Manchester United took a huge step towards the Europa League final with an emphatic 3-0 win over 10-man Athletic Club at San Mames in an impressive night for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes scored in a brilliant first half for the visitors, who could scarcely have been in a better position by half-time, three goals and a man to the good.
The hosts threatened a tense game after a strong start, but after 15 minutes United began to take the control, before the red card to Dani Vivian saw them fall away dramatically.
The second half saw United attempt to control the game, their three-goal advantage a hugely valuable commodity to take home with them ahead of next week’s second leg, especially after the drama of the win against Lyon in the quarters.
But ultimately the visitors managed to escape with their whole advantage intact in a hugely important result in United’s season.
Here, Mail Sport’s Dominic Hogan runs you through the stars that stood up to the task, and those who failed to impress.
Casemiro opened the scoring on the half hour after a fairly even start to the game in Bilbao
Bruno Fernandes struck twice in eight minutes to take the game away from 10-man Bilbao
The result sees United take a huge step towards the final ahead of the second leg next week
Man United – 3-4-2-1
Andre Onana – 6.5
Made a brilliant diving save down to his right off Alex Berenguer as Athletic Club threatened a quick start, but otherwise had very little to do on the night.
Leny Yoro – 6.5 (booked)
Could perhaps have communicated better with Patrick Dorgu to reduce the gap between the two with the wing back straying too high before the man advantage reduced the risk of exposure.
But that is nit-picking on a night when for the best part of an hour he was largely untroubled, and showed good footwork in the second half to escape from tight spaces.
Harry Maguire – 7.5
Bizarrely turned into an excellent winger for 30 seconds in the build-up to Casemiro’s opener, twisting and turning, chopping and changing, before putting a brilliant cross. A cool head at the back under extreme crowd pressure before making way just after the hour mark.
Leny Yoro showed some good footwork to get out of tight spaces but was booked late on
Harry Maguire put in a fantastic cross for the first goal after some quite brilliant footwork
Victor Lindelof – 6.5
Dawdled on the ball in the 17th minute to almost allow Inaki Williams a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring, but immediately atoned with a stunning double block off the line two minutes later.
That being said, he struggled to do the basics well, and remained shaky and seemingly nervous in possession.
Noussair Mazraoui – 6.5
Was largely anonymous for 45 minutes before coming within a lick of paint from United’s fourth in sensational fashion, his first-time drive from the edge of the box clattering into the crossbar.
Casemiro – 8
Made a critical block off Inaki Williams early on after Lindelof’s error, showcasing all the experience you pick up winning five Champions Leagues, before opening the scoring with a goal his performance fully merited.
A calm, composed and mature presence in a very partisan San Mames, and hardly put a foot wrong. His performance over-shadowed only by his captain’s exploits, but showed that on the European stage, at least, his class is permanent.
Victor Lindelof appeared nervy in possession in the first half but made a stunning double block
From the first minute set the tone for United and drew on all his experience to control the midfield under intense crowd pressure
Manuel Ugarte – 7
Found himself a little out of position at times in the first half, and twice lost the ball needlessly, but the flicked assist for Casemiro’s first and very cute touch to tee up Fernandes’ second of the night went some way to making up for it.
Patrick Dorgu – 6
Put perhaps more emphasis on the ‘wing’ element of his wing back job description, but even then struggled to beat the first man with crosses in from the left.
Alejandro Garnacho – 7 (booked)
Typically vibrant and energetic going forward and was United’s biggest threat early on. While there was a flash of his finishing for the ruled-out effort inside five minutes, he struggled to get into a position to really threaten the Athletic Club goal on a regular basis.
Bruno Fernandes – 8.5
Garnacho’s early opener may have been chalked off, but Fernandes’ delicious backheel flick deserved a goal in its own right. Is one of the best in the business from 12 yards, and showed just why as he stared down a febrile home stand before stroking home.
Alejandro Garnacho ad an effort ruled out inside five minutes for offside but struggled to regularly threaten the Athletic Club goal
Patrick Dorgu didn’t have his best game in a United shirt, lax tracking back and inaccurate when crossing
Fernandes was the conductor-in-chief going forward and netted his seventh Europa League goal of the season emphatically
Then on the stroke of half-time, he finished emphatically to make it 3-0 for his seventh in the Europa League this term. Naturally, was the conductor-in-chief of Ruben Amorim’s red orchestra.
Rasmus Hojlund – 7
Didn’t get much service in the first half, but showed great awareness to get himself in a position to force a foul from Dani Vivian to win a penalty, and would likely have had a tap-in if not tugged back. Battled and fought throughout the second half, putting his body on the line bravely.
Subs:
Matthijs de Ligt (on for Maguire at 65′) – 6.5
Mason Mount (on for Ugarte at 65′) – 6
Luke Shaw (on for Mazraoui on 74′) – 6.5 (booked)
Amad Diallo (on for Dorgu on 84′) – 6.5
Ruben Amorim got his tactics right for Man United to escape with their three-goal advantage intact for the second leg
Kobbie Mainoo (on for Garnacho on 84′) – 6.5
Bayindir, Amass, Eriksen, Fredricson, Heaton, Kamason, Mantato.
Manager:
Ruben Amorim – 7
With his side 3-0 up against 10 men at the break, the head coach probably couldn’t even believe his luck, but didn’t allow his side to let up. He made sure they kept the pitch as wide as possible as his side ran Athletic Club ragged.
Ultimately made the right call with his second half tactics as United controlled the pace of the game to make it out of the Basque Country with their 3-0 lead intact. So much pressure on Thursday night’s game in the context of the season, and Amorim could not really have hoped for a better result.
