BRUNO’S RED-HOT AS UNITED DOMINATE
Two-goal Fernandes helps Ole’s men surge towards the last 16
SAY what you like about the Europa League, but Real Sociedad were top in Spain when they were paired with Manchester United in the draw for the last 32 in mid-December.
No slouches, the boys from San Sebastian. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer felt it was the toughest assignment his team could have been handed from the unseeded pot.
But on neutral ground at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, the Spaniards were torn apart by a United side who all but secured a place in the last 16.
Bruno Fernandes was once again the architect of victory. He scored twice to put United in control of the tie as they ruthlessly punished Sociedad for playing too high and leaving space in behind for Marcus Rashford, Dan James and Mason Greenwood to exploit with their speed.
Rashford and James scored the other goals, and there could have been many more were it not for goalkeeper Alejandro Remiro.
Solskjaer said he would have been happy to play this tie as a one-off game. Well, next week’s second leg at Old Trafford is almost a formality.
This was a Champions League performance from United 72 days after they crashed out of Europe’s premier competition; one that will feed the belief they can go one better than last season when they lost in the semis of the Europa League to Sevilla.
That was the third time in a row United had gone out to Spanish opposition — in fact, they had not won against any La Liga team in their previous nine attempts. ‘The experience from last season has helped this team and these boys,’ said Solskjaer. ‘The semi-final defeat is still in the back of our heads — it hurts. We should have gone all the way. ‘On a night like this when we find spaces, we can be a dangerous team. I thought the boys got that little bit of zip in their legs again. ‘We’ll definitely rotate for the second leg but we’re not going to take it lightly.’ It was clear from the outset this was going to be an open game. Eric Bailly was caught out twice in the opening couple of minutes as former United man Adnan Januzaj curled a shot wide and then sent through Alexander Isak to force a smart save from Dean Henderson. In between, Rashford went clear and brought the first of several good stops from Remiro. A frantic start set the tempo for what followed with United creating the better chances as well as the first goal. Remiro denied Scott McTominay one-on-one and then produced an even better save to keep out Rashford’s effort in front of goal, although the striker should have done better. Fernandes (left) was the provider on both occasions before deciding to take matters into his own hands. Rashford picked out another of his runs in behind and Fernandes raced away from Igor Zubielda and Robin Le Normand in the 27th minute.
Remiro hadn’t put a foot wrong up to that point but he raced out of his goal and Fernandes anticipated what would happen next. Remiro collided with Zubielda and Le Normand, and the ball ran loose for Fernandes to guide it into an empty net beyond the despairing Nacho Monreal.
Fernandes’ second goal in the 57th minute put United in control. Rashford swung the ball from the left flank towards the edge of the penalty box where Fernandes’ little dummy tricked Le Nomand, who went to ground. James’ challenge on Monreal sent the ball back into Fernandes’ path and he swept it home for his 21st goal of the season. It was initially ruled out for offside but that decision was overturned by VAR.
‘My target is scoring the most goals I can and trying to assist my team-mates to score, too,’ said Fernandes afterwards. ‘But the most important thing for me is to win trophies.’
Rashford scored seven minutes later as he turned the ball past Remiro.
James had an effort ruled out for offside but got the goal he deserved in the 90th minute, racing clear to steer the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs.
Teenager Amad Diallo was on the pitch by then, United so dominant that Solskjaer could afford to give the club’s new £37million signing a debut earlier than many expected.
After this, it would be no surprise to see him again in the second leg next week.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Henderson 6; Wan-Bissaka 7, Bailly 6, Maguire 6, Telles 7; McTominay 6 (Matic 60), Fred 7; James 7, Fernandes 9 (Mata 83), Rashford 7 (Martial 69); Greenwood 7 (Diallo 83). Subs not used: De Gea, Grant, Lindelof, Shaw, Matic, Williams, Tuanzebe, Shoretire. Booked: Wan-Bissaka. Man of the match: Bruno Fernandes. Referee: Sandro Scharer (Swi).