Pogba class rises to surface as United make a winning start in tough group

victorious from this tricky encounter, with Pogba following his classy opener with a superb spot-kick and assist for Anthony Martial in the 3-0 win.

It was a comprehensive, if not always convincing, start to their Champions League campaign – and all the more satisfying as Mourinho’s players appeared to avoid injury on the Swiss champions’ controversial surface.

Young Boys started the brighter but United’s quality eventually told, with Marcus Rashford’s effort off the post a warning sign that was followed by Pogba’s moment of class.

Wearing the captain’s armband in place of Antonio Valencia – absent due to concerns over the pitch – the United midfielder followed a lovely touch with an unerring finish into the top left-hand corner.

Pogba then netted from the penalty spot after impressive Young Boys right-back Kevin Mbabu was harshly adjudged to have handled Luke Shaw’s cross, with Martial’s first goal in 242 days adding gloss midway through the second half.

It was comfortable in the end but United had started last night’s match somewhat shakily.

While summer Diogo Dalot looked sharp on his debut, opposing right-back Mbabu was also impressing and his fine cross was nodded just wide by veteran striker Guil-

laume Hoarau in the eighth minute. Young Boys’ intensity and balls into the box were causing United problems, while David De Gea had to be alert when Mohamed Ali Camara tried his luck from long range.

Romelu Lukaku struck into the side-netting at the other end and Rashford flicked Shaw’s driven cross on to the post, but the hosts were on top and appeared most likely to score.

Pogba’s goal, however, stopped the hosts in their tracks and put United on their way to a vital victory in a tough group.