Man United Suffers Europa League Setback To End Winning Streak Against Real Sociedad.

Manchester United, had their four-games winning streak stopped on Thursday night in opening Europa League game at the hands of Real Sociedad.

Just days after the hosts put on their finest complete performance of the season against League leaders Arsenal, Real Sociedad  battled to a 1-0 victory to guarantee that United's Europa League campaign kicked-off to the worst possible start at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag suffers a significant blow as a result, as his team had begun to turn the corner after a disastrous start to the year.

United led English football’s tributes to Queen Elizabeth II before their defeat against Real Sociedad while Roma boss Jose Mourinho was in mourning after the monarch’s death on Thursday.

United, West Ham, and Arsenal players, who were in action in Europe’s second and third-tier tournaments, all wore black armbands after the Queen died aged 96 earlier in the day. There were sombre atmospheres at Old Trafford and the London Stadium, with United and West Ham both holding a minute’s silence prior to kick-off.

In a scoreless first half, neither team could find the back of the net, though Cristiano Ronaldo did have a thunderous header disallowed for offside.

Lisandro Martinez who had been in a fantastic form came on in the second half in place of Diogo Dalot, injecting some much-needed aggression and physicality in the back line.

The visitors took the lead in the 59th minute after being awarded a dubious penalty by the referee, which Brais Mendez converted.

In what many supporters will feel was a harsh decision, the referee judged Martinez to have handled the ball inside the box.

The 24-year-old Argentine defender slid to block a David Silva shot that ricocheted off his knee and hit his lower arm. The shameful on-field decision was upheld by VAR.

Martinez won an incredible 100% of the tackles he went into.

United made changes in an effort to save their recent four-match winning streak, but they were unable to summon a response.

Erik ten Hag did not attend any post-match press conference, speak to UEFA's rights holders or converse with MUTV. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta did not speak to the press following their game either.