Granada 0, Manchester United 2 (UEFA Europa League Quarter Final 1st Leg)
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes scored as Manchester United took a 2-0 lead away from Spain in their Europa League win at Granada.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe goals came from United’s only two shots on target in a tight game in Spain and while 1-0 might have been tricky for the Reds, the tie looks over after the 90th minute Fernandes penalty put a gloss on United’s performance on the night.
Chances were few against the Spanish club who were assembled for under 8 million Euros and boast two Premier League loanees in Kenedy (from Chelsea), and Yangel Herrera (from Manchester City), and veteran ex-Spurs striker Roberto Soldado, 35.
United will miss a trio of players in the home leg next week with Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay, and Harry Maguire all picking up suspensions but the 2-0 cushion will allow Solskjaer the opportunity to rest more players in their bid to reach a fifth semi final as United boss.
And with Anthony Martial potentially missing the rest of the season through injury and Eric Bailly possibly missing out through a positive COVID test following the international break for Ivory Coast there could be a lot of changes back in Manchester.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sad about the yellow cards in the game which will deprive him of three players at Old Trafford after a satisfying evening in Spain.
He said: “It’s not a perfect night, we got three players suspended for the next game.
“It’s always difficult coming to Spain for these kinds of results.”
“We will try and win it at Old Trafford. We’re a young team, but we can’t have any other approach, especially at home at Old Trafford.”
He praised the performances of two of United’s best players – Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes, adding:
“They have been exceptional, so important for us; the first goal was a great run by Rashford and fantastic finish and Bruno is so confident on pens even though the goalkeeper almost saved it.
David De Gea started amidst promises from Solskjaer that we would see more of him for the rest of the season and he was joined in the side by Daniel James and Scott McTominay as Dean Henderson, Edinson Cavani, and Fred stood down to the bench.
The Reds predictably started on top and, despite the distraction of an early streaker there was little to trouble the organised home defence who offered little going forward but still had the more credible chances in the first leg.
It took the home side 28 minutes to attempt a shot on goal, a Kenedy effort that wasn’t on target while Soldado hit the side netting.
But United scored the vital away goal after Marcus Rashford hit his 20th of the season after taking down Victor Lindelof’s masse punt upfield and leaving Domingos Duarte in his wake before slotting last Rui Silva in the Granada goal.
Rashford became the first United player since Wayne Rooney to hit that landmark in two consecutive campaigns over a decade ago.
It was also his 8th goal in European competition for United this term – the first English player to do so since Bobby Charlton in 1964-65.
Bruno Fernandes shot was deflected wide for a corner which was cleared before James’ tame effort was saved by Silva.
Suspensions mount for Manchester United against Granada
Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw were booked in the first half – both times trying to stop Antonio Puertas – and will next the second leg.
Granada finished the first half strongly – Yangel Herrera volleyed against the outside of the near post and Soldado had De Gea sweating with an effort shortly afterwards before Kenedy volleyed a low shot into the grateful arms of the United keeper.
Alex Telles came on at half time for Shaw and a reshuffle saw Daniel James fouled by Domingos Duarte who will also miss the return leg at Old Trafford.
Vallejo blocked a ball into the box as United pushed for a second goal before Duarte had to depart after injuring his knee in the challenge with James.
Harry Maguire rolled a shot wide of the near post as United stepped up their attempt to get a second with Cavani coming on after 66 minutes to replace Rashford who appeared to have been nursing an ankle knock since the start of the game.
The United captain collected another booking which ruled him out of the Old Trafford game for a needless foul while Pogba was rested when Nemanja Matic replaced him with 16 minutes to go.
Telles’ cross was beyond Cavani as United laboured in the final stages of the game.
Substitute Darwin Machis won a corner when his goal bound shot was deflected behind for a corner.
And United almost had the sucker punch late strike when Machis lost the ball and James ran upfield and slipped the ball to Fernandes who was defied by Silva with the ball cleared by a defender.
Mason Greenwood was replaced by Donny van de Beek with 5 minutes to go and the Reds were given a spot kick with 2 minutes to go when Brice appeared to push over Fernandes in the area after laying a hand on him.
The Portuguese was all too happy to go down to earn the spot kick and stepped up to make it 11 out of 12 from the penalty spot this season, with his spot kick slithering out of Silva’s grasp and into the back of the net to give the scoreline a sheen of respectability.
It was Fernandes’ first goal in 6 games – a relative drought for the midfielder who has 24 goals in all competitions for the Reds,
GOALS – Granada 0, Manchester United 2 (UEFA Europa League Quarter Final 1st Leg)
Granada 0, Man Utd 1: 31. Marcus Rashford’s brilliant first touch controlled a long punt upfield from Victor Lindelöf and the United striker maintained his composure to slot the ball past Rui Silva in the Granada goal.
Granada 0, Man Utd 2: 90. Bruno Fernandes’ penalty squirmed out of the grasp of Rui Silva after Granada gave away a needless spot kick late in the game with Yan Brice Eteki appearing to push the Portuguese over in the area.
MATCH STATS – Granada 0, Manchester United 2 (UEFA Europa League Quarter Final 1st Leg)
Granada: Rui Silva, Diaz, Vallejo, Duarte (Sanchez 54), Neva (Foulquier 75), Herrera, Gonalons (Brice 87), Puertas, Montoro, Kenedy (Machis 75), Soldado (Suarez 87)
Granada subs not used: Aaron, Perez, Molina, Fabrega
Bookings: Duarte 50 (foul on Daniel James); Brice 89 (foul on Bruno Fernandes)
Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw (Telles 46), Pogba (Matic 74), McTominay, James, Fernandes, Rashford (Cavani 66), Greenwood (van de Beek 85)
Man Utd subs not used: Henderson, Grant, Mata, Fred, Diallo, Matic, Williams, Tunazebe, Elanga
Bookings: Pogba 7 (foul on Kenedy), McTominay 40 (foul on Antonio Puertas); Shaw 42 (foul on Antonio Puertas); Maguire 72 (foul on Roberto Soldado); Matic 84 (foul on Antonio Puertas)
Goals: Rashford 31; Fernandes pen 90
Referee: Artur Manuel Soares Dias