Manchester United: match scores – 24hfootnews

This Wednesday evening took place at the Stadion Miejski in Gdansk the final of the Europa League between Villarreal and Manchester United. Two teams that could offer a whole new face to their season by winning a European competition. To achieve this, Unai Emery the specialist of the Europa League, aligned a 4-3-3 with the trio Pino, Moreno, Bacca in attack. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted for a 4-2-3-1 with the only Cavani in the lead. Two French started the meeting with Etienne Capoue on the Villarreal side and Paul Pogba at MU.

The Red Devils put the pressure early in the game but McTominay’s strike did not find the frame (7th). It was not until the 23rd to see the first shot on target of the match. Marcus Rashford tried his luck from a distance but his attempt was well captured by Rulli. Against all expectations, the Yellow Sub took the advantage just before the half hour mark. On a free kick well struck by Parejo, Moreno managed to get rid of Lindelöf’s marking to closely adjust De Gea (0- 1, 29e).

De Gea cursed

Back from the locker room, Manchester United got back to the score. Following a corner badly returned by the Spanish defense, Rashford saw his counter volley come back to the feet of Cavani who deceived Rulli (1-1, 55 ‘). Reinvigorated by their equalizer, Solskjaer’s men pushed to take the lead. On the left, Shaw missed his cross which came on the head of Cavani countered by Pau Torres (72nd).

But both teams had to resolve to go through extra time. These did not give anything and this final was going to be played on penalties. While no shooters flinched, De Gea missed his penalty and Villarreal won the first Europa League in their history, with this success 11-10 in the long penalty shootout.

Man of the Match, McTominay (6.5): alongside Pogba, the Scottish midfielder also struggled defensively in the first period before recovering and being decisive like this return to the area in overtime (112th). At the forefront, during the Mancunian offensives, the number 39 showed more things than the French, with a few forays into the area and a strike to the side at the start of the game (7th). It is even he who is credited with an assist for Cavani by deflecting the leather (55th). An overall satisfactory match. Replaced by Alex Telles (120th + 3).

Villarreal

• Rulli (6): the Argentine goalkeeper will not have been really worried in this meeting. He was able to always remain vigilant on his line when necessary, which reassured his defense (41st, 45th, 79th, 106th, 109th). There was absolutely nothing he could do about Edinson Cavani’s goal. Rather serious match on his part with the added bonus of a converted penalty shootout.

• Pedraza (5): on his left lane, the Spanish side was very active, chaining offensive and defensive races. He wasn’t super decisive, but he got the job done always applying and being clean on the man and that’s most certainly what Unai Emery asked him to do. He contained Wan Bissaka well. Replaced by Moreno to the 88th. He has been quite active on his side.

• Pau Torres (5): impressive this season, the young 24-year-old defender has not performed as well as usual. If he defended rather well on the man and more than once cut the passing lines and the crosses of the Red Devils, he sometimes lacked vigilance on his placement leaving Cavani free of any markings. But he made up for it with very impressive interventions in front of the Uruguayan (54th, 70th) and it is well worth a goal.

• Albiol (5): the experienced 35-year-old defender impressed with his solidity and seriousness in the duels. When Manchester United tried to chain the centers, Raul Albiol had a great time, dominating absolutely all his opponents. It was also in his leadership that the former Real Madrid defender came in handy. We have seen him replace his teammates several times to form an always solid block.

• Foyth (5): the Argentine defender had a very eventful and even bloody start to the match. After intervening on Rashford, he would then slide on the ball and impale himself on Pogba. He went out for long minutes after heavy bleeding. He came back to the lawn with big bandages. And if we thought he was going to be reduced, he held the house rather well by completely extinguishing Marcus Rashford. Replaced by Mario gaspar to the 88th. The Spaniard held his lane.

• Capua (4.5): the former Toulousain responded present in the physical impact and in the aerial duels. This was where his team was waiting for him and it was necessary to succeed in padlocking Paul Pogba or Bruno Fernandes. He had a little trouble a few times to get the ball out cleanly, but overall, it was rather a good copy that Etienne Capoue delivered even if he declined in intensity over the match. Replaced by Raba to the 104th.

• Parejo (4,5): the former Valencia midfielder made all his technique and passing quality speak when Villarreal had the ball. In this register, difficult to take the ball from him or see him make bad choices. On an eccentric free kick, he deposited a caviar on Moreno for the opening of the scoring (29th). But in the physical impact he suffered a lot and McTominay often took advantage of it.

• Trigueros (4,5): a useful projection job for him, because he has accompanied the Spanish offensives several times. He was the most prominent player in the midfield. Very available, he often tried to bring danger to push back Pogba or Fernandes. He died physically in the second half. Replaced by Me Gomez to the 77th (note: 4). The Spanish midfielder did not stand out too much in this final. He touched very little of the ball.

• Pino (5): The Spanish left winger had two periods in this meeting. At the start of the match, he was very active on his lane and caused some problems for Lindelöf and others. Then little by little, he lowered in intensity a bit like his team. He touched very few balloons in the second act. He logically left his place to Paco Alcacer at the 76th (note: 4). The former Borussia Dortmund striker did not really stand out. He returned when his team suffered more than anything else. It was therefore complicated to have good balloons to exploit.

• Moreno (6): on Villarreal’s attack line, the 29-year-old Spanish striker was definitely the man to watch. Gerard Moreno has become a real goalscorer this season once again in this final. After setting the sights on a long shot (25th), he opened the scoring at the half-hour mark by perfectly resuming a free kick from Parejo (30th). Very active between the lines, he often put the Mancunian defense in difficulty. His second period was more complicated but his technical accuracy is a treat for his teammates.

• Bacca (4): the Colombian striker was very discreet in this meeting. He tried somehow to exploit the balls he had his back to goal. In this role, he was rather interesting, but he did not manage to be dangerous, probably a little too alone on the front of the attack. Replaced at the 60th through Coquelin (note: 5). The Frenchman did good because he was able to limit the spaces in the midfield and it was necessary since after the equalizer of Manchester United, we felt the Yellow Submarine close to really sinking.

Manchester United

• From Gea (3): a shot on target, a goal conceded. Holder in the Mancunian cages, the Spanish goalkeeper could have done much better on the opening of the score of Moreno at the half hour of play (30th), he who was a little hole. Unfortunately, he could not recover during the meeting, the yellow submarine not necessarily being very precise (10 shots off target). And to make matters worse, he missed his penalty since Rulli rejected his attempt … Terrible!

• Wan-Bissaka (5.5): still inexhaustible despite the sequence of matches this season, the English side had a bad start with some hesitation on the defensive level. But he quickly recovered to help his team with his forward play and relentless climbs to distribute a few crosses. A real plus for MU on the right side, Greenwood being a tone below tonight. He gave way to Mat before the penalty shootout (120th + 3).

• Bailly (4.5): the Ivorian rock was a little too fragile this evening in Poland. Struggling like Lindelöf, the 27-year-old has too often been late and has never been able to gain the upper hand over opposing attackers. Warned in the second half, the former defender of … Villarreal did not really seem on his plate during this final. Replaced by Tuanzebe (116th).

• Lindelöf (5): with little work in his area, the Swede was not necessarily worried behind but he did not release a great serenity either. The proof also on the opening of the score of Moreno since he completely lets go of the marking in front of the goal (30th). Otherwise, the latter did not show much and above all relaunched cleanly and simply.

• Shaw (6): Like his compatriot on the other side, Shaw ran a lot to bring the excess left side, especially on this center-shot in the first period (20th) or this ball for Cavani (72nd). Defensively, he often had to block Bacca or Moreno, and was rather successful in the game since it was his teammates in central defense who had more trouble. An interesting meeting from the very generous 25-year-old.

• Pogba (4.5): positioned in front of his defense, the French international played much higher, in position number 8, since Villarreal’s players were placed low. But on the ball, La Pioche did not really succeed in making the difference and even conceded a lot of faults. Admittedly, he was available throughout the meeting but the ball was not really well exploited. Replaced by James (115th).

• McTominay (6.5): see above

• Greenwood (3.5): with soldiers such as Pedraza and Pau Torres in his zone, the 19-year-old Englishman was well muzzled and therefore struggled to express himself with the ball in his foot. In the game, he also struggled to be available, with the Red Devils more easily finding Wan-Bissaka in the same lane. In overtime, it was he who gave up his place in the first Mancunian side, Fred replacing (100th). The Brazilian did not add a touch more.

• B. Fernandes (4,5): A real playmaker for this English team, the Portuguese had some difficulties on the pitch at Gdansk Stadium. It must be said that Unai Emery’s players did not leave him too much space to express himself, and the former Sporting CP had to get rid of the ball quickly. Captain’s armband around his arm, number 18 did not perform as expected.

• Rashford (5): in a complicated first period, the English striker at least had the merit of striking and dribbling to try to set fire in the camp of the yellow submarine, even if it did not work. After the break, he continued and tried his luck but the precision was not there. It is still he who is at the origin of the equalizer with a deflected strike (55th). Energy and desire for Rashford, but not a benchmark match.

• Cavani (6): alone at the forefront of the Mancunian attack, the former element of PSG was not content to attack. Very present defensively – a little too sometimes since he conceded the fault before the opening of the scoring – with a huge decline from start to finish, the Uruguayan scratched many balls while being precise in front of goal with this equalization in the second half (55th). The double was not far with a header (72nd).