Club Brugge v Manchester United: Europa League last 32 - live! - The Guardian, Theguardian.com

2. (pm) (EST) :

min Anthony Martial has been replaced by Odion Ighalo. Another good evening of work from the Frenchman. He changed the game with a classy goal.

2. 043 pm EST :

min

of nowhere, they home team just launched into a huge coordinated press on the United team as the crowd roared in unison.

Jesse Lingard was promptly nicked well inside his own half and the home team quickly worked the ball into the final third. It came to nothing, but it sure was fun.

Updated
at 2. 043 pm EST

2. pm EST 44:

min

A bit of a scare from Mignolet as he passed out from the back but the home team survived.

Meanwhile, De Cuyper just attempted to karate kick the ball in a 77 / 77 challenge. This time, a free kick was given. 2. (pm EST :

min

Great work from Mata, who nicked the ball from deep, drove forward at the Brugge midfield and found Martial with a nice ball on the flank. The Frenchman was barged off the ball and for some reason it wasn’t called for a foul.

2. (PM EST) :

min
this second half has settled down after a hectic start . A nice spell of possession for the home team. 2. (pm) EST : 36

From Paul Moody on twitter:

I’m in Brazil so early mufc start took me by surprise. Martial can be very frustrating, but also sensational. Also this is his best season, still very young too.

2). EST EST :

min Another good spell for United ends With Pereira, who has played well since the end of the first half, going for goal from distance. That was not troubling Mignolet but it is certainly clear that Pereira is desperate to score. 2 . (pm) EST :

min yellow card for Vanaken . He protested

just a little too hard after a free kick was given to United’s Williams.

Updated at 2. EST EST)

(2.) pm EST :

min end to end stuff at the beginning of half. Moments after Martial failed to finish Mata’s pass, Vanaken found Dennis with a nice pass at the other end. Good shot from Dennis but a very good save from Romero.

(2) (pm EST )

min

Two chances from United to open up. First Lingard very nearly got onto the end of a cross, then Juan Mata picked up a loose Brugge pass and found Martial in the box with a nice ball. Martial had a great chance on his left foot but he bizarrely tried to cut back to Mata. The ball bounced off a Brugge defender and rolled to a thankful Mignolet.

Updated (at 2.) pm EST

(2) (pm EST 45: 21

(min) By no means will the home team be shedding tears over that substitution. Ruud Vormer had been struggling with injury but he is one of the best players and he is responsible for league assists and 2 in Europe this year. Not bad.

(2.) (pm EST :

min The second half begins. About one kick into the second half, Balanta went down again with the same injury from the final minutes of the first half. He has now been replaced by Ruud Vormer. (1.) EST :

Meanwhile, Celtic lead 1-0 in Copenhagen.

(1.) EST EST :

It will be interesting to see how Manchester United start the second half. was a rancid opening 53 minutes from them against a glittering Club Brugge. They had endless possession yet looked so timid on the ball and they could have conceded more.

The game changed in the blink of an eye with one moment of intelligence and industry from Martial, which galvanized the team. By the end of the first half, United had 6 shots to 5. (1.) (PM) (EST) :

From Ciar (á n:

I’m not saying he’s going to score many more goals like that, but it proves the worth of working a little bit harder off the ball. A lot Anelka to his game. One can’t doubt his talent (he’s just smashed the ball off the post as I write this) but there are infuriatingly lethargic spells from him almost every game.

Fair enough.

Updated (at 1.) (pm EST)

(pm) (EST) : Half time: Club Brugge 1-1 Manchester United

Well, that was an interesting half. Brugge dominated a completely lackluster United for 53 minutes before Martial changed the game by taking advantage from a mistake by Mechele and nailing his finish.

Neither team will be happy with the goal they conceded, but here we are.

Updated (at 1.) EST EST) (1) (pm) (EST) : 62

min Balanta is down with a knock for Brugge and the physio is on. He looks quite dazed but he walked off and it seems like he should continue.

(1.) pm EST

min Martial once again creates something from nothing, this time (rattling the post) with a wicked strike from outside the box.

That was going in if not for an excellent fingertip save from Mignolet to roll the ball onto the post.

This is much better from United. (1.) (pm EST 44:

(min) That was a big miss from Brandon Williams, who booted his shot miles over the bar from a great position. Much better work from United, who worked the ball up the pitch and to Pereira who then fizzed in a great cross to Williams, who was in space at the far post.

(1.) (pm EST :

That was something.

Brugge defender Mechele received a throw in from a completely neutral position but he clearly didn’t realize how close Martial was. As he let the ball run past him, Martial sprinted forward and nicked the ball, dribbling free and then finishing with plenty of composure. Industrious work from the Frenchman and we will see if he can single-handedly inject some confidence into his team. ()

(1.) EST EST : GOAL! Club Brugge 1-1 Manchester United (Martial 53)

Out of nowhere, United are level! After a bad mistake from Mechele, a great run and finish from Martial.

()()

Martial scores and celebrates. Photograph: Nigel Keene / ProSports / REX / Shutterstock

Updated (at 1.) EST (pm EST ) 31:

From Justin:

With United opting to play with a fly keeper tonight behind Lindelof, who always seems to be in the wrong post code when the ball is delivered, I’m not sure Bruges will need the full- on “miracle” to beat United in this competition. No walking on water required, Monsieur Clement; Just tell them to bring their waders and hoof it up into the deep end. (1) (pm EST 44:

Well then.

Duncan Alexander (@ oilysailor) Mignolet now has as many assists in Europe this season as Kevin De Bruyne

, (1.) EST :

3 (0 min) United are now up to . 5% possession here and they continue to do absolutely nothing but pass sideways with it. This time, Brugge’s Mata steals the ball and flits about yards up the right flank. This time he was just too quick for his teammates to catch up, but again, that is just too easy.

(1.) (PM EST) :

min

Tau, De Cuyper and Dennis have been electric so far from the left. Another chance for them as the trio combine with some quick one touch combinations before Dennis fires off a shot from the tight angle.
Well saved by Romero in the end but the home team is strolling through the United midfield at the moment. 1 . (pm) EST

min This time, it’s Cuyper who produces a lovely through ball in Tau’s direction after a quick break. Tau was just offside and United breathe.

1. (PM) (EST) : 043

min

(United have had

. 3% of the ball so far today but they really aren’t doing anything with it. The home team is happily waiting for space on the counter and, so far, tearing the English team apart with quick passing. (1.) (pm) (EST) :

mins

Another heart-in-mouth moment for United. This time, Maguire failed to win a header from a long ball and the ball bounced over him as Brugge’s Tau chased it. Solid work from United keeper Romero, who was quick to meet the ball out of his box before hoofing it out. (1.) (pm) EST : Squawka Football (@ Squawka)

Club Brugge’s Emmanuel Dennis has scored three goals in European competition this season:

Madrid Real Madrid (⚽ Real Madrid) ⚽ Manchester United A man for the big occasion. 😎 pic.twitter.com/dh1F BRg

(February) ,

(1.) pm EST :

min so much for a slow start! Brugge are moving the ball so quickly in the final third and, minutes after their first goal, they are already after a second. Quite a poor miss from Rits at the end of another great move from the home team.

The United Defense looks shaken.

(1.) pm EST 47: GOAL! Club Brugge 1-0 Manchester United (Dennis 35)

()()

Dennis Emmanuel Bonaventure celebrates scoring for Club Brugge. Photograph: Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images

() Aleksei Kulbakov awards a goal after checking VAR. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images

The home team go in front! From a corner for United, Mignolet found Dennis with a long ball. A beautiful lob from Dennis flies over Romero, who was well off his line.

Updated (at 1.) pm EST (1) (PM) EST :

min with the exception of the opening scare for United, there is not too much happening here. This has been quite a sterile start. (PM) (EST) :

9 min United are settling down and have commanded possession a couple of minutes, but the ball is mostly in their own half.

Meanwhile, the rain has officially stopped.

Updated (at 1.) (PM EST ) (1) (pm EST :

6 min Brugge are already showing exactly what have made them so successful this year. They are passing out from the back and have started with some crisp passing through the lines – they lead the Belgian Pro League in possession and passes played. Dennis was just offside after a lovely through ball by Vanaken. They are here to play. (1.) (pm) EST :

2 min Goodness . Brugge immediately generate a big chance to begin! United’s Brandon Williams suffered a tough tackle as the ball was pushed out. Brugge took the throw in quickly, with Vanaken whipping a ball into the box. Carnage in the box, but the ball was eventually cleared by Lindelof. That was a warning.

. (PM) (EST) :

1 min: United kick off tonight. We begin. () . (PM) (EST) :

Andreas Pereira, a philosopher, in his BT Sport interview:

Goals are like ketchup, if you score one, loads more will come ”

(pm) EST :

The teams are heading out onto the pitch. A reminder: VAR is now being used in the Europa league. Let’s see what carnage that brings up.

(pm) EST :

The weather is absolutely miserable in Bruges. The rain is heavy and the camera has already cut to many sad people wearing big coats.

32 pm EST : Squawka Football (@ Squawka)

Bruno Fernandes in the Europa League this season:

• (Most shots) 45) • Most goals assists (8) ( • Second-most goals (5) • Second-most assists (3)

Solskjaer’s super-sub?

pic.twitter.com/wLOn5aqcNS (February) ,

(pm) EST :

The

(Manchester United) boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on BT Sport:

[Ighalo’s] not trained too many days with us. We’re still waiting. Hopefully we can get him on at the end of the game today. [Bailly] got a knock against Chelsea, so he wasn’t able to play today.

We know the conditions here aren’t great but we have to concentrate here .. We’ll just have to play a good game of football, try to control our game and try to play at our tempo. 34. (PM) (EST) : WhoScored.com (@ WhoScored)

Players that have scored against Sergio Romero this season:

(➖ Luke Matheson) (at the time) (➖ Michy Batshuayi) The Manchester United goalkeeper h as only conceded two goals in 28 appearances in all competitions in 37 / pic.twitter.com/ (kxjMPg) (February) , 7021

39. (pm) EST :

Some big changes for both teams tonight. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made (six) changes from United’s win at Chelsea earlier in the week. Fred, Fernandes, Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, De Gea and James all resting.

Club Brugge Is putting forward a strong squad after resting players on the weekend. Still, particularly notable players on the bench are Ruud Vormer, the club talisman who is responsible for 37 assists in the league this season and 2 in Europe. David Okereke, Brugge’s second highest scorer in the league with 9 goals, also starts on the bench.

Updated (at) EST EST) 26 pm EST 047:

Be sure to check out Barry Glendenning’s Fiver today.

. EST 45: 81 Tonight’s teams:

Club Brugge: Mignolet, Mata, Kossounou, Mechele, Deli, Rits, Balanta, Vanaken, Bonaventure, Tau, De Cuyper

Subs: Horvath, Ricca, Mitrovic, De Ketelaere, Vormer, Schrijvers, Okereke ()

Manchester United: Romero, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Williams, Matic, Mata, Pereira, Lingard, Martial

Subs: De Gea, Bailly, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Fernandes, James, Ighalo

Referee: Aleksei Kulbakov (Belarus)

Updated (at . (pm EST

am EST :

Here is Philippe Clement’s sober preview of tonight’s match:

“To eliminate Manchester United

, you really need a real miracle. People who do not think that have not looked at recent history. Agreed, United has a difficult season. But they won at Manchester City and Chelsea and won points from Liverpool. There is a lot of quality in their group. “

“In Europe, you have years in which you perform a miracle. We will of course throw ourselves [at United] completely. These are two games in which we have nothing to lose. Many boys are looking forward to it. Matches like these provide my players with energy. ”

Updated (at am EST

. am EST : (Preamble)

What an unusually pleasant, stress-free week this has been for United fans. After arriving at Stamford Bridge on Monday with only one league win in 7368, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team stole away with three points and offered all a rare opportunity to relax and bask in the glory of a job well done. There were pleasing performances from Harry Maguire (despite his stray boot’s

attempts to ruin everything) , Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Erick Bailly, Bruno Fernandes and many more. In the end they were too busy celebrating to hear Mino Raiola’s new proclamations of war .

As always, the question is whether they can use a solid win like this to build some momentum and United’s biggest problem this season is how frequently they have been in this position. This season has included wins against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Leicester City and two other wins over Chelsea, yet the answer has usually been a resounding no. United have shrunk against lesser teams and struggled to piece together consistent form throughout. Here they stand once again attempting to use a big result to propel them forward.

With a 7 games in days on the horizon across the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup, Solskjaer says that he will be rotating his squad against Club Brugge tonight. The most interesting piece of news is the possibility that Odion Ighalo will contend for his first start after signing in January.

Across the pitch will be the team currently dominating the Belgian Pro League. After winning last year’s title with Genk, new manager Phillippe Clement has brought his winning mentality to Brugge and they currently have more wins and fewer losses than anyone else, leading the league by 9 points. They have conceded just 32 goals so far this season.

They know as well as anyone else Manchester United represent another level. The last time they faced United, in the 4618 – Champions League qualifying, United rolled through them 5-1 and 4-0. Club Brugge will be looking for their first win against an English side since the 7021 – Cup Winner’s Cup quarters, a run that spans 27 games. That sure is a very long time but don’t count out the team that has made winning a habit throughout this season.

Updated (at) . am EST (Read More)