Manchester United vs Partizan LIVE: Score, goals and latest updates from the Europa League
Manchester United beat Partizan at Old Trafford as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side sealed qualification for the knockout stages
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Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford netted fine goals as Manchester United beat Partizan Belgrade to seal their place in the Europa League knockout phase with two games to spare.
Having seen a three-match winning run come to a disappointing halt at Bournemouth at the weekend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side rallied and secured a comprehensive Group L victory under the lights at Old Trafford.
Classy goals by Greenwood, Martial and Rashford gave free-flowing United a deserved 3-0 victory on Thursday night, ensuring progress to the Europa League round of 32 with games against Astana and AZ Alkmaar still to play.
Solskjaer can now experiment and rest key players in those fixtures - a boost with the energy-sapping 6,000-mile return trip to freezing Kazakhstan looming large later this month.
The United boss named a strong team in a bid to get qualification wrapped up early and teenager Greenwood, one of four changes from the Cherries loss, showed excellent composure to make space and send Partizan's goalkeeper the wrong way to open the scoring after 22 minutes.
The 18-year-old's pressure led to the home side's second of the evening, although Martial deserves all the credit for the way he turned superbly, evaded three challenges and slotted home a magical goal.
A thumping strike by Rashford early in the second half wrapped up victory against Savo Milosevic's side, with the only negative for United being the sight of Scott McTominay limping off.
Thursday's match provided entertainment too often lacking at Old Trafford this season, with both sides seeing goals ruled out for offside during the opening four minutes.
That deflected effort off Umar Sadiq was as close as Partizan would get, with Rashford fizzing wide, forcing Vladimir Stojkovic into a close-range stop and volleying over inside the opening 15 minutes.
Murmurs of frustration followed the latter opportunity, but Rashford's directness soon helped unlock the Partizan defence.
The 22-year-old's pass found Greenwood in the box, with the teenager making space to hit a left-footed strike that bamboozled Stojkovic.
It was a lovely finish and United stepped up a gear after Seydouba Soumah, impressive in the return fixture, curled wide.
Greenwood's pressure led to a clearance ricocheting off him into the path of Martial, who showed exceptional skill to collect the ball and turn Strahinja Pavlovic in the same motion. The Frenchman did not stop there, with his fine footwork and calmness seeing him avoid three challenges and beat the goalkeeper.
Martial tried to add to that before half-time, as did Rashford and Ashley Young.
United were in control and the second period was just four minutes old when Young laid a pass into the path of Rashford to leather into the top left-hand corner in front of the Stretford End to make it 2-0.
Young and Fred went close with free-kicks as Solskjaer's Reds looked to press home their advantage, but the game was over and they eventually dropped their intensity a gear or two.
James Garner, who started in Belgrade, came on for his first senior appearance at Old Trafford, before McTominay went off with what appeared to be a foot issue.
PA
Prediction
Manchester United suffered a set back at the weekend and only just edged past the Serbians last time out in this competition, but should have enough quality to beat them at home, even with a changed side.
2-1 to Manchester United is our prediction.
Odds
Manchester United 2/5
Draw 16/5
Partizan 10/1
When is it?
The match kicks off at 8pm GMT on November 6.
How can I watch it?
The match will be aired live on BT Sport 2, with coverage beginning at 7.30pm.
Subscribers can also watch the game via the BT Sport app, or online via the BT Sport player.
Team news
Paul Pogba is expected to be out until December, while Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic and Axel Tuanzebe are likely to return after the international break. Diogo Dalot is also expected to miss the game, along with longer-term absentees Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given chances to a number of younger players in this competition, so there could be further opportunities for James Garner, Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams.
Predicted line-up
Manchester United: Sergio Romero; Phil Jones, Harry Maguire, Marcos Rojo; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred, James Garner, Brandon Williams; Jessse Lingard, Juan Mata, Mason Greenwood.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Partizan
12 mins: Mata takes a corner for Manchester United, who have started the game well, but he delivers the ball straight into the hands of Stojkovic.
Partizan get the ball down the other end of the pitch quickly and Asano passes it to Sadiq. He tries to return the favour but Romero comes out of goal and collects the ball.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Partizan
15 mins: Partizan send a throw in into the area but Man Utd clear and Greenwood wins a free kick.
Wan-Bissaka is sent down the right by McTominay this time, he picks out Rashford in the box and Rashford hits the volley but puts it over the bar.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Partizan
18 mins: Partizan make it hard for United to take possession of the ball but they don't do anything with it. McTominay eventually wins it back but Fred is tackled and a heavy pass meant for Asano rolls it's way to Romero.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Partizan - Greenwood
22 mins: GOAL! Rashford storms at the defence and plays a pass into the box intended for Mata who makes a run. The ball takes a deflection and instead falls to Greenwood who is confident in front of goal and he smokes it home. United lead.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Partizan
24 mins: McTominay is fouled by Zdjelar and the Partizan man stays down after receiving an unintentional elbow to the face.
United boot the ball forward and keep possession.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Partizan
27 mins: Soumah brings the ball forward for Partizan and United's defenders drop off him. He's still a long way out but he goes for goal and misses.
So does Martial! He combines with Rashford to create some space and when the ball comes back to him he shoots and puts the ball over the bar.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Partizan
30 mins: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be encouraged by what he's seen so far. United have been impressive in attack, Rashford in particular is causing problems when he runs at the defensive line.
Man Utd 2 - 0 Partizan - Martial
33 mins: GOAL! Some individual brilliance from Martial doubles United's lead. Greenwood's pressure causes and poor pass that Martial is on to in a flash. He takes the ball past, one, two, three defenders and tucks it under the goalkeeper and into the net.
Man Utd 2 - 0 Partizan
36 mins: The Manchester United fans have not stopped singing since the kick off. The second goal has just seen them up the volume once again.
Partizan are all at sea, they can't handle what United are bringing and are struggling to get the ball out of their own half.
Man Utd 2 - 0 Partizan
39 mins: Asano makes a run down the right and fends off McTominay before Rojo comes across and boots the ball into the stands.
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