Manchester United see recent progress stalled by soft Europa defeat

Europa League Thursday nights can work both ways for the poor and unfortunate Big Sixers who find themselves there.

At its best, the Europa offers a plausible path to silverware and a chance for fringe players to show their worth and more established players to find form and confidence. At the other end of the scale is the more melancholy reality that can often impose itself, with awkward and energy-consuming matches that can dampen momentum.

So it was for Manchester United on what was always going to be an awkward night even before the news overshadowed it. Real Sociedad at home was a sub-optimal opener; genuinely dangerous opposition and the likeliest rival for the top spot, but a game where nothing less than a win will truly be enough.

First place really matters in this competition as well, as it carries an even more precious prize in this particular season: two games less in the Round of 16.

And after that boring and irritating 1-0 loss, that top spot already looks like a tall order for United. It was also a performance and a result that will inevitably dampen some of the renewed confidence that ran through Erik ten Hag's team.

The nature of the goal will be particularly infuriating for United, a penalty that surely should have been canceled by VAR as David Silva's shot deflected past Lisandro Martinez's knee and into his arm. VAR had a bad week and it didn't improve here.

But while the goal was controversial and lucky, it was hard to argue that La Real's overall performance didn't deserve anything. Equally, United certainly didn't do enough to feel a great sense of injustice by not winning the game.

As always when he is on the pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo was the center of attention. Like the Europa League itself, these days it can work both ways. Tonight he missed chances, scored an offside header, pleaded for absurd penalties and generally huffed and puffed - with the focus on the blow.

It will be little comfort for United that Sociedad are a good team. It was their third away win of the season having already beaten Cadiz and Elche in La Liga, and last weekend Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 despite falling early behind. p>

David Silva retained much of his charm and didn't pull many strings in Manchester for the first time, while Takefusa Kubo caught the eye.

But that really wasn't good enough for United. A disjointed performance that lacked the cohesion and clarity that have marked their recent league efforts. And while they were a side with some changes from the weekend, they were hardly second-row or lacking in European experience. For some reason this European matchweek seemed to particularly highlight the big difference in pace and style between European football and Premier League football, but it was a United team and manager that should have been more than ready for it. Still, it seemed to completely baffle them.

It's now likely that United will have some time to simmer on this. We know this is obviously not the European competition they want to be in or feel they deserve to be in, and now there is the added inconvenience of having their momentum stunted by this.