The Match: Reds Held

Here’s our detailed take on United’s 0-0 Champions League draw with Real Sociedad…

The Match Reds boss David Moyes summed it up best as a missed opportunity for United to take three vital points in the quest for qualification for the knockout stages. “We're in a strong position,” he said. “If we'd won tonight it would have given us a real, real chance of being the team to top the group. But we're still in a healthy position.” Ultimately, there wasn’t much to choose between the two sides, but substitute Robin van Persie’s missed penalty in the second half was United’s best chance of victory. Marouane Fellaini's late red card merely added to the frustration.

Star men This wasn’t a match of outstanding individual contributions, but MUTV pundits Lee Sharpe and David May chose Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Patrice Evra as their Man of the Match candidates. Before he was replaced in the second half, Rooney played a marauding free role, working all over the pitch to try to create openings, while Smalling and Evra had busy nights at full-back. Shinji Kagawa was also involved in many of United’s most dangerous attacks and deserves credit.

Sub-plots Ryan Giggs made his 950th club appearance, partnering Fellaini in the centre of United’s midfield. Elsewhere, in spite of continuing rainfall throughout the game, the Anoeta groundstaff watered the home side’s attacking half during the break, hoping presumably to add some zip to their play. Sadly, the game lacked exactly that incisive pace in the final third to make a telling difference.

Opposition Real Sociedad coach Jagoba Arrasate had stated that his team would take the game to United but it took them a while to come anywhere near fulfilling that promise. They were neat, tidy and on occasion threatened inside United’s box.

Moves of the match Rooney’s delightful flick in the first half teed up a Kagawa shot, while in the second half there was a nice bit of chest control from Fellaini to take the ball away from his man before slipping a neat pass to Rooney, who surged forward and almost found Chicharito’s run. Almost, but not quite. That was the story of the night. Even Kagawa’s brilliantly angled, arced ball over the top for van Persie resulted in the Dutchman twisting and turning to beat his man and returning the pass to United’s Japanese schemer. But it was just a touch too far behind him.

In the stands Usually the travelling Reds are stuck up in the heavens at away grounds. This time, the 1,500 or so United fans were tucked in the corner, low down, peering over Anoeta’s athletics track. Still, they were vocal throughout and all this rain made it feel very much like home. Roy Keane’s appearance on the pitch as part of ITV’s team of pundits provided plenty of reason to reel off the full repertoire of Keane terrace anthems.