Five things we learned as Manchester United lose to Istanbul Basaksehir

Manchester United’s good form in the Champions League ran out against Istanbul Basaksehir.

United lost 2-1 in Turkey to make it two defeats in a row. The pressure is growing on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Here is a look at five things we learned from the game…

Disorganised defensive lapse

United went 1-0 down after 12 minutes when Demba Ba was allowed a free run on goal.

Nobody slipped to give him the opportunity, instead United’s defenders were just horrendously positioned.

35-year-old Demba Ba scores against Manchester United on a one-man counter-attack…

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Nemanja Matic was the last man chasing him back and he could not stop him.

This was a mistake from a team lacking organisation. It was a new look midfield, and a new look defence.

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United’s pairing of Axel Tuanzebe and Harry Maguire were playing together for the first time in 2020, and it showed.

Beforehand, Maguire and Victor Lindelof had been picking up form, conceding just one goal from the penalty spot in the past three matches against top level opponents.

United broke this up and this was the result. Tuanzebe needed game time, but sometimes when you make changes for the sake of it, they come back to bite you.

Istanbul Basaksehir v Manchester United: Group H - UEFA Champions League — Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images

You can’t underestimate anybody

Manchester United were favourites to win this game after two big wins against PSG and RB Leipzig.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rotated the team, with one eye on rescuing the team’s terrible Premier League form this weekend.

But the problem is that this is the Champions League, not the Europa League.

United’s team lacked intensity and it showed. Istanbul were sharper and more dangerous, and made United pay.

Solskjaer made too many changes, with the defence and midfield fielding new combinations for the first time this season. You can’t afford to do that in the Champions League and not expect there to be fallout.

FBL-EUR-C1-BASAKSEHIR-MAN UTD — Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Shaw and Martial provide minor positives

United went 2-0 down in the 41st minute. The team responded well, pulling a goal back a minute later.

This came from a cross from the left from Luke Shaw, which was glanced into the net by Anthony Martial.

The cross was Shaw’s first assist for the season. This also equals his tally for last season.

This was also Martial’s first goal from open play this season, and following his penalty against RB Leipzig, he has scored in two successive games.

Two in two games could be the start of a longer, more productive run.

Failure to harness attacking talent

United lined up with an attacking formation, with no cohesive plan of attack.

On paper, Bruno Fernandes, Donny van de Beek and Juan Mata all supporting Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial should have guaranteed goals.

United had just one shot on target in the first half, and Mata and Van de Beek were both substituted after an hour, having created just one chance each.

This looked like a case of throwing players together and hoping it clicked. It didn’t.

Chance blown

United had an opportunity to move clear to nine points in this group.

RB Leipzig and PSG play in the later game, so the impact of this result is yet to be determined.

Even if they draw and United end up with a two point lead at the top, it will serve to highlight what a missed opportunity this is.

A win over Istanbul at Old Trafford next time will still put us in a strong position to qualify – but considering our poor home form, a win is no guarantee.

This was a blown chance to capitalise on our early two wins, and United may go on to regret this.

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