Bruno Fernandes has etched his name onto the scoresheet yet again. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Manchester United and Real Sociedad are tied at 1-1 inside the opening half an hour at Old Trafford.
Bizarrely, it’s been a penalty apiece for both sides, with the Spanish visitors taking the lead first via Mikel Oyarzabal after a foul by Matthijs de Ligt.
Six minutes later at the other end, Rasmus Hojlund was played in by his skipper and subsequently brought down by centre-half Igor Zubeldia when skewing his effort. Bruno Fernandes, unsurprisingly, converted his effort to bring the scoreline level.
While credit will again be directed Fernandes’ way – and rightly so, as he’s been Ruben Amorim’s sole talisman in recent weeks – Laurie Whitwell singled out one Red for praise for his efforts in the build-up to the goal.
“Major for MUFC to answer immediately,” the journalist shared on X/Twitter. “Fantastic pass by Casemiro + Fernandes unselfishly tries to tee up Hojlund. Zubeldia got the ball, but Hojlund first. Great composure Fernandes.”
All to play for in Manchester
It’ll come as a tremendous relief for Amorim that his side were able to claw their way back into the tie so quickly. Otherwise, they risked playing with substantial pressure added onto their shoulders to overturn their opponents in an already stressful, high-stakes affair.
Reigning victorious in the competition would come as a much-needed boost for everyone involved at the club, particularly the head coach, as he has endured nothing short of a tumultuous beginning to his tenure in M16.
As it stands, the Red Devils are likely to face sixth-placed Ligue 1 outfit Olympique Lyonnais if they advance to the quarter-finals tonight.
