MAN UTD 5, RB LEIPZIG 0
What a statement as Manchester United blitzed Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig with a five-goal blast at Old Trafford.
And substitute Marcus Rashford left clutching the matchball after his remarkable cameo as he scored a 16-minute hat-trick.
Indeed, Rashford joins Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the only two substitutes to have sored trebles for the Reds.
And the goals made it an impressive seven goals and two assists from nine appearances in the current campaign.
There were also goals from Mason Greenwood and an Anthony Martial as this result sent out another message to the rest of Europe as it was their biggest Champions League win at Old Trafford since the 7-1 victory against Roma in 2007.
After the Reds’ impressive win in Paris against beaten Champions League finalists PSG in their opening group H game, they top the table with a 100 per cent record from their two games.
While Rashford rightly won the plaudits, there were also other impressive performers with Fred, Martial and substitute Bruno Fernandes all providing valuable assists.
Embed from Getty ImagesRashford agreed: “It was a real team performance. The ones who started did well and the substitutes did well too.
“We can’t ask for much more than that in terms of the attitude and the intent to go and kill the game off. It worked in our favour.”
Solskjaer attributed “hard work and graft” as ingredients which earned the victory pointing out Leipzig made them work incredibly hard, both on and off the ball.
And after an inconsistent start to the season, the Reds’ manager believes they are finally putting that right.
He said: “We have lost only once in eight games which is consistent. We were not fit before the international break, but the players are getting fitter, stronger and sharper.
“The consistency has been there since February, though the Crystal Palace defeat was disappointing as was Tottenham.
“We are getting better and it is about hard work and attitude. We are in a good state.”
Solskjaer would not be drawn on Rashford’s goalscorng potential for the season adding it is important not to get too ahead of yourself or you lose focus.
“Marcus showed he was focused on and off the field and he did very well today.” He said.
It was a tie that a decade ago would have appeared inconceivable as Leipzig became the 108th different team the Reds have faced in Europe.
But after Red Bull purchased the playing rights to fifth-tier SSV Markranstadt came a meteoric rise.
And Leipzig arrived at Old Trafford as Bundesliga leaders with four wins and one draw from their first five games, despite losing talisman Timo Werner to Chelsea for £48 million in the summer.
They made four changes from the side that beat Hertha Berlin on Saturday, but their side included Spaniard Angelino who is on loan from Manchester City.
Solskjaer made five changes from the home goalless draw against Chelsea on Saturday.
There were recalls for Dutchman Donny van de Beek, Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Martial and Greenwood.
The players stepping down were Fernandes, Scott McTominay, Juan Mata, Daniel James and Rashford who were all on the bench along with Edinson Cavani.
Leipzig’s former Liverpool goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi was called into action in the sixth minute to make a decent stop to deny Fred after a free kick was only cleared to the midfielder on the edge of the box.
United made the breakthrough in the 21st minute with a wonderfully worked goal.
The industrious Fred won the ball in midfield before Pogba threaded a delightful through ball to release Greenwood who slotted home a low shot as he made the right headlines after a troubled start to the season.
There was an anxious wait for a VAR check, though, as Greenwood was only onside by the tiniest of margins as his second goal of the season was confirmed and first in the Champions League.
And at 19 years and 27 days, he becomes the Reds’ second youngest goalscorer in the Champions League after Wayne Rooney (18 years, 340 days) and third in the history of the club in European competition.
Leipzig immediately responded and a drive from Christopher Nkunku was well turned round the post for a corner by David de Gea.
Greenwood forced Gulacsi to beat out his fiercely struck angled shot soon after the restart with United claiming a penalty for handball in the build up by Irahima Konate.
United made a double change shortly after the hour as Greenwood and Matic made way for Rashford and McTominay.
De Gea had to be alert to turn over a header from Konate who was only a couple of yards out when he latched on to a flick from Yussuf Poulsen following a free kick.
Fernandes, who replaced van de Beek with 22 minutes left, almost immediately set up a second goal.
His cheekily chipped free kick released Martial but Gulacsi managed to block his close-range shot.
Rashford doubled United’s lead 12 minutes after making his entrance, but again only after VAR intervened.
The England international raced clear on to Fernandes’ through ball and finished with great aplomb only to be flagged for offside.
However, VAR proved Rashford was in his own half when he latched on to Fernandes’ pass
And moments later Rashford made it 3-0 as he wriggled past Dayot Upamecano following Fred’s interception to find himself through on goal.
With the game won, Solskjaer sent on Cavani and Axel Tuanzebe for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Pogba.
United scored a fourth goal in 13 minutes when Martial was brought down by Marcel Sabitzer after being sent clear by Fred.
Martial picked himself to score from the spot.
Cavani had a goal ruled out for offside after he was put through by Fernandes. This time there was no doubt about the decision.
United added a fifth in the second of three added minutes. Martial burst down the left and squared a pass to Rashford who rifled home an unstoppable shot to round off a memorable night.