Porto v Manchester United LIVE: Result and final score as Harry Maguire saves Red Devils in Europa League
United boss Erik ten Hag was under intense scrutiny as he took his side to Porto in the second round of Europa League matches
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Super sub Harry Maguire’s stoppage-time header saved Manchester United’s blushes and potentially Erik ten Hag’s job as the Europa League clash with Porto ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Four days after their 3-0 home humiliation at the hands of Tottenham, the Red Devils put criticism of the players and their under-fire manager to the side with an impressive start in Portugal.
Goals from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund had United in control, only for Ten Hag’s men to lose their way and their defensive faculties as Pepe scored before Samu Omorodion’s brilliant brace.
Captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off for the second straight match as Ten Hag squirmed, only for Maguire to head home a Christian Eriksen corner in stoppage time to seal a point.
Porto team news
Only one change for Vitor Bruno’s Porto to the side that started their 4-0 win over Arouca on Sunday as Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustaquio replaces Nicolas Gonzalez.
Porto starting XI: Costa, Joao Mario, Ze Pedro, Nehuen, Moura, Varela, Eustaquio, Nico, Pepe, Galeno, Omorodion. Subs: Ramos, Djalo, Grujic, Fabio Vieira, Vasco Sousa, Ivan Jaime, Namaso, Andre Franco, Deniz Gul, Martim Fernandes, Goncalo Borges, Rodrigo Mora.
Man Utd team news
Rasmus Hojlund makes his first start of the campaign as Erik ten Hag makes four changes to the side that got beaten 3-0 by Tottenham on Sunday.
Manuel Ugarte, Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee all drop to the bench while Kobbie Mainoo misses out after being forced off against Spurs through injury.
Coming into the starting XI are Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Amad Diallo.
Man Utd starting XI: Onana, Mazraoui, De Light, Martinez, Dalot, Casemiro, Eriksen, Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund. Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, Evans, Lindelof, Maguire, Collyer, Gore, Ugarte, Antony, Garnacho, Zirkzee.
Antony on drew with FC Twente
Manchester United’s first Europa League game resulted in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against FC Twente last week.
“We were quite sad after the Twente game,” said winger Antony when asked about the game.
“We wanted the win and we had to analyse this afterwards but we’ve analysed the game now and the errors committed. But now we are ready for the next game and to get the three points.
“We need to focus on our game, not on them, and believe in our work and everything we have been doing in training. That way, we can get things right during the game.”
Antony on facing Porto
“Porto are an excellent team,” Man Utd winger Antony told the club’s media team ahead of flying out for the Europa League encounter.
“But we also have an excellent team. It will be a difficult game with Porto being at home but we will be well prepared ahead of the tie.
“I have heard a lot about the Estadio da Dragao, from Casemiro as well, as he played for Porto. It is a great stadium right? We are going to have a difficult game that we need to prepare well to have a great game.
“I know Pepe, I played with him with the national team and he is a great player. Brazilians always have something to offer.“
Will Porto come out on top?
Despite being beaten 3-2 by Bodo/Glimt in matchday one, the Portuguese side registered a whopping 28 shots, their most in a European match since they played Roma in 2019.
With such a high shot count things could easily get away from Man Utd who’s defence has not been as strong as it would like so far this season.
Porto vs Man Utd
The two clubs have met eight times with Manchester United winning three of these fixtures in comparison to Porto’s two victories.
The last time United visited the Estadio do Dragao, Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-range effort sealed a narrow 1-0 victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
Can the repeat that success tonight?
Bruno Fernandes’s new low is a symbol of Erik ten Hag’s collapsing Man Utd regime
The defence calls the Tottenham No 10. “Even [James] Maddison when he gets up, he said it was a foul but never a red card,” insisted Bruno Fernandes. And if it was an accurate version of events; but even if with a star witness, he was pleading in vain. “I don’t think it was a red card,” said Erik ten Hag. “I don’t know why VAR doesn’t call the referee to the screen,” added Fernandes
There is a simple answer to that: because Chris Kavanagh’s initial decision was correct, because a high challenge connected with Maddison’s leg when nowhere near the ball. Fernandes’s lunge looked reckless and out of control, the sort that could be deemed dangerous. Cut through the Portuguese’s grumbles, however, and there was one pertinent comment. “I let my teammates down with one man down,” said Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes’s new low is a symbol of Erik ten Hag’s collapsing Man Utd regime
Fernandes was sent off for the first time in his Manchester United career as the Red Devils slipped to a dismal defeat against Tottenham that spells big trouble for Ten Hag
Manchester United injury news
Here is a round-up of Manchester United’s injury concerns:
Kobbie Mainoo - The midfielder was substituted during the 3-0 defeat by Tottenham but trained with the squad this week and appears to be fully fit.
Mason Mount - Mount came on against Spurs only to be taken off again with a head injury. He sat out of training this week but it is thought to be a precautionary measure after he suffered a minor cut, rather than any concussion. He is a doubt for Porto but is likely to be available for the weekend’s trip to Aston Villa.
Harry Maguire - Maguire missed the Tottenham game with an unspecified knock in training, but he was back in training this week and is expected to be available.
Victor Lindelof - Lindelof is back in training and the Swedish defender could make his first appearance of the season in the coming weeks.
Luke Shaw - The full-back’s injury troubles have continued this season but he could be back later this month after progress from his calf strain.
Leny Yoro - The big-money signing is not expected to be fit until November after fracturing a foot bone. “Yes, he is doing very well,” Ten Hag said last week. “It is very pleasing that his rehab is going in the right direction and I expect him soon, but what I mean by soon, is that he is now in the right planning process.
“He is in the right spot and he will return as soon as possible into the squad and then the team training.”
Tyrell Malacia - The full-back missed the entire 2023-24 season with a knee injury, but he was named in United’s Europa League group stage squad to suggest a return is imminent. However, Malacia has still not featured in team training so November is a likely return.
Manchester United still in ‘transition'
Man Utd boss, Erik ten Hag, reiterated his claim that the team are in “transition” but can still achieve their targets this season.
Having won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his first two years in charge, Ten Hag believes United can challenge for silverware again.
“From the moment I came in, we knew we had to change,” he said. “We had to replace some older players and bring new players in. Our choice was to bring young players in and you know that takes time to get the messages on board, to get a game model on board and to introduce a new culture that takes time.
“In the meantime, you have to win and I think we have proven in the last two years, and we win. And I’ve proven in my career that always I will win. The last six years I have [won] eight trophies.
“We have to embed the game model, we have to embed a stronger team as we have now and so we have to work on our problems and give the solutions. We have a good potential on players so once it’s embedded we will go and we will drive, and I’m sure we will achieve the targets we have set for this season.
“That is always winning trophies and finishing as high as possible of course in the league because that is definitely a very important purpose for us.”
Man Utd need to keep up ‘belief’ says Ten Hag
Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag, says his players need to keep believing that they can turn their form and results around.
“The most important is always keeping the belief,” he told Sky Sports. “You stay in the game by keeping the belief. That’s the most important message that we have to give because if you lose your faith you lose everything.
“We have to keep going and stick to the plan and move on.”
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