Manchester United have one foot in the quarter-final of the UEFA Europa League after a comfortable 4-1 win against LaLiga side Real Betis
Manchester United were looking to bounce back from a 7-0 Premier League thrashing by Liverpool over the weekend when they hosted Real Betis at Old Trafford.
The Carabao Cup winners were eager to make a statement and Marcus Rashford showed this with a thundering strike from inside the box in just 6 minutes of play.
Wout Weghorts missed a huge chance before Ayoze Perez passed the ball into the net with a low shot that found its way past the Red Devils players and keeper De Gea. Minutes later, United’s shot-stopper with a misplaced pass almost gave Real Betis the chance to get ahead in the fixture, a minute to the break. Betis hit the post through Ayoze Perez but United survive. 1-1 at the break.
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United manager Erik Ten Hag had an unchanged 11 from the team that was thrashed by Liverpool and it paid off. The hunger for goals and redemption was clear as Antony found the back of the net with a curler, in the 52nd minute, to beat Claudio Bravo in Real Betis goal.
On 58 minutes, Bruno Fernandes met Luke Shaw’s corner and his header was too hot to handle for Bravo. United were looking comfortable at this stage.
In the 82nd minute United tried a training ground routine from a corner and it paid off. Bruno found Pellistri on the edge of the box. He rounded his defender and put the ball back in the danger area. McTomminay’s shot was initially blocked before Weghorst scored the rebound.
For the fourth time in club history and the first time since March to October 2000, Man United has scored two or more goals in 15 straight home games.
The second leg will be played next week on Thursday 16th March at the Benito Villamarin.
In other Europa League fixtures;
Sevilla (2)-(0) Fernerbahce
Roma (2)-(0) Real Sociedad
Union Berlin (3)-(3) Union Saint-Gilloise
Juventus (1)-(0) SC Freiburg
Shakhtar Donetsk (1)-(1) Feyenoord
Sporting (2)-(2) Arsenal
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