Gabriele Biancheri is unstoppable, Man Utd wonderkid scores another brace in seven-goal U19 thriller

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Manchester United’s U19 side headed to Lithuania on Wednesday night to take on Zalgiris as the UEFA Youth League started.

The trip was ultimately successful for the Manchester United academy side who partook – winning the game 5-2 against Zalgiris in the first leg of the tie.

United were dominant and should have probably won by a heavier margin – but two goals after the 90th minute from the Lithuanian side made the scoreline less convincing for Adam Lawrence’s side.

With Erik ten Hag’s senior Red Devils not qualifying for the Champions League this season, the U19s are there on merit, earning it through the U18’s league triumph.

The game showed that this United side should go far in the tournament and there was one particular player who impressed us.

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Manchester United U19 win 5-2 in UEFA Youth League

The UEFA Youth League is the highest level of youth football in Europe in terms of recognition and it is often a real challenge for the youngsters.

Well, Wednesday was anything but a challenge for this U19 United side who cruised to a 5-2 victory.

Red-hot Gabriele Biancheri was of course the man who opened up the scoring in the 33rd minute with a header – continuing his immense form with a 14th goal of the season.

After the break Ethan Williams made it 2-0, before three minutes later Biancheri scored his second, making it 3-0 and game over for United.

Following his very impressive 2023/24 season, seeing Williams back among the goals is great and he got his own brace – with James Scanlon’s goal in the 92nd minute coming sandwiched between the two Zalgiris goals.

Another player to impress despite not scoring was Shea Lacey with the winger emerging from the bench and getting two assists.

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Gabriele Biancheri deserves to be recognised by Erik ten Hag

Any time Biancheri is on the pitch he seems to score – as has been the case in every U18 appearance he’s made this season. Even while on international duty for Wales U19 Biancheri was unstoppable.

Biancheri is almost stuck in limbo though at United right now, stuck behind Ethan Wheatley in the pecking order, while his U18 spot is likely gone due to his age and the arrival of Chido Obi-Martin.

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However, as he keeps banging in the goals, surely Ten Hag must be taking note and planning to afford Biancheri some of the opportunities which have almost exclusively been Wheatley’s this season.

It is time that Biancheri is used in first-team training and given the chance in squads – otherwise, perhaps a loan could be coming his way in January as we are sure Ineos will be watching him closely.