MANCHESTER UNITED WIN IN PARIS
Rashford strikes late winner to stun PSG, but Chelsea held in Stamford Bridge draw
MARCUS RASHFORD fired Manchester United to another memorable victory at Paris St Germain as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men started their Champions League campaign with a bang.
After a season away from European football’s top table, the Red Devils returned to action at the Parc des Princes, where just 19 months ago they secured one of their greatest ever comebacks in this competition.
Rashford fired home the late winner that night and again sealed a last- gasp United triumph in the French capital, where last season’s Champions League finalists PSG were deservedly overcome 2- 1 in Tuesday’s Group H opener.
Many predicted a home win given the side’s contrasting fortunes of late, with David De Gea making two important early stops before Anthony Martial was brought down in the box by Abdou Diallo midway through the first half.
Stand- in skipper Bruno Fernandes saw his penalty saved for the second successive match, but held his nerve to find the net after the Video Assistant Referee ordered a retake for Keylor Navas straying off his line.
United looked convincing in a 3- 5- 2 formation and could have gone further ahead, only for Martial to glance a Neymar corner into his own net and spark a helter- skelter conclusion.
Both sides had chances to win but United looked more impressive and, just as Solskjaer’s side looked set for a morale- boosting draw, Rashford lashed a superb late winner to stun PSG once more.
Rashford said: “It’s a good performance but also one where we have a lot to build on. I always believe in the team.”
Chelsea opened their campaign by grinding to a galling goalless draw with Sevilla at Stamford Bridge.
Kurt Zouma had the best chance of a frustrating west London night, the France defender’s free header losing all sting through a deflection. Frank Lampard’s Chelsea ended the night with all six of their £ 200m summer signings on the pitch.
But despite flashes of promise the Blues boss is yet to find the best fit for his expensively assembled jigsaw.
Liverpool’s defensive problems have increased after Joel Matip was ruled out of their Champions League opener against Ajax in Amsterdam tonght.
Oleksandr Zinchenko will come back into the reckoning as Manchester City face Porto.