Manchester United secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Bodo/Glimt in their Europa League clash at Old Trafford on Thursday, in a match that featured plenty of excitement and tactical twists. The game began with an early strike from Alejandro Garnacho, who found the net just 48 seconds in after an impressive off-the-ball assist from Rasmus Hojlund. However, the euphoria for the home crowd was short-lived as United’s defensive vulnerabilities allowed Bodo/Glimt to quickly score twice in succession, taking a surprising 2-1 lead.
Despite the setbacks, Manchester United responded before halftime, with Hojlund scoring a crucial goal in stoppage time to level the score at 2-2. The Denmark international, known for his poaching skills, then put United ahead for good in the second half with another well-taken finish, securing all three points for the Red Devils. Although United’s defense looked shaky in the dying minutes, they managed to hold on and complete the comeback.
Player performances were mixed throughout the match, with some standout individuals. Noussair Mazraoui was particularly impressive, earning an 8/10 rating for his exceptional intelligence and technical ability, notably assisting Hojlund’s first goal. Hojlund also earned an 8/10 for his work rate, skillful pressing, and decisive finishes. On the other hand, Tyrell Malacia, who was making his first start in over a year and a half, struggled significantly and received a 4/10 rating for being outpaced and caught out defensively.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana earned a 6/10, with some disappointment over conceding the second goal through his legs, but he did make a crucial intervention after a poor back pass from Diogo Dalot. Hojlund’s partner in attack, Garnacho, earned a 6/10 for his early goal, but his finishing let him down on a few other occasions. The substitutes, including Diogo Dalot and Marcus Rashford, had varying impacts, with Rashford showing promise but also missing opportunities.
Manchester United showed resilience in securing the win, but their defensive lapses remain a concern as they move forward in the competition.
