Manchester United 4-1 Real Sociedad (5-2 agg): Fernandes hat-trick sends hosts into last eight

Bruno Fernandes’ hat-trick fired Manchester United into the Europa League last eight with a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad, securing a 5-2 aggregate triumph.

Joshua Zirkzee’s opener in the first leg was cancelled out by a Mikel Oyazarabal penalty, and La Real’s captain did the damage with another spot-kick to open the scoring early on at Old Trafford on Thursday.

However, Fernandes soon levelled with a penalty of his own before doubling his tally from 12 yards in the second half.

Jon Aramburu was then dismissed prior to the United captain clinching his treble three minutes from time, before Diogo Dalot wrapped up the scoring, sealing a quarter-final meeting with Lyon.

Quarter-finals, here we come! #MUFC || #UEL

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 13, 2025

Ruben Amorim’s side had earlier fallen the wrong side of a lengthy VAR check as Matthijs de Ligt was adjudged to have fouled Oyarzabal, who coolly slotted his 14th-minute penalty into the bottom-right corner.

However, United struck back at the other end with a penalty six minutes later after Rasmus Hojlund was felled by Igor Zubeldia, and Fernandes stroked into the bottom-left corner from 12 yards.

United came flying out the blocks after the interval as Zirkzee forced a smart save from Alex Remiro, with Patrick Dorgu winning a penalty on the rebound after colliding with Aritz Elustondo.

Fernandes subsequently sent Remiro the wrong way, rolling into the right-hand corner to send Amorim’s side ahead in the 50th minute.

Aramburu was then dismissed for a last-man sliding challenge after Zirkzee’s delightful pass to Dorgu, who almost won another penalty following Hamari Traore’s lunge, before the VAR intervened to overturn the call.

Fernandes would have been the taker of United’s third spot-kick, but he sealed his hat-trick just moments later, racing through onto Alejandro Garnacho’s offload before drilling into the bottom-left corner.

Hojlund’s selfless work capped a fine outing for the hosts as his driving run resulted in a cutback for Dalot, who hammered into the roof of the net when unmarked near the penalty spot.

Data Debrief: History-making Fernandes the difference

Fernandes became only the second Man Utd player to score two penalties in a major European game, along with Wayne Rooney against Otelul Galati in October 2011.

Indeed, 10 of Fernandes’ 18 goals for United in major European competitions have come from the penalty spot.

The Portugal international has also now been involved in 41 goals (24 goals, 17 assists) in the competition, the most in Europa League history, after going past Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (34 goals, six assists).

Fernandes’ late third also made him the first United player to score a hat-trick in major European competition since Marcus Rashford in October 2020 against RB Leipzig.