Manchester United setup a final matchday showdown with Real Sociedad to win Europa League Group E after beating Sheriff Tiraspol 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Goals from Diogo Dalot, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo made it four consecutive wins in the competition for Erik ten Hag’s side.
United in Focus has picked out Manchester United’s four best players from the win against the Moldovan league leaders.
Diogo Dalot
United’s number 20 is the only outfield player to have started every game under Ten Hag, but it highlights how important he’s become already to the Dutchman.
The former Porto man broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time after heading in Christian Eriksen’s corner to net his second United goal, and his first in European football.
The 23-year-old was given a much-deserved rest on the hour mark after being replaced by Luke Shaw.
Victor Lindelof
With Raphael Varane not available for United before the World Cup, Lindelof has the opportunity to get a run in the side alongside Lisandro Martinez.
The Iceman looks to be ahead of United captain Harry Maguire due to the former Leicester City man only just returning from injury.
With the fiery Argentine brought off at half-time with him a yellow card away from missing next week’s crucial trip to Real Sociedad, it was Sweden’s national team captain who was flying into tackles and firing up his teammates.
United’s number two was an assured presence at the back, and he’s seamlessly slotted into our backline whenever Varane has suffered a setback.
Christian Eriksen
No player from either side had as many touches (131) or created as many chances (6) as United’s influential number 14, reports WhoScored.
It was the 30-year-old’s teasing corner which gave Dalot the opportunity to give United the lead before half-time.
The Danish playmaker has four assists to his name for the Red Devils, and when teams sit in a low block like Sheriff did, Eriksen’s vision, creativity and guile is priceless.
Alejandro Garnacho
The 18-year-old Argentina wonderkid impressed on his first senior start for the Reds, and he ran Sheriff’s right-back ragged all evening.
United’s number 49 played like a young Cristiano Ronaldo – throwing stepovers and having the audacity to pluck the ball out the sky with deft touches.
Garnacho possesses the blistering pace like his idol once did, and like the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, the teenager has the special quality to get bums off seats and create a moment of brilliance out of nothing.
The former Atletico Madrid youngster will be hoping for further starts under Ten Hag, and the 52-year-old may have been sending Jadon Sancho a message with Garnacho picked ahead of him.
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