MAN UNITED 2, GRANADA 0
(United won 4-0 on aggregate)
Manchester United smashed their Spanish hoodoo to beat Granada and claim a semi-final place in the Europa League.
Goals from Edinson Cavani and Jesus Vallejo, who found his own net, steered the Reds to victory at Old Trafford and a comfortable 4-0 aggregate victory and a last-four tie against Italy’s Roma.
Given United’s impressive record in European football – this is their 18th European semi-final – it is strange how they have struggled against Spanish opposition, including a loss to Sevilla in last season’s Europa League semi-finals.
This was only United’s second win in their last 11 home games against Spanish sides and, delving further back, this was overall only a 10th victory in 28 matches at Old Trafford.
However, the Reds extended their unbeaten home run in the Europa League to an impressive 17 games stretching back to 2011-12.
There was never any question this time as United did the spadework in the away leg and their passage was never in doubt, though Granada had more goal attempts than United, 11-10.
And in Manchester City loanee Yangel Herrera, they had the outstanding player on the pitch as he was their main goal threat.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was a satisfactory night’s work for Solskjaer who said: “Granada do give you a game. It’s a physical game, they throw people forward. You have to defend in these kind of games.
“Two-nil, clean sheet, some good individual performances. We’re full of confidence going into Sunday [against Burnley].”
On playing Roma in the semis, he said: “I’ve not seen too much of them. I knew they played two good games against Ajax. They defend well, as Italian teams always do. We all know Edin Dzeko so every ball into the box is a dangerous one.
“We are looking forward to it. We’re in the semis. It feels like a proper European tie because Roma is a club with lots of history. We’ve done well against Italian sides before.
“We’re going into it hoping to get to the final. If we can finish the season with a trophy that’d be great.”
On bringing Paul Pogba off at half-time, Solskjaer explained: “Sometimes, Paul wants to win so much. He went into a couple of tackles after his yellow card but I thought I don’t want to risk that [him being sent off] even though he played so well. We missed three today [through suspension]. The season has been hard enough as it is.”
Bruno Fernandes said: “It was a good game. The Europa League is always difficult to play. It doesn’t matter who you play against.
“We know Granada have quality – they can create something.
“We did well. We controlled the game and had a lot of the ball. We kept the ball moving. The result shows that.
“Now is the time for the next step and win a semi-final. [Before then] it’s time to focus on the league.
“He [Edinson Cavani] is a proper striker, a proper number nine.”
On facing Roma in the semis, Fernandes added: “Every team will give you problems. They have a good organisation defensively and can create problems offensively.
“Some of their players have played in England. We know what we have to do. If we do the right things, we will have our chances to win the game.”
United made five changes from their 3-1 win at Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.
Captain Harry Maguire was suspended after picking up a yellow card in the first leg in Spain, as were Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay. That trio were replaced by Axel Tuanzebe, Alex Telles and Nemanja Matic.
There was also a start for David de Gea in goal, like the first leg, while Mason Greenwood replaced Marcus Rashford who is only fit enough for a place on the bench.
Amad Diallo, William Fish, Anthony Elanga and Shola Shoretire made up more than half the outfield players on the bench. With six substitute appearances between them, that was not much experience at all.
Granada also made five changes from their 2-1 win at Real Valladolid in La Liga at the weekend.
Former Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado came in up front, while Herrera, who is on loan from Manchester City, and Kenedy, on loan from Chelsea, came into midfield.
There were also starts for midfielder Angel Montoro and left-back Carlos Neva.
This was Granada’s first ever competitive game in England. They had never qualified for Europe before this season. They were a fourth-tier side back in 2005–06.
United have changed the colour of the banners covering the seats at Old Trafford from red to black in an effort to win more home games.
United have a better record away from home than at Old Trafford this season.
“We’ve looked into this,” Solskjaer said. “There shouldn’t be a reason, really, but some of the players have mentioned that split-second decision you have to make where you look over your shoulder to see if your team-mate is there or not and the red shirt is on a red background with red seats.
“You’ll see a change now, if you see the banners around the club it’s not red anymore.”
Cavani certainly wasn’t distracted by the Old Trafford surroundings as he put United ahead in the sixth minute with a superb volley.
Telles crossed from the left, Paul Pogba flicked on with his head and as the ball dropped Cavani struck his ninth goal of the season and he became only the fourth South American player to score 50 in European competition after Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Alfredo Di Stefano.
The goal put United 3-0 ahead on aggregate, but Granada responded positively and had two chances in quick succession to equalise, both from Herrera who headed narrowly wide and fired just over.
Herrera was a continual threat to United and ghosted from deep to glance a header narrowly past the upright from a free kick.
Pogba, already booked for striking an opponent with a flaying arm, was lucky not to see red following a clumsy challenge with Soldado booked for protesting too vehemently as he demanded the midfielder’s dismissal.
Bruno Fernandes had a chance to score a spectacular second, an incredible volley from Matic’s through ball but it went just over.
As Pogba was treading a fine disciplinary line, Solskjaer replaced him with Donny van de Beek at the restart.
Cavani saw an attempted glanced header ricochet off his shoulder and fly wide as did a drive from van de Beek.
Just short of the hour Cavani, a good night’s work done, was replaced by Daniel James.
Granada remained a threat as Geman fired past the upright with a great strike on the turn.
Fernandes made way for Juan Mata with 17 minutes left, their third change and that was soon followed by their final two switches, Diallo and Brandon Williams for Greenwood and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
There was an eventful finish, very much out of keeping with what had gone before.
De Gea pulled off two saves, the latter to deny the lively Herrara’s point-blank header, to ensure he kept a clean sheet on his return to the side.
Then in the last of the 90 minutes, United doubled their lead as Mata’s header from a Telles cross went in off centre-back Jesus Vallejo who will be debited with an own goal.