Bruno Fernandes delivered a stellar performance, netting a hat-trick to propel Manchester United to a commanding 4-1 victory over 10-man Real Sociedad at Old Trafford on Thursday. This triumph secured their place in the Europa League quarter-finals, where they are set to face French side Lyon.
The match was pivotal for United, who are striving to turn their season around under manager Ruben Amorim and ensure European football for the upcoming campaign. However, the evening began on a shaky note when Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Matthijs de Ligt brought him down inside the box.
United quickly responded. In the 11th minute, Fernandes equalized with a penalty of his own after Igor Zubeldia fouled Rasmus Hojlund, who was surging toward goal. The home team then took the lead just before the half-hour mark with yet another penalty. Aritz Elustondo was adjudged to have fouled Patrick Dorgu, and Fernandes confidently converted from the spot, marking his 14th goal of the season.
Sociedad’s hopes of a comeback suffered a significant blow in the second half when Jon Aramburu was sent off for pulling down Dorgu, who was through on goal. United took full advantage of the numerical superiority, with Fernandes completing his hat-trick in the 75th minute with a composed finish across the goal to make it 3-1.
Diogo Dalot put the icing on the cake with a fourth goal in stoppage time, unleashing a powerful long-range strike to seal the victory.
Despite facing criticism from former United captain Roy Keane over his leadership and consistency, Fernandes rose to the occasion when it mattered most. The 30-year-old, often scrutinized for his captaincy, demonstrated remarkable composure under pressure, particularly in converting all three penalties. His performance underscored his vital role in the team.
With his hat-trick, Fernandes also etched his name in the history books, becoming the player with the most goal involvements in UEFA Europa League history, tallying 41 (24 goals and 17 assists).
Manchester United now look ahead to their quarter-final clash against Lyon, with Fernandes’ heroics providing a significant morale boost as they advance to the next stage of the competition.
