Two matches, two satisfactory results for the Premier League sides and precious little entertainment between them – the Europa League serves up a night to forget.
Manchester United 1 Zorya Luhansk 0
It wasn’t pretty, but a Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.5) header from a mis-hit Wayne Rooney (8.8) shot was enough – just – to see off a spirited Zorya side.
The winning goal was one of only two shots United mustered on target, although Marcus Rashford (6.9) also hit the bar, in a match they dominated without ever truly convincing.
Jose Mourinho picked a strong starting XI, with only Antonio Valencia (5.6) given the night off from the back four that started against Leicester, but it didn’t include Rooney, the out of form forward entering the fray in the second half.
His arrival prompted the goal, much to the relief of an increasingly restless Old Trafford crowd who had watched their team create few clear-cut chances from the 72% possession they enjoyed.
There was also plenty of relief among the 54.3% of Fantasy Premier League managers who own Ibrahimovic – his value had dropped 0.4 in two Gameweeks (and more than 160,000 transferred him out this week alone) on the back of a mini-goal drought that had stretched to four matches in all competitions.
Other than that, there was little to cheer about other than the result, as Mourinho was quick to stress post-match.
“The game was difficult but it was important to win. I had players on the bench to help me change the game. I played three of them and could have played others; my bench was full of attacking options. Martial gave us different speed in a moment when the opposition was getting a bit tired. Let’s see tomorrow (about injuries) but normally yes, normally we have almost everyone in a condition to play.”
Man United XI: Romero, Fosu-Mensah (Martial 73), Bailly, Smalling, Rojo, Fellaini, Pogba, Lingard (Rooney 67), Mata (Young 73), Rashford, Ibrahimovic.
Subs not used: Depay, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Jonhstone.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva 0 Southampton 0
Southampton set up for a draw, played for a draw and came away with a draw in a match that, much like this intro, had draw written all over it.
Skipper Virgil van Dijk (5.4) had the best chance of the night, missing with a free header from four yards out after just four minutes. His attempt ended up closer to the corner flag and rather set the tone for a match in which neither keeper had to make a save of any real note.
Claude Puel made seven changes from the side that strolled past West Ham, with only Fraser Forster (5.0), Van Dijk, Oriol Romeu (4.5) and Nathan Redmond (6.0) keeping their places.
The Frenchman also left Jose Fonte (5.4), Ryan Bertrand (5.4), Steven Davis (5.3) and Charlie Austin (6.3) back on the south coast, but Dusan Tadic (7.2) did travel and ended up playing most of the match when Puel took off European debutant Jake Hesketh (4.5) in a tactical switch.
Tadic gave the Saints more of an attacking outlet, although from the right rather than his usual central position, but neither team produced sufficient quality to break the deadlock.
At least that deadlock meant a fifth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions for Southampton.
If there was any doubt as to the Saints’ intent in the tie, Puel gave the game away post-match.
“When you cannot win a game it’s important to take one point and it’s an important point for the future. It’s a good result. We played a very good team.”
Southampton XI: Forster, Martina, Yoshida,Van Dijk, Targett, Clasie, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond (Hojbjerg 85), Hesketh (Tadic 35), Long.
Subs not used: Soares, McCarthy, Stephens, Reed, Olomola.
