In a thrilling display of skill and composure, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes delivered a sensational hat-trick to secure a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, propelling his team into the Europa League quarter-finals with a 5-2 aggregate triumph. The second leg of the last-16 tie showcased Fernandes at his imperious best, as United overcame an early deficit to dominate their Spanish opponents on a night that could prove a turning point in their turbulent season.
The match began with a shock for the home side when Real Sociedad’s captain, Mikel Oyarzabal, converted a penalty in the 10th minute after Matthijs de Ligt was penalized for a foul following a lengthy VAR review. The goal silenced the Old Trafford faithful and gave Sociedad a 2-1 lead on aggregate, threatening to derail United’s hopes of progressing in their only remaining competition for silverware this season.
However, Fernandes quickly turned the tide. Just six minutes later, in the 16th minute, the Portuguese maestro stepped up to the penalty spot after Rasmus Hojlund was brought down in the box by Igor Zubeldia. With ice in his veins, Fernandes dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom corner, leveling the score at 1-1 on the night and restoring parity in the tie. The captain’s cool-headedness sparked a resurgence for United, who began to assert their dominance over a Sociedad side that struggled to cope with the hosts’ attacking intent.
Five minutes into the second half, Fernandes struck again from 12 yards. This time, Patrick Dorgu’s dazzling run into the box was halted by a foul, and referee Benoit Bastien pointed to the spot once more. Fernandes made no mistake, sending goalkeeper Alex Remiro the wrong way to give United a 2-1 lead on the night and a 3-2 advantage on aggregate. The momentum had firmly shifted, and Sociedad’s hopes took a further blow in the 63rd minute when substitute Jon Aramburu was shown a straight red card for a cynical foul on Dorgu, reducing the visitors to 10 men.
With Sociedad reeling, Fernandes sealed his hat-trick in the 87th minute, showcasing his flair in open play. A lightning-fast counter-attack saw Alejandro Garnacho drive forward before laying the ball off to Fernandes, who lashed a precise shot across Remiro and into the bottom left corner. The strike sent Old Trafford into raptures and effectively guaranteed United’s place in the next round. Diogo Dalot added a cherry on top in stoppage time, slamming home a cut-back from Hojlund to complete the 4-1 rout.
United’s reward is a quarter-final clash with French side Lyon, a tie that promises to test their mettle as they chase a route back to the Champions League via Europa League glory.