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.
Solskjaer will be looking for a complete performance tonight. Manchester United haven't won at home since the 19th of September.
Is tonight the night they change that?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has stressed the importance of creating chances and going forward with the ball for his team.
In a pre-match interview he said: "We're hoping we can put them on the back foot, create chances and score goals. I think that's what's been lacking really, if you look at quite a few of the games.
"If we can get a good start, if we can see the movement, see them enjoying themselves going forward, playing forward, running forward, then we've got players to take the chances.
"It's a game we look forward to, it's a game for us to improve in, to see the improvement in players and the confidence in players and try to get some momentum going. It's not just about 'getting the job done'."
It's been a dismal day in Manchester weather wise but that doesn't surprise Solskjaer, he said:
"Hopefully the pitch will hold up but I'm sure the ground staff have been working really hard today, it's been raining all day but sometimes that's what you've got to deal with here. I'm used to it."
Manchester United are yet to concede in this year’s Europa League, will they keep another clean sheet tonight? Here's how we see the game playing out:
The warm ups are underway at Old Trafford, it's going to be a wet night for the players as the rain continues to pour.
Ten minutes until kick off, which United will we see?
The free flowing, forward pressing United that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer imagines or the slow stunted creativity-less United that have turned up so far this season?
The teams are ready to go, they're in the tunnel and kick off is next...
Man Utd 0 - 0 Partizan
Kick off: Partizan kick off the match retreating with the ball. Stojkovic is put under pressure but he is able to work the ball out to the left wing.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Partizan
3 mins: Sadiq chases a ball that comes over the top and he puts Harry Maguire under pressure but Man Utd's central defender holds him off and releases the ball to Rojo.
United then work the ball forward and Rashford burst through three men and plays the ball into the box. Martial runs on to it and slots the ball into the back of the net but the offside flag is raised.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Partizan
6 mins: Maguire gives the ball away with a poor pass. Natcho picks it up and lays the ball off to Sadiq who chips it over Romero and into the net. He's offside too so both teams have a goal ruled out.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Partizan
9 mins: Chance! Greenwood gives the ball to Wan-Bissaka who makes his way forward on the right wing. Wan-Bissaka puts the ball into the middle of the box, it beats a few players before coming to Rashford who hits it first time and puts the shot wide.
Martial plays the ball into the box and Mata makes the run. He collects the ball and lays it off to Rashford. Rashford shoots with his left but Stojkovic makes the save!
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