Zlat’ll do nicely: Zlatan Ibrahimovic hugs Ander Herrera after scoring the first of a stunning hat-trick in the Europa League last-32 first-leg tie at Old Trafford last night
FIRST blood to Paul Pogba, the first leg to Manchester United. The sub-plot to this tie may have been the sibling rivalry between the world’s most expensive player and his elder brother Florentin, but the main event was settled by three goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The first was not the prettiest, a deflected free-kick from a man who had a habit of scoring against Saint-Etienne during his time in France. The second arrived 15 minutes from time as Ibrahimovic slid the ball into an empty net when goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier could only palm a cross from substitute Marcus Rashford straight to his feet. The third was a clinical finish from the penalty spot late on.
It gives United a solid advantage to take to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard next Wednesday. On this evidence, they will need it against a French side who displayed enough attacking intent to serve warning to Jose Mourinho’s side.
As much as Mrs Pogba would prefer it to finish with honours even between her two boys, there must be one winner.
Mourinho’s side had lost just once in 22 games in all competitions and held a 100-per-cent record at Old Trafford in the Europa League.
Saint-Etienne, on the other hand, had not been beaten in ten games in Europe this season.
Having confirmed his back-four selection in Tuesday’s press conference, Mourinho only sprang a couple of minor surprises with the rest of his line-up.
Goalkeeper Sergio Romero was given his fourth outing in Europe this season and Marouane Fellaini came into the side for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was ill.
There was no rest, however, for Ibrahimovic who had scored 14 goals in 13 games against Saint-Etienne during his time at Paris Saint-Germain.
United struggled early on, Chris Smalling got across to intercept Kevin Monnet-Paquet’s pass and then Romero left his goal unguarded to close down Romain Hamouma, who skipped past the United keeper and tried to find a team-mate but was thwarted by Daley Blind.
It was symptomatic of a sloppy start by the home side but they finally got a good move together which allowed Anthony Martial to bring a smart save out of Ruffier from 25 yards.
And soon after, United were ahead. It owed much to the knowhow of Ibrahimovic, who convinced Czech referee Pavel Kralovec that he had been fouled by Jordan Veretout. The Swede threw himself theatrically to the ground when in fact there had been little contact between the two players, he did likewise for the penalty later on.
Ibrahimovic took the free-kick himself and opted to drive the ball low through the wall from 20 yards. It rattled between the ankles of Vincent Pajot like a pinball and sent Ruffier the wrong way, trickling agonisingly over the line.
Pogba, the one in red, was beginning to exert a growing influence on the game and it was his weighted pass into Juan Mata that so nearly led to a second, the Spaniard swivelling to unleash a volley that was beaten away by a fine save.
And Pogba twice was twice inches away from scoring when he turned Veretout to curl a shot just wide and then headed Blind’s free-kick against the bar from close-range.
Nolan Roux gave United a late scare when he lifted the ball on to the roof of the net with only Romero to beat.
And Ibrahimovic punished the French side with his second goal with a quarter of an hour left.
He added an 88th-minute penalty with conviction after going down rather easily in the box to make next week’s trip to France significantly more comfortable.
A delighted Ibrahimovic said: ‘We created good chances. It was important to get a good win at home and we bring a lead with us in the second leg. It was a good game but I think we can do better.
‘Every time I’ve played against Saint-Etienne, with hard work there has been a couple of goals.’