Friday 14 March 2025 15:00
Bruno Fernandes set a new Europa League record, after scoring a hat-trick against Real Sociedad on Thursday night.
The skipper slotted home a penalty in each half – one to Alex Remiro’s right and one to his left – as United recovered from going a goal down through Mikel Oyarzabal’s own spot-kick.
Bruno then sealed victory in the tie by hitting the bottom corner late on, after Alejandro Garnacho had shown awareness and patience to find him clean through on goal.
Our no.8’s second treble in a red shirt – his first came against Leeds in August 2021 – took him to 41 combined goals and assists in the Europa League and we’ve been informed by Opta this is a new competition record, dating back to when the tournament was rebranded in 2009.
Bruno has played 53 games in the competition – 19 for Sporting and 34 since joining United in the winter of 2020.
His 24 goals and 17 assists (13 and 11 respectively for the Reds) mean he has now passed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when it comes to goal involvements.
Aubameyang represented Lille, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Barcelona and Marseille in the Europa League and found the net 34 times, meaning he does still stand alone when it comes to goalscoring.
Two former Reds are next up in the scoring charts but Bruno could get closer to, or even pass Radamel Falcao (30) and Romelu Lukaku (27) should we go the distance this term.
Aritz Aduriz, who played for Athletic Club and Valencia, has 26 goals in the Europa League while Alexandre Lacazette – of our next opponents, Lyon – is one goal ahead of Fernandes, with 25.
No-one can now match Bruno’s total goal involvements though and only Dries Mertens is above him when you look at assists.
Fernandes has set up Amad and Rasmus Hojlund for goals in 2024/25 and his next assist will take him level with the Galatasaray forward, currently on 18 at the top of the all-time list.
MOST EUROPA LEAGUE GOALS + ASSISTS
Bruno Fernandes = 41
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang = 40
Dries Mertens = 36
Radamel Falcao = 35
Romelu Lukaku = 34
*Since the start of the 2009/10 season.
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Friday 14 March 2025 15:00
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