Manchester United will look to seal qualification to the last 16 of this season's Champions League with a win at Real Sociedad on Tuesday, while the La Liga outfit is fighting to avoid elimination, after losing their first three games in the competition.
The Red Devils have not had the best of starts in the Premier League this season, under new manager David Moyes, and currently are eight points off early leaders Arsenal. However, they have been fairly impressive in the Champions League so far, notching seven points from the first three matches. United, who are currently on a four-match winning run in all competitions, sit atop Group A, a point above German side Bayer Leverkusen.
"I feel we're playing better and getting some good results to go with it," Moyes said. "Long may that continue. I won't take anything for granted. I have a lot of respect for Sociedad. We have to play well if we're going to get those ten points, which will get us over the line."
Sociedad, on the other hand, are rock bottom, losing all three encounters so far in Europe's elite competition. However, Jagoba Arrasate's men have managed to accrue 10 points from their last four matches in La Liga and enter this tie on a high, after Saturday's 5-0 thumping of Osasuna.
"If we do things right and get close to our game plan we can win," Arrasate said. "This is the only thing on our minds. United have qualification in their sights and are playing away from home so we don't know how they'll approach [the game]. We have to try to play our normal game and take the initiative."
The reverse fixture at Old Trafford a fortnight ago saw United squeezing past the Spanish outfit 1-0, thanks to a second-minute own goal by Spain international Inigo Martinez.
Team News: Arrasate has no new injury concerns but on-loan QPR midfielder Esteban Granero remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Martinez is a doubt.
Moyes has a few new casualties as Michael Carrick, Jonny Evans and Rafael were not part of the squad that travelled to Spain. Danny Welbeck also remains a fitness doubt but Tom Cleverley has made the trip, despite suffering double vision against Fulham at the weekend.
Key men: Sociedad: Antoine Griezmann has been the Spanish side's talisman for a few years now and the 22-year-old has gotten off to an excellent start this season as well, with seven goals from 10 La Liga games. The winger is known for his dead ball skills and came close to scoring at Old Trafford, with a freekick from distance that smashed the woodwork.
United: Adnan Januzaj has set the Premier League alight in his debut season and the teenager finds himself in the spotlight once again, as he is in line to make his European bow in Spain tonight.
Where to Watch
Kick-off is set for 1.15am IST on Wednesday, with Ten Sports providing live coverage in India. For the Live Blog, click HERE.
Expected lineups: Sociedad: Bravo; C Martinez, Mikel, I Martinez, De la Bella; Bergara, Zurutuza, Prieto; Vela, Agirretxe, Griezmann.
United: De Gea; Smalling, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra; Fellaini, Cleverley; Januzaj, Rooney, Kagawa; Hernandez.
Prediction: 1-1
