Cristiano Ronaldo is in line to make just his second Manchester United start of the campaign in Thursday's Europa League clash with Real Sociedad at Old Trafford.

The 37-year-old, who was strongly linked with a move away from the Red Devils over the summer, has only started one match at club level this season, and he again had to settle for a spot on the bench against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Ronaldo is yet to get off the mark in terms of goals this season despite making six appearances, but Man United boss Erik ten Hag is being tipped to make changes for the game against Real Sociedad, which could open the door for the Portugal international to feature from the first whistle.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the former Sporting Lisbon youngster has performed against Real Sociedad in the past, having tackled them during his time at Real Madrid.

Ronaldo has faced Real Sociedad on nine occasions during his professional career, with all nine of those matches coming during his time in the Spanish capital with Real Madrid.

The Portuguese boasts a perfect record of nine wins, with the fixtures taking place in Spain's top flight, while he has scored 15 goals and registered four assists against the Basque outfit.

Ronaldo has actually hit braces in four separate games versus the Blue and Whites, while he has scored hat tricks against them on two occasions.

The forward managed doubles in home fixtures against Real Sociedad in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 before scoring three times and providing an assist in a 5-1 Real Madrid win in the Spanish capital in 2013.

Ronaldo missed out on the chance to face Real Sociedad on more occasions due to injuries and a suspension, which ruled him out of the home game during the 2014-15 campaign.

However, he scored another brace against them at Bernabeu in 2015-16, in addition to a goal and an assist in Real Madrid's home league fixture in 2016-17.

Ronaldo's last appearance against Los Txuri-Urdin was in February 2018, and he scored another hat trick and provided an assist in a 5-2 victory for Zinedine Zidane's side.

All 15 of his goals against Real Sociedad came during home fixtures for Real Madrid, and he will be looking to continue that incredible run when Man United welcome the La Liga outfit to Old Trafford on Thursday.