Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t faced Real Sociedad away from home for 11 years

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Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t faced Real Sociedad away from home for 11 years despite leaving Real Madrid in 2018.

After nine straight wins against La Real, the 37-year-old was on the losing side against the San Sebastian outfit for the first time when Erik ten Hag’s team were beaten 1-0 by the La Liga side, in our Europa League Group E opener back in September.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has 15 goals in 10 appearances against Sociedad, but he’s never scored at the Reale Arena.

That’s something our legendary number seven will be looking to address come tomorrow night’s Group E showdown, where United need to win by two or more goals to win the group and avoid a play-off against a third-place Champions League by qualifying for the last-16.

Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t faced Real Sociedad away from home for 11 years

Despite signing for Madrid from the Reds in 2009, Ronaldo missed six consecutive away matches against Sociedad for Los Blancos up until he joined Juventus in the summer of 2018.

Portugal’s captain missed the trips to Sociedad for a variety of different reasons – injury, suspension and not forming part of the squad.

Despite leaving Spain 11 years ago to join Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils, David de Gea has faced Sociedad away from home as many times as Ronaldo.

Ronaldo and De Gea’s first trip to the Real Arena came within two months of one and other.

Under Jose Mourinho, Ronaldo experienced playing in the Reale Arena for the first time in September 2010 when Madrid won 2-1, whereas De Gea was in goal for Atletico Madrid when the Colchoneros, who were managed by Quique Sanchez Flores at the time, won 4-2 in November 2010.

Ronaldo’s last appearance away to Sociedad came in October 2011 and De Gea’s was when he was at United, and we drew 0-0 in the Champions League in November 2013 when David Moyes was in charge.

Unlike their previous two visits, De Gea and Ronaldo will be side by side on their third appearance at the Reale Arena, and hopefully the influential duo are at their best and play a starring role in us leapfrogging La Real into the all-important top spot.