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IRN BRU

BRUNO FERNANDES – 7

Made himself busy as he tried to create in tight spaces among the home side’s densely packed half.

Put through on goal by Dan James with eight minutes to go but missed from close range. Replays show he would have been offside anyway.

Won a late penalty when he was struck in the face by Yan Brice Eteki. Got up, hit it bottom left and it somehow squeezed under the keeper who should have saved it.

DANIEL JAMES – 5

Found it difficult to get going on the right hand side in the first half. Had a little more joy in the second-half when he switched to the left flank.

Set up Fernandes for a big chance in the last ten minutes which the Portuguese missed. All in all a fairly quiet evening.

MARCUS RASHFORD – 8 (subbed 65mins)

Limited to half chances until he opened the scoring as Granada sat deep, but excellent run and delightful touch to pluck Lindelof’s long ball out the sky before stabbing it past the on rushing keeper on the half hour mark.

Showed no sign of the ankle problem that threatened to keep him out of this game but was taken off just past the hour mark with his team looking comfortable.

MASON GREENWOOD – 5 (subbed, 84mins)

Limited to very few touches in the first half by the deep-lying hosts.

Started drifting out to the right to try and get on the ball but was quickly snuffed out. Not much more luck after the break.

LUKE SHAW – 5 (subbed, half-time)

The limited joy Granada had seemed to come down his side but it was very limited, but looked a little out of sorts throughout. Nothing disastrous but an uncharacteristic display.

Booked for an awkward collision towards the end of the first-half as Granada tried to break. Will miss the second-leg.

Hooked at half-time. Wasn’t clear why but could have been an injury which would explain his lacklustre display.

SCOTT McTOMINAY – 6

Industrious performance at the base of the midfield.

His main job was to keep the ball moving swiftly and attempt probing passes between Granada’s tightly packed back TEN.

Booked for a high footed challenge five minutes before half time and will miss the second-leg.

PAUL POGBA – 6 (subbed, 73mins)

Booked for a late tackle in his own half after seven minutes having lost the ball with a sloppy touch.

Fairly quiet evening thereafter as him and McTominay tried to dictate play from their deep lying roles.

RATINGS

Here is how SunSport’s Will Pugh rated and slated Man Utd.

DAVID DE GEA – 6

Nothing to do in the first half bar block a cross-cum-shot at his near post and scoop up an audacious Kenedy volley.

Even less to do in the second. Not given a chance to stake a claim for the No 1 jersey in the Premier League as was barely involved in the game.

AARON WAN-BISSAKA – 7

Stood up to the few challenges he was faced with in the first 45.

The door remained shut for left-winger Kenedy who had next to no joy down United’s right.

VICTOR LINDELOF – 8

Inch perfect ball over the top to set Rashford away for the opener.

Dealt with Granada’s limited attacks at a canter. Thoroughly decent performance.

HARRY MAGUIRE – 6

Gave the hosts nothing at the back.

And looked dangerously close to pulling off a ‘Vincent Kompany vs Leicester’ wondergoal when he had an effort from 30 yards after a marauding run from the heart of the defence.

But he dragged it wide of the left hand post. Booked for dragging back Tottenham flop Roberto Soldado with 20 minutes to go which also keeps him out the return leg.

FULL-TIME

Manchester United are all but through to the Europa League semi-finals after beating Granada 2-0.

Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty in stoppage time in Spain to make it a comfortable night for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

The Red Devils are favourites to win the competition for the first time since 2017.

THE UNITED WAY

Eric Cantona has written and will star in a new documentary about the ‘epic’ history of Manchester United.

The Old Trafford legend, 54, lends his voice to a new film – taking on the role of narrator – set for release next month.

Cantona also co-wrote the documentary – entitled The United Way – which encompasses ‘the dark days of Munich through to a historic Treble in 1999’.

As well as telling his own story, Man Utd icon Cantona has roped in a host of old pals to star in the movie.

Class of ’92 legends such as David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt have their say on all things United.

Current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also stars in the documentary having played a huge role as a player in the club’s famous Treble of 1999.

BACK UNDERWAY

And we are back underway for the second half!

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be happy so far, but you feel as though one more Man Utd goal and that could be the tie over.

STREAKING CLEAR

Man Utd’s behind-closed-doors clash in Spain was somehow held up by a streaker.

No fans were allowed in for Europa League quarter-final against Granada on Thursday night.

But that didn’t stop one fan from getting into the Estadio Municipal Nuevo Los Carmenes.

And he ran right across the middle of the pitch, causing a delay in the last-eight tie.

KICK-OFF

Manchester United’s clash against Granada is underway.

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BLACK AND BLUE

Failing to make the grade at Old Trafford might have bruised his ego – but Ravel Morrison is now getting battered for real after starting MMA.

The ex-Red Devils wonderkid is without a football club and showed off a huge bruise on his arm after beginning sessions in the octagon with UFC star Lerone Murphy.

Morrison cancelled his contract with Dutch side ADO Den Haag in January.

And the 28-year-old has not been holding back in training, as he keeps fit with close pal and featherweight fighter Murphy.

The midfielder is on the look-out for his 12th club since leaving Manchester United in 2012, having been tipped for greatness after making his debut aged 17.

TEAM NEWS

Here is how Man Utd start away at Granada for their Europa League quarter-final first leg.

SWAP-PORTUNITY KNOCKS

Man Utd are reportedly exploring a swap deal involving Declan Rice and Jesse Lingard after ‘talks on England duty’.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has long been a fan of the Hammers star, 22, who has continued his meteoric rise to become the Three Lions’ top defensive midfielder.

Chelsea are among a host of European giants keen to sign former Blues academy product Rice.

And David Moyes has warned it would take bids in excess of £100MILLION to sign him.

Even then, Moyes wants to keep Rice at the London Stadium – particularly if West Ham manage to keep their place in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

But according to The Athletic, Man Utd are keen to discuss a swap deal involving Lingard in order to tempt the Hammers into selling their star man.

ON THE PAUL

Paul Pogba’s goal last game against AC Milan saw Man Utd advance into the Europa League quarter-finals.

RACISM PROTECTION

Instagram have issued a statement saying it does everything possible to protect players from abuse – at the same time as they told a user calling an England star a n**** was NOT offensive.

The social media giant, owned by Facebook, told SunSport discrimination had no place on its platforms and claimed they “want to hold people who share it accountable”.

They said in a statement: “We don’t want discriminatory abuse on Instagram or Facebook. We share the goal of tackling it and want to hold people who share it accountable.

“We do this by taking action on content and accounts that break our rules and cooperating with law enforcement when we receive a valid legal request.

“We also recently announced that we’ll take tougher action when we become aware of people breaking our rules in DMs and we have built tools to help protect people, including the ability to never receive a DM from someone you don’t follow.

“This work is ongoing and we are committed to doing more. We also know these problems are bigger than us, so are working with the industry, government and others to collectively drive societal change through action and education.”

NO FERGIE TIME

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he could no longer dish out his infamous “hairdryer” blasts in the modern-day game because snowflake footballers have been known to cry.

The ex-Manchester United boss became renowned for his many close-up screaming and spitting outbursts.

But Fergie now bemoans the fact that current football managers are restricted from using his fearsome motivational weapon because society has changed and players have become too sensitive.

Speaking to The Athletic, he said: “Jim Smith told me one of his players started crying when he got criticised.

“I thought, ‘What is the game like now? Where are we going?’

“Obviously you have to be tactful nowadays about the criticism you give them.”

LIN & OUT

Jesse Lingard has what it takes to succeed at Manchester United – but must accept a bit-part role like Daniel James, according to Gary Neville.

The ex-Man Utd full-back told Sky Sports: “At Manchester United because there is that expectation of what you need to be.

“To be a wide player there, [Lingard’s] always going to get a difficult press.

“He’s a really good player. He’s going to have a great career. Manchester United have sent him out to West Ham to boost his career, maybe with the thought of boosting his price tag.

“But they might be thinking, ‘actually, we might want him back, he could be a real help to us’.

“If he’s willing to go back there and compete and be the player that Dan James has been for the last few weeks, in and out, then there’s no doubt he can play for Manchester United.”

‘MAN UTD NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR HAALAND’

Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara believes Manchester United will not be able to sign Erling Haaland in the summer as they are ‘not good enough’.

The 20-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker has been linked with a move to Old Trafford as well as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

But O’Hara feels it is unrealistic to think the Norwegian could join Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

“They can’t get Haaland – because they’re not good enough,” he told talkSPORT. “Why is he going go to Man United? Why?

“It’s alright needing him, but you’ve got Real Madrid, Barca, Man City. They need him.

“[United] paid £100m for Paul Pogba and he’s gone there thinking they’re gonna go to the next level. And it hasn’t worked and he’s been trophyless.

“Haaland’s not going to go to Manchester United and be thinking ‘We might win something, we might not, he’s going somewhere where he might win everything.”

READY FOR GRANADA

Looks like the Man Utd boys are enjoying themselves out in sunny Spain.

IT’S A TREBLE!

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his best treble since 1999 after landing a massive £169,000 payday at the Grand National Festival.

The Manchester United legend co-owns the first THREE winners at Aintree.

Fergie won with Protektorat in the first, Monmiral in the second and Clan Des Obeaux in the third.

The three horses winning were monumental odds of 108-1 before the off.

FERGIE AT THE DOUBLE

Sir Alex Ferguson has had the first two winners at Aintree today! Winning in Liverpool once more…

POGBA IMPACT

Could this man play a key part for Man Utd this evening?

ON KUL

Manchester United have shortlisted Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevski as a potential summer transfer target.

The 20-year-old has struggled for first team football with the Old Lady and the Red Devils are said to be thinking about trying to prise him away from Italy, according to journalist Daniele Longo.

SCORE PREDICTION

What do we think tonight then? Can United get the job done against Granada by the end of the evening? Or will they be forced to fight back in the second leg?

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STICK OR TWIST

Man Utd face Granada tonight as they chase the only trophy left on offer for them this season.

In 72 hours they also face Tottenham in the Premier League having already established themselves comfortably in second place.

Does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer prioritise tonight or the weekend when it comes to his team selection?