November 5, 2013

Ready or Not: Real Sociedad


Off to Spain, well, they have already arrived but you get the idea. And tonight for the second time ever Man United will face Real Sociedad. Our last meeting at Old Trafford ended with a UTD win and a clean sheet.
 
As for the clean sheet, it's a home coming for the flying Spaniard. While every other UTD player will be playing for the first time at the home of Sociedad this will not be a first visit for DDG. 

De Gea;
"It’s always a good experience to go back to Spain and, of course, doing so wearing the Manchester United shirt makes me very proud."
The last time De Gea went home in a UTD shirt this happened:

UTD haven't lost any of their past 7 games, can we make it 8?  We have also scored twelve goals and conceded only four in the past five matches. Per manutd.com Sociedad have had an impressive run too, losing only one of their last six matches. On the Champions League side, UTD  are yet to lose a game while Sociedad are yet to win or draw one. Are Sociedad the team to end our unbeaten run(s)?

Johnny Evans and Rafael did not travel with team. Johnny is still nursing his back and Rafael picked an ankle injury, both against Fulham! Cleverley recovered from double vision and is in Spain with the team. Moyes said, though it is unusual to have three injuries in one game much less all within the first half but as far as injuries are concerned this is the best UTD has been since the start of this season. Great news.

Though we will be missing Johnny and Rafael on the positive side this might be the night Young Adnan gets his well deserved Champions League debut. Europe might look like a bigger stage for any eighteen years old but with the manner the youngster approached Premier League, I have no worries here. Give Adnan his debut, he has earned it.

UTD are on top of group A with seven points after two home wins and a draw away to Shakhtar while Sociedad are at the bottom of the group with 0 points as they have lost all of their three matches. Second placed Leverkusen will travel to third placed Shakhtar. With six and four points respectively, first place is still not secured by UTD.

The best we can do today is exactly where we are, top of the group but regardless of what the results are we will not go below second place.

Nick Butt's boys will also be facing Sociedad u19 in the UEFA Youth League. Sociedad are on top of the group with 9 points while UTD u19 picked only three points after suffering  two defeats, a 2-1 away to Shakhtar and a 0-1 against Sociedad. To proceed the youngsters need to finish within the top two places. Right now, Shakthtar u19 are on the second place with six points.

The first leg between the two ended with a disappointing defeat to United. Revenge time?

Bring home those three points boys!

Sources: manutd.com, uefa.com

Glory Glory Man United.

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