Manchester United were beaten tonight by Real Sociedad in the team’s opening game of the 2022/23 Europa League campaign.
United fell thanks to a dubious penalty given by the referee to the Spanish team in the 59th minute.
According to SofaScore, Erik ten Hag’s men had 55% of the ball compared to 45% of Sociedad.
The Reds attempted a whopping 15 shots on goal, with three on target. Their opposition, by comparison, registered eight shots, with a similar number to United on target.
The Red Devils had seven shots blocked by Sociedad, who in turn had three blocked by the English club’s baseline.
Ten Hag’s side made 496 passes, with a success rate of 83%. Sociedad had 5% less passing accuracy out of the 403 passes they had to their name.
United’s standout player in their 1-0 loss was Christian Eriksen, who played in the first half.
In the first 45 minutes he played, the 30-year-old showed why he is the club’s most important player and why he has started every game.
The Dane was involved in all aspects of his team’s attack and had 29 touches.
Eriksen had 25 passes, 21 of which he successfully delivered to teammates, with 84% accuracy.
Attacking dynamo, he had 2 key passes in the first half of the game in which he participated.
The player also successfully completed 3/4 long balls, showing off his skill and range on the ball.
It is imperative that United keep Eriksen fit and running. If United enjoy some success this season, they are likely to have a big influence. Without a doubt, he has been a revelation in midfield, transforming it completely.
