MAN UNITED 1, RAYO VALLECANO 1
Yes, it was all about him as Cristiano Ronaldo made his first appearance for Manchester United since asking for a transfer.
And after the Portuguese star’s triumphant return to Old Trafford 12 months ago, there was a minority of jeers when his name was read out pre-match.
How things have changed for Ronaldo with some fans not forgiving him for wanting to leave.
Ronaldo, given compassionate leave from the pre-season tour, played the first 45 minutes of the friendly against Rayo Vallecano who finished 12th in Spain’s La Liga last season.
But it was Amad Diallo, the Ivory Coast youngster who replaced Ronaldo at the break, who struck the goal which ultimately earned the Reds a draw in their sixth and final pre-season friendly which have yielded three wins, two draws and one defeat.
And to add further fuel to the fire about Ronaldo’s future, the player was reported to have left Old Trafford before the end of the game.
Manager Erik ten Hag fielded a completely different line-up to the previous night when they lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in Oslo for his first game at Old Trafford.
There were first home appearances for summer signings Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen and a considerable experience with Ronaldo, Raphael Varane, Alex Telles, Donny van de Beek and Tom Heaton also starting.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was a familiar name in the Vallecano side, Radamel Falcao, though a second former Reds’ player Bebe was not involved.
United could have fallen behind inside 10 seconds when Alvaro Garcia forced a decent save from Heaton.
The closest the Reds came to scoring in the opening period was when Ronaldo fired over when well placed while Eriksen bent an effort narrowly wide.
United made a change at the break as Ronaldo made way for Amad who made a dramatic entrance as he broke the deadlock within three minutes.
Telles’ drive was fumbled by goalkeeper Diego Lopez, who came on at the break, and Amad, who spent last season on loan at Glasgow Rangers, reacted quickest to lash the loose ball into the roof of the net.
The goal sparked the game to life as Vallecano almost equalised when Falcao’s curling shot from outside the box struck the crossbar.
And the Spaniards drew level in the 57th minute when Isaac Palazon Camacho cut in from the right unchecked and his shot was parried by Heaton with Garcia converting the ball from a tight angle.
United made two more changes after an hour as Eriksen and Martinez were replaced by Hannibal and Eric Bailly.
And they were soon followed by the introductions of Shola Shoretire and Zidane Iqbal for Alejandro Garnacho and James Garner. Isak Hansen became a sixth change as he came on for Tahith Chong.
Iqbal came close to snatching a late winner for United as his drive from distance flashed past the upright.