Four days after the historic slap received against Liverpool, Manchester United got the icing again this Thursday against Real Betis, in the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League (4-1).
Black Sunday is partly forgotten on the side of Manchester United. Corrected in Liverpool as part of the twenty-sixth round of the Premier League (7-0), Erik ten Hag’s men were able to react on Thursday. This time, it was in the Europa League that the Mancunians were expected and they did not disappoint their supporters who came in large numbers to fill the bays of Old Trafford since they largely won against Real Betis, on behalf of the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League (4-1).
The machine quickly started on the Red Devils side, and who else but Marcus Rashford to open the scoring in the sixth minute and put his team on the right track. But there was still a bit of fragility, just four days after the historic black hole against the Reds, and the defense cracked when Betis equalized through Ayoze Perez (1-1). A defense in reality not very guilty, unlike a David de Gea at fault on a totally missed clearance. Yet another career blunder for the customary doorman.
Fernandes shows up
Back from the locker room, Manchester United suddenly decided to speed up. It was first Antony who allowed his people to come back in front (2-1, 52nd) before Bruno Fernandes managed the break (3-1, 58th). Overwhelmed, the visitors finally cracked one last time at the end of the game on a fourth Mancunian goal signed Wout Weghorst (4-1, 82nd). Barring another black hole, United should qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition. But Betis and its public will surely have their say on March 16 for the return match.
