[ Highlights | Post-Match Reaction ]
Real Betis 0 Manchester United 1 (1-5 Aggregate)
Rashford (55)
After fifty-four minutes where nothing much went right for Marcus Rashford or Manchester United, suddenly it all went perfectly. Pellistri picked up the ball from amidst the chaos of Fred and Wan-Bissaka trying to play football and squared it to Casemiro. Calmly, he took a couple of touches forward in his stride before curling a ball out to Rashford in space on the left. Rashford controlled it instantly, then took two caressing touches before hitting an unstoppable curling shot, with the outside of his boot, into the bottom right corner from twenty-five yards. Rui Silva, the Betis keeper, saw the shot all the way and must’ve thought he could’ve got a glove on it, but the fade on the ball took it past his dispairing dive. Rashford now has nineteen goals in twenty-four appearances since the world cup, and he missed easier chances tonight for more.
Rashford and Manchester United will be content with the win, a clean sheet and progress into the last eight of the Europa. Neither Fernandes nor Casemiro picked up a yellow card, so both will be available for the next round and in the second half, Ten Hag took the opportunity to rest some tired legs. Rashford and Fred got an hour. Fernandes was off soon after. Martinez and Wan-Bissaka were the last two taken off with fifteen minutes remaining.
There isn’t much to be learned from a game where United started with a three-goal lead. The night lacked tension as did United. Had this been even at kick-off we would’ve learned more about this United but we have plenty more games to find out.
Real Betis:
Rui Silva, Sabaly, Pezzella, Edgar, Abner, Rodriguez, William, Ruibal, Juanmi, Joaquin, Ayoze.
Subs: Bravo, Martin, Ruiz, Iglesias, Canales, Henrique, Willian José, Guardado, Rodri, Miranda, Felix Garreta, Dani Pérez.
Manchester United:
De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Martinez, Maguire, Malacia, Fred, Casemiro, Pellistri, Fernandes, Weghorst, Rashford.
Subs: Heaton, Butland, Lindelöf, Sabitzer, Varane, Dalot, Shaw, Sancho, Elanga, McTominay.