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Celta Vigo vs Manchester United as it happened: Marcus Rashford hands visitors first-leg advantage
All the action as it happened from the Europa League semi-final first leg at the Estadio de Balaidos
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford struck a stunning second half free-kick to secure a 1-0 win at Celta Vigo in their Europa League semi-final, first leg on Thursday.
The victory puts United on course for this month's final with Ajax Amsterdam the most likely opponents after they beat visiting Olympique Lyonnais 4-1 in their first leg on Wednesday.
Until the goal United's finishing had been poor with Celta keeper Sergio Alvarez thwarting them several times. However he was powerless to stop Rashford's 67th minute free-kick
Relive all of the action below...
Preview...
An injury ravaged Manchester United squad will still be favourites against out-of-form Celta Vigo, who have lost all three of their most recent matches.
United’s Premier League top four hopes were dealt another blow at the weekend when Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free kick sailed into the top corner past David De Gea to steal Swansea a point from Old Trafford.
The Europa League now presents their most realistic chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, so Mourinho’s men will need to be on their game. The Spanish side should not be taken lightly, as their main focus will be the Europa League as a result of their comfortable mid-table position domestically.
Celta Vigo sit 13th in La Liga but have performed well in the Europa League losing just 2 games, the same as United, beating Genk and Shakhtar Donetsk on the way to the semi-finals. Top scorer Iago Aspas will be looking to capitalise on United’s defensive injury crisis which will see Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Marcos Rojo all sidelined, while first choice striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is out long term after a knee injury ended his season.
What time does it start?
Celta Vigo vs Manchester United kicks off at 20:05 on Thursday 4th May.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 2 from 19:30. Highlights will be shown on BT Sport 3 at 01:00 on Friday 5th May.
It’s a big game for…
Daley Blind. The Dutch utility player will be tasked with organising United’s makeshift defence and will be tasked with shutting out the in-form Iago Aspas. Blind has failed to assert himself since Mourinho arrived at Old Trafford and with the summer transfer window approaching, Blind has the chance to prove his worth to his manager.
Best stat…
25: United boast a 25 game unbeaten run but have suffered due to too many draws: 8 of their last 14 games have ended tied. The two teams have almost identical scoring records across the league and Europa League, with Manchester United scoring 70 and Celta Vigo 69.
Player to watch...
Iago Aspas: The striker has a point to prove after his disappointing spell at United’s rivals Liverpool, where he failed to score at all. Since his return to Celta Vigo in 2015, he has scored 31 goals in 64 games, and already has 25 goals in all competitions this season.
Past three-meetings…
This will be the first meeting between the two sides.
Form guide…
Celta Vigo: LLLDW
Manchester United: DDWWW
Odds…
Manchester United to win: 5/3
Celta Vigo to win: 7/4
Draw: 28/13
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
27 mins: Mkhitaryan has made a superb start to this match.
Not only has he been United's brightest attacking outlet down the left, but he has also made more tackles and touched the ball more than any other player on the pitch.
He's such an important player for United.
29 mins: Meanwhile, Pogba is struggling.
Aspas goes shoulder to shoulder with him in the middle of the park and bumps him off the ball.
He attempts to spring a counter attack and lays the ball off to Mayo, who looks to loft the ball back to his team-mate down the right. But Darmian gets across well and lumps it clear. Throw.
30 mins: Mallo throws it long into the box, Rory Delap style. But United defend well; Mkhitaryan heading it clear.
32 mins: Sisto has made a bright start to the match. One of Mallo's long throws is deflected into his path out on the opposite flank. He dribbles into the box, gets it onto his stronger right foot and shoots low across goal.
Romero gets his body behind it. He then throws the ball long, looking to spring the counter.
33 mins: So nearly a goal to United!
On the counter-attack, Mkhitaryan hares down the left. Spotting the run of Lingard in the middle, he sends the ball into the box with an outside-of-the-boot cross, the ball skidding low of the turf.
It's perfectly weighted but clips the heels of Roncaglia which just takes it out the path of the onrushing Lingard. In the end, Alvarez pounces on it.
Roncaglia got very lucky there. Celta survive.
35 mins: Not too much for these fans to cheer about so far...
Fellaini has just been booked for wrestling Hernández to the floor in the middle of the pitch. He would have probably gotten away with that in the Premier League, but not on the continent.
35 mins: WHAT A SAVE!
Pogba gets himself onto the ball in the middle of the park and slides an inch-perfect through-ball into the path of Mkhitaryan, shaping in from the left.
He takes one touch to control the ball and is clear through on goal ... but an onrushing Alvarez makes himself big and saves his low shot from point blank range.
Superb.
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