-back played a key role, winning a penalty and constantly tormenting Sociedad’s defense. He also showed great sportsmanship when he advised the referee to overturn a later penalty decision in United’s favor.

Diogo Dalot - Rock Solid & Clinical
Dalot was strong defensively and also contributed offensively, scoring United’s fourth goal to put the result beyond doubt.

 
Post-Match Reactions
Manager’s Thoughts
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim praised his side’s performance, saying:

“This was a complete performance. We showed fight, resilience, and attacking brilliance. The players responded well after conceding early, and I’m very happy with the way we controlled the game.”

Bruno Fernandes on His Hat-Trick
Fernandes was delighted with his contribution:

“It’s always great to score, but the most important thing is the team’s victory. We knew we had to be dominant and we did exactly that.”
 

Looking Ahead: Quarter-Finals Await
With this commanding win, Manchester United advance to the Europa League quarter-finals, where they will face Lyon. The Red Devils will look to build on this momentum as they continue their quest for silverware this season.