Manchester United completely outclassed Athletic Club, taking a commanding 3-0 first leg win in their Champions League knock-out tie. The match was held at Old Trafford. The undisputed man of the match, Bruno Fernandes, scored on either end of halftime and played a critical role in his side’s victory. As it stands Manchester United have put themselves in a beautiful place heading into the second leg of the tie.
The game was a display of Manchester United’s tactical strength, led by new head coach Ruben Amorim. To complete the backline, United’s new €50m left-back, Rasmus Hojlund flanked by right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The midfield four was Mazraoui, Ugarte, Casemiro, and Dorgu, and the attacking three Fernandes, Hojlund, and Garnacho. To be fair to England’s talent pool, de Ligt, Mount, Shaw, Mainoo and Amad were just a few of the names on the substitutes bench.
Fernandes Shines with Two Goals
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring with a penalty kick. He scored from the spot after Rasmus Hojlund had been brought down by Dani Vivian in the box. This early goal helped open the flood gates for United and instilled a tinge of doubt in their opponents’ minds. Fernandes scored again when he tapped in after Ugarte’s brilliant backheel setup. The epic nature of this goal served to further establish his legacy as a clutch performer.
Fernandes’s contributions did not go unnoticed, with the Portuguese midfielder earning Player of the Match honors for a stellar performance. He is always a threat to score. His unique playmaking ability is equally important, as United’s top attacking threat, he dictates much of how they attack.
“Of course it’s a great start, to get a victory here and score three goals and with a clean sheet.” – Harry Maguire
Defensive Resilience and Opportunities Missed
While Fernandes’ goals stole the spotlight, Manchester United’s defense played a significant role in the match. The team showed resilience to hold on to a clean sheet, denying Athletic Club a single shot on target. Casemiro came closest to scoring first when his close-range header rattled the woodwork. This instance highlighted the many opportunities that United lacked throughout the match.
Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho similarly drew shots on goal, but Athletic Club’s keeper, Julen Agirrezabala, stretched brilliantly to save them. This pitch made United’s intense attacking press very clear. Though they controlled the tempo and had plenty of opportunities to make it a larger margin, United’s players admitted they should have found other ways to score.
“One foot in the final, but it’s not done.” – Harry Maguire
Looking Ahead to the Second Leg
Ruben Amorim said he was happy with the result, but talked about the difficulties his side had to contend with on the night. He knew that while the scoreline was kind, Manchester United had been awful for a half. Momentous plays changed the trajectory of the match.
“The result is really good. But we have to understand it too – we struggled a lot at the start. The goal and red card changed the game, but that’s a good thing with a little bit of luck.” – Ruben Amorim
Maguire agreed with his coach’s sentiment, acknowledging their firm footing going into the second leg. He urged the need to remain focused and ready to earn their place in the final.
“All the pressure will be on us, everyone’ll be expecting us to go through.” – Harry Maguire
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