RB Leipzig vs Manchester United player ratings as disappointing Red Devils head into the Europa League

Leipzig 3-2 Man United: Early strikes from Angelino and Haidara put the German side in control and Kluivert added a crucial third in the second half, before late strikes from Fernandes and Pogba

Karl Matchett
Tuesday 08 December 2020 22:05 GMT
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Manchester United are out of the Champions League after a 3-2 defeat at RB Leipzig.

The German side made the best possible start as Angelino - on loan from Manchester City - smacked in a fine, low finish just two minutes into the game.

United barely laid a glove on Leipzig in the first half and conceded another to Amadou Haidara inside the opening quarter of an hour, while Willi Orban then had a third strike ruled out for offside.

READ MORE: Champions League fixtures and standings — all matches by date and kick-off time

United had more of the ball after the break and struck the crossbar from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick - but within a couple of minutes, Justin Kluivert had scored the third after terribly hesitant defending. Fernandes scored a penalty and Paul Pogba quickly added another, but in truth United were well short of their opponents overall.

The win sent Leipzig through and means United will be in the Europa League in the new year despite having only needed one point from their last two group games to reach the last 16. Here are the Manchester United player ratings from Tuesday night.

David de Gea - 5. Couldn’t do much about the first couple of goals but was so, so slow to react for the killer third.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 4. Roasted right from the start by Angelino and never improved defensively.

Victor Lindelof - 5. The best of a bad bunch at the back. Won a few aerials and clearances.

Harry Maguire - 4. A very poor game. Missed several interceptions including one for the third goal. Was a bit of a threat at the other end.

Luke Shaw - 5. Started as a centre-back then switched to left in a four. Didn’t excel at either. Poor set-piece delivery.

Alex Telles - 5. Subbed at the break having offered nothing in either half of the pitch.

Scott McTominay - 7. The one midfield member who kept trying to force United forward, take the game to Leipzig and drag his team upfield, especially during the first half.

Nemanja Matic - 5. Easily bypassed with United outnumbered in the middle.

Bruno Fernandes - 6. Didn’t have much involvement in the game until the latter stages, then struck the bar with a free-kick, scored a penalty and created another couple of chances.

Mason Greenwood - 5. A few runs offered promise and a couple of shots tested Gulacsi, but he was mostly a peripheral figure throughout.

Marcus Rashford - 6. Similarly showed moments of quality with his dribbling and a few strikes on goal, but not influential enough to trouble Leipzig all night.

Subs

Donny van de Beek - 6. On at the break but limited influence.

Paul Pogba - 7. Got lucky with a poor backpass but did well in attack and netted the second with a powerful leap and header.

Brandon Williams - 6. No real impact from left-back.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah - n/a. Not long enough on the pitch to make a difference.

Axel Tuanzebe - n/a. Solskjaer’s final late sub was a centre-back rather than striker Odion Ighalo.

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