Good evening and welcome along to tonight’s Champions League coverage. Most of the Manchester Untied-relate talk over the past couple of days has revolved around Alex Ferguson’s new book but the Red Devils must put those distractions behind them for the visit of Real Sociedad.

The big news coming out of Old Trafford is that Robin van Persie does not even make the bench.

Here are the team line-ups:

Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Evra, Jones, Evans, Giggs, Carrick, Valencia, Kagawa, Rooney, Hernández. Subs: Lindegaard, Smalling, Büttner, Nani, Young, Fellaini, Januzaj.

Real Sociedad: Bravo, Carlos Martínez, González, de la Bella, Markel Bergara, Iñigo Martínez, Xabi Prieto, Zurutuza, Griezmann, Seferovic, Vela. Subs: Zubikarai, Ansotegi, Cadamuro, Pardo, Ros, Agirretxe, Castro.

David Moyes has gone with Javier Hernandez up front alongside Wayne Rooney up front while Shinji Kagawa should start on the wings with Adnan Januzaj dropping to the bench.

Ryan Giggs comes into midfielder and Jonny Evans partners Phil Jones at the back in place of injured pair Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

Former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela gets the nod for the visitors while Xabi Prieto is a surprise instead of Ruben Pardo.

For those who were wondering, it has finished CSKA Moscow 1-2 Man City in Russia thanks to two first half goals from Sergio Aguero. Former Man United winger Zoran Tosic had put the hosts ahead.

Check out how our match report and all the goals here.

Moyes talking to Geoff Shreeves on Sky Sports about RVP:

“He never really recovered from the knocks he had away with Holland. We took the chance to give him a rest and get him ready for the weekend.

“They’re a good side. We’ll have to be patient but hopefully we can do it. The two wide boys is probably where we will see the biggest threat.”

A few facts about tonight’s opponents:

• A fourth place finish last season saw them book a place in the Champions League qualifiers, where they upset Lyon.
• They are currently 12th in La Liga after a disappointing start but did enjoy a 2-1 win away to Valencia on the weekend.
• It is only their second trip to England in Europe. Back in 1975/76, they were thumped 6-0 by Liverpool in the UEFA Cup second round.

Also, former Ireland striker John Aldridge became their first non-Basque signing in 1989.

Credit: Mike Brett/Mike Brett/Press Association Images

Looking to keep up-to-date on tonight’s other Champions League matches? We’ve got just the thing.

Click here for all the latest scores around Europe.

Leaking goals at the back:

Eamon Dunphy has been giving his thoughts on the Fergie autobiography and reckons is might have an impact on Wayne Rooney’s performance:

“Ferguson has reopened the Rooney case and added to it saying Rooney is not very bright. That is bound to be in Rooney’s mind. Rooney is a bit insecure at the moment. This could be a real test and he may just fail it.

“The whole explosion of this book will cast an even longer shadow (over the club). It will not help Manchester United at this point.

Players are out, hands have been shaken and we’re about to get going.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Real Sociedad (Wayne Rooney)

So much for Dunphy’s comments. Rooney cuts inside and smacks the post with his strike before Inigo Martinez turns it into his own net.

Perfect start with less than two minutes.

Kagawa crosses from the left and Hernandez goes down in the Real Sociedad box after Martinez appeared to pull the Mexican. No penalty given.

Here’s the goal:

YouTube credit: All^League^Goals^HD·

United have a free-kick 20 yards out after a high challenge on Hernandez from Mikel Gonzalez.

Rooney and Giggs stand over it, but the former can’t beat the wall with his effort.

Home side looking well on top in these opening minutes.

Fine work from Antonio Valencia sees a cross whipped into Rooney from the right. The striker volleys with the side of his left foot but Claudio Bravo makes a decent stop.

That combination of Valencia to Rooney combine again but Rooney’s attempted bicycle kick says well over.

Hernandez heads home Giggs’ cross after the veteran takes a short corner but the Mexican is ruled offside. Correct call.

Raphael slides in on Alberto de la Bella and picks up a yellow card for his troubles.

Haris Seferovic takes on the United backline and upon dragging the ball to one side of Evans, hits a powerful shot which forces David de Gea into a really good save.

In other news, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored a first half hat-trick against Anderlecht. Two of three goals are worth checking out. You’re welcome.

Back at Old Trafford, Rooney’s free-kick is deflected wide and Phil Jones heads off-target from the resulting corner.

Real Sociedad captain Prieto attempts to take a quick free-kick but is booked by Dutch referee Bas Nijhuis, who has made some questionable calls so far.

Antoine Griezmann steps up next and finds the post with his attempt.

Half-time: Manchester United 1-0 Real Sociedad

These two are watching on tonight.

Credit: Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport

And we’re back. Job half done for United but they will be looking to put this to bed with another couple.

As I write that, Carlos Vela is inches way from connecting with a dangerous cross.

Valencia goes down after Martinez leans into the winger but play is waved on by Mr Nijhuis.

The away side have been knocking on the door in the last couple of minutes. United fail to clear properly on a couple of attempts and Evans ends up slicing the ball behind for a corner when it could easily have ended up in the back of the net.

United respond through Evra’s cross put out for a corner before Jones powers a header straight at Bravo from an excellent Kagawa cross.

Chris Smalling about to come on here.

De la Bella’s cross ends up causing De Gea some problems by clipping the crossbar.

Here’s that substitution now — Smalling is on for Raphael.

A super ball from Rooney puts Valencia through and the Ecuadorian sets himself before drive a shot off the post. Kagawa mishits the follow-up.

United are opening up their opponents at ease and should really be ahead by a few more. Valencia squares to Kagawa, and he takes a touch before shooting, which allows Gonzalez to make a block.

Xabi Preito is off for Ruben Pardo. 23 minutes on the clock.

Rooney blasts over with the latest attempt on goal. They will be kicking themselves if Real Sociedad do manage to pull one back late on.

Two more subs from Jagoba Arrasate. Imanol Agirretxe on for Haris Sefetovic and Gonzalo Castro replacing David Zurutuza

Giggs brings down Griezmann and Pardo’s free-kick isn’t far away.

Ashley Young will get the final 10 minutes as he has just been introduced for Hernandez. Rooney will presumably move further forward with Kagawa coming central and Young slotting in on the left.

Rooney bursts through the and cuts the ball across where Young looks certain to score before Bravo comes flying off his line to clear.

Next Giggs picks out Kagawa and Rooney is guilty of missing from his Japanese team-mate’s cross.

Seconds later, Kagawa himself shoots into the sidenetting.

Full-time: Manchester United 1-0 Real Sociedad

It should have been by more goals and a better team would have made Man United pay for not finishing the game off, but David Moyes gets his three points thanks to that early own-goal.

They site one point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, who defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 at home, with the Ukrainians a further two points back in third.

Next up is Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday.