Man Utd player ratings: Bruno Fernandes, Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba shine in semi sweep but Fred falls flat vs Roma
MANCHESTER UNITED placed one foot in the Europa League final with a 6-2 win in the first leg of their semi-final clash with Roma.Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani each scored twice, with Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood also netting in the Old Trafford thriller.
Bruno Fernandes had an excellent game as Man Utd beat Roma 6-2Credit: AP
But who was the best man on the pitch? And did anyone have a game to forget?
Here, SunSport’s Anthony Chapman delivers his Man Utd player ratings…
DAVID DE GEA – 6/10
Wasn’t at fault for either of Roma’s goals as he had a generally quiet evening.
One error saw him kick the ball straight at Dzeko, but he redeemed himself later by saving a good header from the ex-Man City striker.
AARON WAN-BISSAKA – 7
Showed good intent going forward as he linked up well with Rashford.
But like a lot of his team-mates, seemed to underestimate Roma’s counter-attacking threat and got caught out several times.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Paul Pogba pulled the strings in midfield and was rewarded with a goalCredit: EPA
VICTOR LINDELOF – 6
Kept the ball ticking over as United built up from the back when on the front foot.
But positional play was suspect and his marking left little to be desired too.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 6
Some decent long-range hits helped United beat Roma’s attacking press and quickly get through the lines.
Yet struggled to stop Edin Dzeko from putting the Italians ahead with a desperate lunge.
LUKE SHAW – 7
A fairly quiet game in the first half as the hosts mostly attacked down the right flank.
But second 45 saw Shaw get more of the ball and he overlapped well as Pogba drifted inside.
Edinson Cavani had one of his best games for United with two goalsCredit: Getty
SCOTT McTOMINAY – 6
United’s midfield engine was not his usual imposing self as he was given a role keeping close to Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
But failed to stop the Armenian from playing a defence-splitting pass to create Roma’s second.
FRED – 5
A sub-standard game from the Brazilian, with plenty of sideways and backwards passes.
Was defensively poor too and did not track Lorenzo Pellegrini, who ran in behind midfielder to assist Roma’s second.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 7
Struggled to find space against the imposing Brazilian left centre-back Ibanez.
But work rate was unquestionable as he tried his hardest to pull United back into the game.
Mason Greenwood came off the bench to put the finishing touch on a fine nightCredit: Getty
BRUNO FERNANDES – 9
Scored the opener with less than nine minutes on the clock with a classy chipped finish.
Fernandes’ persistence was rewarded early in second half with assist for Cavani’s equaliser.
And he then made it 4-2 with a well-taken penalty later on before setting up Pogba for the fifth
PAUL POGBA – 8
The architect of United’s opener went from hero to zero within minutes as his handball gave Roma a penalty equaliser.
But picked himself up to cut inside and link up well with Fernandes throughout the game.
The pair linked up well as Pogba headed in the playmaker’s cross for 5-2.
EDINSON CAVANI – 8
Gorgeous deft touch perfectly found Fernandes for United’s opening strike.
His lovely finish minutes into second half then saw Red Devils restore parity.
And he was at it again to fire United back in front after pouncing on a mistake from the Roma goalie.
Cavani then won a penalty which was converted by Fernandes for 4-2 before brilliant pass found Greenwood for sixth.
Fred was United’s least impressive player on the nightCredit: AP
SUBS: Mason Greenwood (for Rashford, 76) – 7
Managed to get on score sheet with good finish to emphasise United’s dominance
Nemanja Matic (for Fred, 82′) – N/A
Juan Mata (for Fernandes, 89′) – N/A
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Man Utd star Bruno Farnandes enjoys a bottle of milk after leaving the pitch More
