United miss golden opportunity to top group as they slump in Spain

was a chance for Paul Pogba and Co to prove their worth and secure a win that would have put them top of Group H given Juventus’ surprise 2-1 defeat by Young Boys in Switzerland.

But United failed to capitalise as they lost by the same scoreline in Spain with a largely lifeless, incoherent display.

Carlos Soler, once a reported United target, put Valencia ahead 17 minutes into a first half in which Pogba – back after two games on the bench – somehow missed a gilt-edged chance, unaware that offside had been wrongly signalled.

Any hope of a comeback disappeared seconds into the second half as Phil Jones turned into his own net.

Valencia had the joint worst goalscoring record in the division yet managed to unsettle the visitors from the outset.

Back-up goalkeeper Sergio Romero had to be alert to a threatening early cross, with several other half-chances following before the opener.

Cristiano Piccini nutmegged Marouane Fellaini on the right and put through Santi Mina, whose cross was cleared by Jones as far as Soler. Afforded too much time, the midfielder fizzed a low strike through Eric Bailly’s legs into the far left-hand corner.

Moments into the second half, Jones, pictured, was glared at by his team-mates after the England defender raced back to deny Michy Batshuayi, only to direct the ball past Romero and into his own goal. Jones’ sheepish calls for a foul were quickly dropped. Substitute Marcus Rashford had United’s first shot on target the match –in the 72nd minute – an attempt followed up by former Valencia loanee Andreas Pereira forcing Jaume Domenech into a fine save from distance.

Rashford finally clawed a goal back by nodding home a cross from fellow substitute Ashley Young in the 87th minute, but it was too little, too late.