Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick while Manchester United came from behind in a match with three penalties to progress in the quarter-final of the Europa League with a 4-1 victory against Real Sociedad.
After fighting a 1-1 draw in San Sebastián last week, United was late when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a 10th minute kick.
But the referee Benoit Bastien and the Var played a main role while United overturned it thanks to a pair of penalties from Fernandes almost identical.
Bastien then left the side of the Laliga with a mountain to climb when he showed Jon Aramburu a right red card in the 63rd minute, the ascent task proving too much for the Basque side while Fernandes finished his triple meeting and Diogo added a fourth late to reserve a meeting in last eight people with Lyon.
Bruno Fernandes gets his hat -trick!
The captain of Man United puts his team 4-2 in the total to effectively guarantee their place in the quarterfinals of the Europa League 🔥
📺 @Tntsports & @discoveryplusuk pic.twitter.com/iu9rmwfsrx
– Football on TNT SPORTS (@footballontnt) March 13, 2025
Manchester United Vs Real Sociedad
Sociedad was rewarded for a shiny start in the 10th minute, when Oyarzabal marked a penalty for the second time in the tie, slipping coldly in the lower right corner because, after a long Var check, Bastien went to the instructor and judged that he was vile by Matthijs de Ligt.
But United answered superbly and leveled the place where Fernandes equaled the composure of Oyarzabal after the fault of Igor Zubeldia on Rasmus Hojlund, the Portugal Star notchaing the ball in the lower corner to the left.
The equalizer of United has considerably raised the atmosphere to Old Trafford and sparked an entertaining and open first half, although the one that ended without one or the other goalkeeper being tested.
However, United finished the reversal for five minutes in the second half. Alex Remiro could only transform Joshua Zirkzee’s effort into the path of Patrick Dorgu, who collided with Aritz Elustondo.
Bastien stopped before finally pointing towards the place and, while Fernandes had to endure a long wait before Var confirmed what seemed a dubious decision, he again maintained his composure to convert what was almost a carbon copy of his first penalty, with this one to the left of Remi.
Aramburu was dismissed when he transported the impressive Dorgu and was tried for being the last man. This removed the Sociedad from the equation as a serious threat, and United was hay by adding a brilliant to the score.
Zirkzee was refused at close range before moving away, and United was overthrown by Dorgu in the region.
But Fernandes crowned his instrumental display with his third when he freed himself in the right side of the region and headed beyond Remi, with Dalot, then ending a wonderful evening for United this season by slamming at home in the 91st minute.
