Ten Hag: WE'RE STILL IN IT TO WIN IT

Both sides were already assured of progress from Group E ahead of the San Sebastian showdown, but September's shock Old Trafford defeat to the LaLiga side meant United travelled to Spain in second spot.
 

Garnacho's superb goal got the Red Devils off to a dream start as they sought to usurp the hosts, but they struggled in the second half as Sociedad held tight for a 1-0 loss that means they top the group on goal difference.

Erik ten Hag's runners-up will now have to play an extra round in mid-February against a side dropping out of the Champions League, with Barcelona, Juventus and his former club Ajax among the potential opponents.

Garnacho\'s superb goal got the Red Devils off to a dream start as they sought to usurp the hosts

"I think today they did everything. They are fine men. They did everything to get the tempo out of the game. And they succeeded in it by losing only 1-0. I congratulate them for the victory. We at Manchester United are always disappointed when we are not number one. But we also have something positive to take back to Manchester." Said ten Hag
 

"Of course we always want to be number one. And when we are not we are disappointed about it. But finally we won tonight. It was a clean sheet. We created some great chances. I think the win is also a decent performance from (Cristiano) Ronaldo and a really good performance from (Alejandro) Garnacho. But we had some problems in the front line."

"It's clear we have to work on that. We have to score more goals. But in the end it is what it is. I think that within this group we've had our opportunities to get a better goal difference. That's the right analysis."

La Real progress straight to the last-16 on a night that was only 17 minutes old Garnacho overtook George Best as United's youngest non-English goalscorer in European competition with a lovely finish.

Cristiano Ronaldo provided a fine assist for the 18-year-old's first senior goal and lifted narrowly over towards the end of a first half that ended with David De Gea producing an excellent double save.

But Ten Hag's side were unable to build on that solid start, with defender Harry Maguire brought on as makeshift striker in a desperate - and ultimately fruitless - attempt to snatch the second goal they needed.