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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)
59 mins: Almost from Sisto!
The winger has been lively for Celta down the left and cuts inside once again before shooting low on goal.
The ball takes a wicked deflection of the leg of Valencia and almost loops in over Romero, but the keeper is aware to the danger and, back-pedalling, he's able to tip it over the bar. Fine save.
Fellaini heads the corner clear.
61 mins: There's been a lot of chat like this on Twitter which I think is really, really harsh.
Celta haven't been as good as United, granted, but they've had a couple of really good opportunities and Sergio Alvarez has dug them out of trouble on the occasions their defence has let them down.
And United haven't even scored against them yet. So there.
62 mins: Grim from Rashford.
He floats out to the left and beats Cabral to the ball, before storming down the pitch. He gets to the edge of the penalty box and has options, but fancies the shot himself.
Wrong decision. He shanks one wide.
65 mins: Celta win a corner. It's aimed at the back-stick but Romero is quick off his line and catches the ball well under pressure.
He kicks the ball long to Rashford but it just evades the young forward, denying United the counter.
66 mins: Mallo cynically blocks off Rashford to prevent a counter-attack. He's booked.
GOAL! Celta Vigo 0 Manchester United 1 (Rashford '67)
What. A. Goal.
Direct from the free-kick he just won!
68 mins: Lovely stuff. The free-kick was around 25-yards out and over to the right. Blind, a left-footer, ran over the ball, allowing Rashford to swing in a shot with his right-foot.
He curled it over the wall and into the top corner of the goal, beyond the lunge of Sergio Alvarez. A really nice hit, that.
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