Manchester United have drawn 2-2 with Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-final first leg at Old Trafford.
Here is a look at five things we learned from the game…
Marcel Sabitzer is becoming a must-buy
It was a big call from Erik ten Hag to select Marcel Sabitzer for this game, ahead of Fred, also deciding not to rush Christian Eriksen back.
Sabitzer repaid his manager’s trust by scoring the opening goal of the game in the first half of this quarter-final tie.
It was a well taken strike, with Sabitzer cleverly moving into space between the centre-backs and picked out by Fernandes. A great first touch set up a good scoring opportunity and he took it well.
Sabitzer doubled his tally and United’s lead in the 20th minute when Anthony Martial’s pass put him through on goal. Another sharp finish saw him convert past Bounou.
He is only on loan from Bayern Munich, but there is hope a deal can be struck in the summer. It is looking more and more like an essential.
No Rashford, no problem
This was Manchester United’s first match since Marcus Rashford picked up an injury at the weekend. The team coped well going forward.
Erik ten Hag was confident ahead of the tie, happy with the attacking options at his disposal. He was right to be, and his decision to deploy Sabitzer in an advanced role again was a masterstroke.
United needed players to step up in Rashford’s absence, and they certainly did in attack. This bodes well for the forthcoming games the top scorer will also miss.
Anthony Martial led the line well and set up Sabitzer’s second. Jadon Sancho and Antony were both threats, although fading late in the game.
Bruno Fernandes will miss second leg
Bruno Fernandes will miss the second leg after picking up an unjust yellow card for handball in the first half.
Even with Christian Eriksen now available, the team’s assist leader will still be missed in Seville.
If there’s an upside, it is that Fernandes can’t get booked in the second leg and then miss the semi-final. This is a scenario still hanging over Casemiro.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are now injury worries
Raphael Varane has not had much luck with injuries since joining Manchester United. But in recent months he had been going quite well.
Erik ten Hag even rested him ahead of this fixture, trying to keep him fresh. Varane’s luck deserted him against Sevilla.
He was taken off at half-time and replaced with Harry Maguire amid an injury scare. Hopefully it was just a precaution.
United were leading 2-0 at half-time and Varane is too good to take any chances with. He made a crucial intervention at the end of the first half too, clearing the ball off the line with a header.
This problem doubled when Lisandro Martinez went down untouched at the end of the game.
He had to be helped off by two Sevilla players and he was taken down the tunnel on a stretcher.
There is a fear his injury is serious and he could miss substantial time.
United let it slip
After 20 minutes this looked like Manchester United were on the way to a repeat of the famous Roma win, at 2-0 up.
But the deluge of goals never came. Antony rattled the post and that was as close as United came to adding to the taly.
Sevilla scored what looked like a consolation, and United then had to close the game out with 10 men after Martinez’s injury.
This felt like a missed opportunity. The foot was on Sevilla’s throats and United eased off. Sevilla scored a deflected equaliser to tie the game at 2-2.
Now the second leg is going to be a real fight, rather than the dead-rubber we had hoped it might end up being.
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