As disappointing as it was for Manchester United to miss out on top spot in their Europa League group in Spain on Thursday evening, victory against Real Sociedad did keep their momentum flowing.
Youngster Alejandro Garnacho, making just his second senior start for the club, scored the only goal of the game at the Reale Arena to stretch United's unbeaten run in all competitions to nine matches, meaning they have not lost since their 6-3 drubbing at the hands of Manchester City at the start of October. Their recovery since that humbling has certainly been impressive.
Furthermore, the narrow win over Sociedad, which means United must now face the lottery of a Europa League play-off showdown in February to try and reach the last-16 of the competition, stretched their winning run to three games. Although it was a far from vintage and pleasing-on-the-eye performance, it was enough to record a third successive win accompanied by a clean sheet, nonetheless.
READ MORE: United undroppable at risk of suspension in Aston Villa clash
And it is that third successive clean sheet that might have been considered as one of the biggest plus points of the evening, even if Garnacho's first senior goal, rightfully so, dominated the headlines. United have kept three straight clean sheets for the second time in their last seven games, highlighting their impressive defensive improvements under Erik ten Hag.
This time, however, they have done it without Raphael Varane at the back. The Frenchman, who faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup, has missed United's last three matches with a hamstring injury, after being forced off during the second half of the 1-1 draw with Chelsea almost a fortnight ago.
The former Real Madrid star, who joined United in August last year, has been a colossus at the back so far this season, acting as the bedrock of the Reds' steady progression. He has formed a strong and reliable partnership with Lisandro Martinez, meaning the thought of United having to cope without him for a few weeks sent shivers down the spine of many Reds supporters when he trudged off the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
Last season, Varane spent almost as much time staring at the walls of the Carrington treatment room as he did trying to get to grips with the cut and thrust nature of English football. He made just 29 appearances in all competitions, regularly being plagued with bad luck on the injury front.
This season, though doubts still remain about his fitness, he has only missed four matches through injury so far, three of which have come as a result of the hamstring problem he is currently nursing. The biggest difference this time, though, is that United are not falling to pieces without him.
In four of the seven games that he has played no part in (he was on the bench for three) so far this season, United have recorded a clean sheet in each of those. That means that they have already equalled their tally of clean sheets without Varane for the whole of last season already.
They kept just four in the 19 games he played no part in last season, compared to the four they have already recorded without him this season. The stats make it clear that Ten Hag has improved United's defensive capabilities, as well as Martinez's ability to cope without him by his side.
The last three games, all of which Martinez has started, have proven that the Argentine can perform to a high standard without Varane's leadership and experience alongside him. The former has been excellent and was once again one of United's better performers against Sociedad.
The win over West Ham United last weekend, which saw Martinez partnered with Harry Maguire at the back, provided yet more proof that the Reds can stand their ground without their defensive leader. They had to withstand a tonne of pressure, but they stood firm and saw the job through.
Therefore, United, in the last three games, have proven that they are not going to automatically collapse when Varane is unavailable. They are a different animal to what they were last season and a run of three successive clean sheets for the second time in seven games proves that.
Of course, they are stronger when Varane is available, but with his injury record, certainly over the past 12 months, United will take comfort from the fact they are capable of racking up clean sheets without him. They are no longer solely reliant on him.
READ NEXT:
