United find their form while Southampton lose their way on a night of contrasting fortunes for the English sides in the Europa League. Here’s how it all unfolded.
Manchester United 4 Feyenoord 0
Having endured a week of journalists lecturing him about the evils of drink, Wayne Rooney (8.6) was the toast of Old Trafford as Manchester United regained control of their European destiny.
The England captain scored the first and set up the second for Juan Mata (7.5) as part of a fluid front four that also included Henrikh Mkhitaryan (8.9), given only his second start under Jose Mourinho.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.1) failed to score but provided two assists, including a cross that keeper Brad Jones could only turn into his own net, while substitute Jesse Lingard (5.7) wrapped up the win with a fine finish from an Antonio Valencia (5.4) pass.
Mourinho made six changes to the team pegged back by Arsenal on Saturday, with Phil Jones (4.7), Paul Pogba (8.2), Michael Carrick (4.3), Mata and Valencia keeping their places.
A back four that included the returning Daley Blind (5.8) and Luke Shaw (5.4) were occasionally troubled by Feyenoord and Sergio Romero (4.8) had to make a double save at 0-0, but United were fast and fluent in attack, with a side full of attacking talent impressing as a unit.
Whether that means more pitch-time for Mkhitaryan remains to be seen, but Mourinho was happy to praise the £26 million summer signing post-match.
“He needs now to replicate this kind of performance in the Premier League. The Europa League is different, he needs one more step and it gives him the right to believe he can play in the next match and play with more physicality, more aggression. But he has the quality and that is why we bought him.”
The Red Devils certainly have a good run of fixtures to come. In between matches with West Ham at home on Sunday and away on January 2, Mourinho’s men will face, among others, Crystal Palace, West Brom, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
Their Europa League business is not done just yet, however. A draw in the final group match against Zorya Luhansk in Ukraine will be enough for them to reach the final 32, which could have a knock-on effect in terms of team selection for the Gameweek 15 visit of Spurs.
Man City XI: Romero, Valencia, Jones, Blind, Shaw, Pogba, Carrick, Mata (Rashford 70), Rooney (Depay 82), Mkhitaryan (Lingard 82), Ibrahimovic.
Subs not used: de Gea, Rojo, Depay, Lingard, Rashford, Ander Herrera, Fellaini.
Sparta Prague 1 Southampton 0
Southampton had 71% possession and double the shots (12-6) of their hosts, but still managed to produce a listless display that only looked like ending one way once they fell behind.
Coach Claude Puel made his usual raft of Euro changes, with only Fraser Forster (5.0), Virgil van Dijk (5.5), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (4.3) and Nathan Redmond (6.0) retained from the team that kept Liverpool at bay on Saturday.
Poor marking at a set piece cost them in Prague, while a front three of Redmond, Shane Long (6.1) and Jay Rodriguez (6.3) struggled to play through an organised Czech defence. The latter looked particularly short of form and was replaced by Sofiane Boufal (6.8) as the Saints sought second-half redemption.
But even the introduction of the 15.1%-owned Charlie Austin (6.8) failed to lift the lethargy, and Southampton now need a goalless draw or a win from their final group fixture to make it through to the last 32.
That decider will reveal just how much Puel values a 2017 tilt at European glory. If he fields the well-owned Austin as well as Redmond (7.9%) and van Dijk (9.4%), that could have a knock-on effect for the Gameweek 15 visit of Middlesbrough.
Of more immediate concern is Sunday’s home match against Everton. Austin looks nailed-on to return while Boufal will hope for a second consecutive domestic start. Dusan Tadic (7.1) is still a doubt, though, having broken his nose on international duty.
Something certainly needs to change for the Saints – they’ve scored just once in four matches now.
Midfielder Hojbjerg (4.3) is a new doubt after picking up a knock in Prague, while Jose Fonte (5.4) didn’t even travel as he continues to recover from a foot problem. Cedric Soares also failed to make the squad, with Puel choosing to rest the right-back, who made his return to action in last week’s goalless draw with Liverpool.
Southampton XI: Forster, Martina, Yoshida, van Dijk, McQueen, Clasie (Austin 72), Højbjerg (Romeu 55), Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Long, Rodriguez (Boufal 55).
Subs not used: Lewis, Davis, Bertrand, Stephens.
