MANCHESTER UNITED won 2-0 at Granada in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Marcus Rashford opened the scoring with the only real glimpse of quality on the night, while Luke Shaw was subbed at half-time after an uncharacteristically average display.
A seventh minute booking for Paul Pogba was the first of five United cautions on the night with Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and Shaw all set to miss the second-leg after their yellows.
United struggled to get going in a scrappy first 45 that saw their hosts sitting deep.
The bearded streaker looked set to be the most exciting thing to happen before the break.
But a long ball Sam Allardyce would have been proud of finally unlocked the Spaniards to give United the 1-0 lead they took into half-time.
Victor Lindelof strode out of defence and from midway inside his own half pinged a beauty of a ball straight down the middle which Rashford took under his spell and stabbed past Rui Silva.
Surprisingly, the second-half was less eventful than the first as Granada still refused to attack and United seemed quite happy to protect their 1-0 lead to take back to Old Trafford.
And they were even happier when Bruno Fernandes won and scored an 88th minute penalty to all but win the tie.
And here’s what SunSport’s William Pugh thought of United’s individual performances.
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DAVID DE GEA – 6/10
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 Chelsea’s loanee 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 crucially keeps him out of the return leg.
LUKE SHAW – 5
The limited joy Granada had seemed to come down his side, but it was very limited.
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 also 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 making him the third player who will miss the second-leg.
PAUL POGBA – 6
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.
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
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
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.
Subs
ALEX TELLES – 6 (for Shaw, half-time)
Looked more composed than the man he replaced.
EDINSON CAVANI – 5 (for Rashford, 65)
Made himself busy but nothing of note.
NEMANJA MATIC – 5 (for Pogba, 73)
Harshly booked for an innocuous collision with just minutes to go.
DONNY VAN DE BEEK – 5 (for Greenwood, 84)
Not enough time to make an impact.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
