Manchester United are yet to win three games into Europa League this season after being held to a 1-1 draw by Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Thursday night.
It was a hostile atmosphere in the Turkish metropolis which threatened to make it a really tough night for the visiting Premier League side, but an early goal from Christian Eriksen broke the deadlock and things seemed to be going well until Youssef En-Nesyri equalised straight after half-time.
Fenerbahce didn’t create all that much after getting level and Jose Mourinho wound up sent off on his reunion with his former club, but United couldn’t find the crucial second goal either.
How the game unfolded
With the booming soundtrack of the Sukru Sarakoglu Stadium behind them, Fenerbahce started brightly. The hosts controlled the ball and had early sights of goal as both Bright Osayi-Samuel and ex-United midfielder Fred missed the target with half chances.
But Erik ten Hag’s were clinical with a quick counter 15 minutes in. It started in their own half when Manuel Ugarte won the ball from Fred, with Eriksen quickly sending Alejandro Garnacho running into the space on the left. His cutback was cushioned by Noussair Mazraoui in his ‘number 10’ role and then knocked back into the path of the onrushing Eriksen to finish, first time, from 18 yards.
The pattern of play was that United were happy to let Fenerbahce have the ball in their own defensive third and midfield, before looking to spring counters and attack in quick bursts. They almost had a second goal not long after when Marcus Rashford cut in from the front and only just missed the bottom far corner, perhaps even just grazing the post as the shot flashed wide. But United also soon had Ugarte to thank for keeping them ahead, throwing himself in front of Dusan Tadic’s close-range shot towards an otherwise open net.
En-Nesryri couldn’t believe he hadn’t drawn Fenerbahce level three times in the closing stages of the first half. His first effort from a low Allan Saint-Maximin cross was crucially blocked by Victor Lindelof. Then, Andre Onana pulled off a stunning save reminiscent of Peter Schmeichel against Rapid Vienna in 1996 (if you know, you know) to deny him again, before springing up and immediately tipping the Moroccan’s next attempt over the bar.
Having once bullied United with Sevilla in the past, En-Nesyri had to wait just four minutes after the restart for his goal. The powerful striker ghosted in behind Lindelof and planted a firm header from Saint-Maximin’s cross that was too much for Onana to keep out again.
Mourinho was given his marching orders from the technical area an hour in when Osayi-Samuel went down dramatically in the box amid attention from Ugarte. The officials and VAR were un-moved, but the entire Fenerbahce bench was incensed and the vociferous protestation was duly punished.
United looked to respond to the home side’s momentum and there were chances when Rashford was only inches away from connecting with a ball in the middle of the box and Lisandro Martinez had a goal-bound shot blocked, while Dominik Livakovic also parried form Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt. The Croatian stopper then saved from substitute Rasmus Hojlund as the game wore on, with the United frontman disappointed not to fully connect with the effort.
Ten Hag’s team weren’t exactly banging on the door, but Livakovic continued making saves and held onto a low shot from Garnacho. Ultimately, any momentum of the final stages was eaten away by a lengthy pause while Antony, not long on as a substitute, was treated for what appeared to be a thigh injury and was soon stretchered off in some distress and discomfort.
GK: Andre Onana – 7/10 – Two genuinely world class saves just seconds apart demonstrated just what he is capable of at his very best. Not actually that busy otherwise.
RB: Diogo Dalot – 5/10 – Played like an extra winger when United were in possession. A bit lax defensively, allowing Saint-Maximin too much room to cross for the equaliser.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt – 7/10 – Defended pretty well and was occasionally a set-piece threat.
CB: Victor Lindelof – 6/10 – First start since March. Made a big block to deny En-Nesyri towards the end of the first half, but it was the same player who evaded him as Fenerbahce equalised.
LB: Lisandro Martinez (c) – 6/10 – Even as a left-back, the stand-in skipper was often playing more as a third centre-back because of the shape United had. Finished the game in the middle anyway.
CM: Manuel Ugarte – 8/10 – Needed a big performance after a tough start to life in a United shirt and produced it. A tackle started the move which United opened the scoring, with a block later in the first half denying Fenerbahce a certain goal. Added bite in a hostile environment.
CM: Christian Eriksen – 7/10 – Further staked his claim to be considered United’s best player of the season so far with the early goal. Looked to create and unpick the defence.
RM: Marcus Rashford – 7/10 – Offered a clear threat and was so close to making it 2-0 in the first half. Had other sights of goal too, even if things didn’t quite happen.
AM: Noussair Mazraoui – 6/10 – Obviously lacks the incisive quality of a true ‘number 10’ because he isn’t one, but he was in the right places and had a crucial touch when Eriksen opened the scoring. Moved back into a more conventional role with the 55th minute reshuffle.
LM: Alejandro Garnacho – 6/10 – Involved in United’s opener but overall finesse and precision was just lacking after an outstanding performance against Brentford last weekend.
ST: Joshua Zirkzee – 6/10 – Had enough awareness to lay the ball into Eriksen’s path, yet he wasn’t really involved otherwise. On one occasion there was opportunity to play Rashford into a dangerous position and the pass was horribly overhit.
Substitutes
SUB: Casemiro (55′ for Lindelof) – 6/10
SUB: Rasmus Hojlund (55′ for Zirkzee) – 6/10
SUB: Antony (73′ for Rashford) – N/A
SUB: Amad Diallo (90′ for Antony) – N/A
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir (GK), Tom Heaton (GK), Habeeb Ogunneye, Harry Amass, Ethan Wheatley.
Manager
Erik ten Hag – 7/10 – The first half more or less went as well as could be hoped, even with the slightly unusual starting lineup. Will be so disappointed to have conceded straight after half-time.
Player of the match – Manuel Ugarte (Man Utd)
READ THE LATEST EUROPA LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE
