News about Imanol Alguacil

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Barcelona's Champions League match on Tuesday night was the first in the team's history. Every single player in the team's line-up had been born locally or came from the club's youth system. It was the first time it had happened to them in the Champions League since the 2001-02 season. Real Sociedad lost about 350 miles northwest and 24-hours later, and eight of their starting lineup were born in the surrounding Basque region, with eight of those eight being products of the club's academy. That's the first thing you should know about the Spanish club's participation in Champions League Group D - this is a tale based on local heroes.

For the first time in history, Manchester City threwsted the Champions League trophy into the air for the first time in history, but the competition has slowed back down again, with the group stage set to begin next month. The very best clubs in European football will eagerly await the outcome of the draw in Monaco on Thursday evening, with the glitz and glam of the occasion's glitter firing the starting pistol at the final. For the group stage draw, 32 teams will be seeded into four pots as usual. They will then be divided into eight teams of four players. The first set of fixtures will begin on September 19/20, later than last season due to a World Cup break, but no World Cup qualifier will be held in February and March. Mail Sport has the inside scoop on all of the participants in the tournament, which will begin at 5 p.m. UK time, as well as the identification of their key players and danger ratings.

Real Sociedad's fullback Sergio Reguilon has emerged as a target for Real Sociedad. Atletico Madrid's 26-year-old left-back spent last season on loan. During the loan period, reguilon was hampered by groin and hamstring injuries, which contributed to the club's limited game time.

Despite being off season, Real Madrid dominated the weekend's action. Vinicius' treatment has prompted him to leave La Liga, the last thing the team needs when it fights to hold its place in Europe. Barcelona could not win the Champions League last season, but that was largely down to Real Sociedad, who will likely be in the Champions League next season.

When the quarter and semi-finals of the Europa League draw are announced on Friday, the path to the Puskas Arena in Budapest will be determined. With the second legs of the last-16 taking place on Thursday, sixteen clubs are competing for spots in the draw. Four players gained a substantial cushion last week, while the remaining half of the tie seeming to be delicately tense. The Europa Conference League last-16 will conclude on Thursday, as teams prepare to advance to the final in Prague. Sportsmail takes you through each of the ties, advising you what happened in the first leg and in the meantime, keeping you up on events.

Real Madrid is now eight points behind Barcelona after being held to a 0-0 draw by Real Socieded in their last game, as Imanol Almanol's side continues to develop as a leading force in Spanish football and currently sits just three points behind Real Madrid. Real can start to narrow Barca's lead with a victory this evening, with a game in hand for their age-old rivals. Valencia, who lost their 10th manager in nine years to depart the club on Monday, will face delegate Salvador Gonzalez tonight, who will lead the team on a run-up to the table after losing just one point in their last four games. Valencia is 14th for now, but just one point above the relegation zone.

PETE JENSON SPAIN: Real Sociedad announced their place as Spain's new third power by winning a point from Real Madrid in a thrilling draw with Real Madrid. Don't be fooled by the 0-0; there are goalless draws in which neither team owes a single penny, and then there are others on both teams who are entitled to three points. Nothing was held back as both teams strained to find the three points that would allow them to close the gap on Barcelona at the top, but the neiher team managed it.

Manchester United's final Europa League group game will be played on Thursday night at Real Sociedad. Erik ten Hag and his crew understand that a win by two goals or more in Spain could help them gain a more coveted spot in the knockout stages, avoiding Champions League dropouts such as Barcelona, Juventus, Sevilla, and Ajax. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Red Devils' star forward, may be able to lead the line. From Sportsmail's DOMINIC HOGAN, we have live coverage, with all the build-up and team news.

BY PETE JENSON: Manchester United's visit is being described as the best European game in the club's recent history, and if Real Sociedad avoids a two-goal loss, they will top the table and advance straight into the last-16. It was February 2021 and pandemic measures on flights entering Spain from England were still a few weeks away from being lifted for the last time. United defeated Real Sociedad 4-0 in Turin's 'home' leg. Rico joined 'La Real' this summer, and he's been able to enrage his staff for the first time this season. They still play the silky football, but they are now barely bullied, as shown by their 100 percent record in the Europa League this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo (right) last missed out on the Champions League for the second time in two decades. The vivacious Manchester United forward, who has played in Europe's top leagues for 183 years, scoring 140 goals in 19 seasons - an all-time record. Ronaldo's figure of 140 is more than double anyone in history, including four finalists Lionel Messi (125), Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema (both 86) and Raul (71). However, the Red Devils' highly disappointing campaign in 2021-22 is now back in the Europa League with a match against Real Sociedad on Thursday. If Ronaldo, who has been suspended for the last four United States games, plays in the tournament for the third time in Europe's second-tier competition, and the first in 20 years (left). But when were the last two and what happened in those games? Sportsmail goes down memory lane to remember the memorable moment... click here.

The Spanish team will meet Old Trafford in the group's first game of the season on Tuesday, having never lost against English opposition in Europe. Sociedad finished sixth in LaLiga last season and has won two of their four games so far in the new season. This is their third season in a row, but they have never advanced to the finals.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: This weekend, the new season in Spain began, with Real Madrid staging a comeback as if it was still the 2021-22 campaign. Despite £126 million (€150 million) invested in the summer and Unai Emery's Villarreal impressed by winning 3-0 away, Barcelona fell flat against Rayo Vallecano. Gennaro Gattuso won in Valencia, and Take Kubo scored on his debut for Real Sociedad. Sportsmail examines ten things we learned from La Liga's first weekend.