Key points
It was a disappointing evening for Erik ten Hag, as his Manchester United side were held to a 1-1 draw at home in their UEFA Europa League opener against FC Twente.
It promised to be a night to remember for the Dutch boss, who was facing the club he started and ended his player career with.
And for the first hour, it looked as if his memories of the game would be only positive, as United dominated their Eredivisie opponents.
The pressure eventually told when Christian Eriksen opened the scoring with a rasping strike, handing the hosts a vital lead heading into the half-time break.
However, a slow start to the second period allowed Twente a route back into the game, and in the 68th minute, former Rangers striker Sam Lammers levelled the scoreline with a tidy finish.
Much to the frustration of the home fans, that’s how the match ended, as United’s late pressure couldn’t force a goal.
Next up for the Red Devils is Spurs in the Premier League, who visit Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
In the meantime, here’s how United’s first Europa League game of the season unfolded tonight.
That’s all for tonight
Thanks for joining our live coverage of Manchester United vs FC Twente.
We’ll be back on Sunday as Spurs visit Old Trafford in the Premier League.
See you then!
[Link]Man United’s Europa League fixtures
Here’s what lies ahead for Ten Hag’s side, who have seven games left in the League Phase:
– October 3 v Porto (A)
– October 24 v Fenerbahce (A)
– November 7 v PAOK (H)
– November 28 v Bodo Glimt (H)
– December 12 v Viktoria Plzen (A)
– January 23 v Rangers (H)
– January 30 v FCSB (A)
[Link]Eriksen – It feels like a loss
“We’re disappointed as a team,” Christian Eriksen told TNT Sports after the match.
“We wanted more but it was far from good enough. They looked like they wanted it more than us and that can’t be right. It feels like a loss.”
Rashford makes his point
There were some poor performances on the pitch tonight, but United fans were all in agreement over one man’s display. Find out more below.
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Europa League – as it stands
Manchester United are currently 10th out of 36 in the Europa League table following tonight’s draw.
Lazio lead the way after night one, having beaten Dynamo Kyiv 3-0 away from home.
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Second-half was ‘unacceptable’
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Micky Gray states: “Erik ten Hag’s body language [on the touchline] is as bad as I’ve seen.
“It’s just shocking, it really is. That was a game they [United] had in the bag. That was just unacceptable, what we’ve seen in the second half.
“That is as bad as it gets.”
[Link]Five things we learned tonight
There are plenty of key take-aways for the Red Devils, which you can read about below.
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FULL-TIME – Manchester United 1-1 Twente
Not the result United were looking for.
Stick with us for all the reaction from Old Trafford.
[Link]Martinez shot cleared off the line! (92 mins)
The United defender is narrowly denied from a corner, after his pot-shot is cleared off the Twente goal-line.
Agonisingly close…
[Link]Twente camped in their own box (88 mins)
It’s all United here.
They’re pushing hard for a winner, with Garnacho looking the most likely to make something happen.
[Link]United penalty appeal (86 mins)
Mainoo turns well in the area and is blocked off by Hilgers.
The home supporters appeal for a penalty but Mainoo gets straight to his feet and doesn’t echo their calls.
Nothing given.
[Link]Garnacho goes close (83 mins)
The Argentine curls a speculative effort over the bar from the left edge of the area.
[Link]Substitutions – Twente (81 mins)
OFF – Sam Lammers, Youri Regeer
ON – Gustaf Lagerbielke, Gijs Besselink
[Link]10 minutes to go…
United look improved after the triple sub, with Bruno having a decent effort at goal. They’re running out of time though.
Substitutions – Man United (79 mins)
OFF – Christian Eriksen, Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford
ON – Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo.
[Link]Chance for Zirkzee (76 mins)
A lovely little step-over from the Dutchman affords him the space to get a shot off – which is pushed over the bar impressively by Unnerstall.
That’s more like it from the hosts.
[Link]Gray – United are ‘all over the shop’
TalkSPORT’s Micky Gray isn’t holding back in his assessment of Ten Hag’s side this half…
[Link]20 minutes to go…
United simply haven’t gotten going in this half, but they need inspiration from somewhere.
The visiting fans are in full voice here as Twente look like a side transformed.
[Link]GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Twente (Lammers, 68′)
The visitors are level!
Eriksen goes from hero to zero after being caught out in possession.
Van Rooij takes the ball forward and plays in Lammers, who makes no mistake in front of goal this time – with his near-post finish flying past a helpless Onana.
[Link]Substitution – Man United (67 mins)
OFF – Amad Diallo
ON – Alejandro Garnacho
A slight surprise given how sharp Diallo has looked.
[Link]Onana saves from Steijn! (60 mins)
Twente have come alive here.
Steijn’s free-kick from range is saved well by Onana, before Hilgers heads over the bar from a corner-kick.
United need to reassert control here…
[Link]Yellow card – Lisandro Martinez (56 mins)
The Argentine is a little over-aggressive in a duel with Steijn…
[Link]Amad and Rashford threaten (52 mins)
Both United wingers have gotten in behind the Twente back-line this half.
Amad’s menacing run to the byline earns United a corner kick, from which Maguire fires a half-volley straight at the keeper.
Second-half underway
Here we go for the second 45 minutes, United will be looking to put this game away as quickly as they can after their dominance in the first-half.
The hosts are attacking the Stretford End.
[Link]Erik ten Hag throwback
The United boss has come a long way since he hung up his playing boots at FC Twente in 2002…
HALF-TIME
Man United lead 1-0 at the break, but they could have easily added a few more goals.
Erik ten Hag will be pleased with what he’s seen, as they recovered well after Lammers’ early chance.
[Link]United push for a second goal (40 mins)
The hosts haven’t taken their foot off the gas here.
They look a threat whenever they venture forward, with Mazraoui’s cross the latest to cause panic in the Twente box.
[Link]Savage – Eriksen is the ‘man to watch’
“I said it before, Eriksen was the man to watch,” pundit Robbie Savage says on TNT Sports.
“The finish is absolutely wonderful. Across the goalkeeper, gets his laces through it, beautiful strike.
“The overload has allowed Manchester United to do that.”
[Link]GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Twente (Eriksen, 34′)
What a goal from the Dane!
Eriksen is the first to react to a loose ball just inside the Twente box. The veteran midfielder hammers it into the far corner of the net to hand United a richly deserved lead.
Brilliant stuff.
[Link]Zirkzee inches away from opener (32 mins)
The Dutch forward very nearly gets on the end of a fine cross by Rashford, but cant quite get his boot in the way.
Rashford has been excellent so far, with Twente Right-back Van Rooij unable to deal with him.
[Link]Micky Gray full of praise for Ugarte
The TalkSPORT pundit claims Ugarte could become a ‘very good signing’ for United after making a strong start to the game.
[Link]Wonderful save from Unnerstall! (26 mins)
He prevents a certain own goal from Van Wolfswinkel.
The Twente stopper flings himself high to his left, clawing the ball away to safety. It’s United’s best chance – despite being crafted by a Twente striker.
[Link]United dominate the ball (20 mins)
They’ve had plenty of possession and territory, but are yet to make it count.
Despite United having over 60% of the ball, Twente keeper Unnerstall is yet to be tested.
[Link]Bruno shot blocked (18 mins)
It’s another fine move from United, with Amad eventually cutting the ball into the Twente penalty box.
It falls kindly to Bruno, whose shot is well blocked.
“It’s fantastic from Amad,” says Micky Gray on TalkSPORT.
Frenetic start at Old Trafford (10 mins)
United have responded well to Lammers’ big chance, looking very threatening from a corner kick.
The set-piece ends with Rashford taking a snapshot, which is well blocked.
It’s a open one so far…
[Link]Lammers goes close! (6 mins)
Lammers really should have handed Twente an early lead.
The Dutch striker latches onto a cross by Van Rooij, but can’t direct it into the corner of the net from close range.
A huge early let-off for the hosts.
[Link]The rain is pouring
It’s a pretty grim evening in Manchester weather-wise. It was bucketing it down before the match – and is still drizzling now.
It’s already affecting the surface, which is very slick.
[Link]KICK-OFF
We’re underway at Old Trafford!
Can United get off to a flying start in the Europa League tonight?
[Link]10 minute warning
Get the kettle on now because kick-off is quickly approaching at Old Trafford.
[Link]New Europa League format explained
Still unsure why tonight’s game is taking place on a Wednesday rather than a Thursday? Read the article below to find out.
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Last time out
United will be looking to improve on their last result, after drawing 0-0 at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Twente, meanwhile, come into tonight’s fixture on the back of a thumping 5-0 victory over Almere in the Eredivisie on Sunday.
[Link]Man United vs Twente – a historic meeting
Remarkably, the two clubs have never previously played each other in a competitive match.
There is one major connection between them – Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils boss started and ended his playing career at Twente, earning over 200 league appearances for the Dutch club.
Confirmed FC Twente line-up
And here’s how the visitors line-up this evening…
Twente starting XI: Unnerstall; Van Rooij, Hilgers, Bruns, Salah-Eddine; Reeger, Vlap, Steijn; Van Bergen, Van Wolfswinkel, Lammers
Subs: Besselink, Eiting, El Maach, Kuipers, Lagerbielke, Ltaief, Mesbahi, Rots, Tyton, Kjolo, Van Hoorenbeeck
[Link]Mount returns to United bench
While several United players have met Twente in the past, none have a better record against the Eredivisie side than midfielder Mason Mount.
Read about his record against Twente in the article below.
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Confirmed Manchester United line-up
Man Utd starting XI: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Eriksen, Bruno (C), Amad, Zirkzee, Rashford
Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, De Ligt, Evans, Casemiro, Collyer, Mainoo, Mount, Antony, Garnacho, Hojlund
[Link]UIF prediction and analysis
Read about some of tonight’s key battles and how the game is likely to unfold in the article below.
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Good evening!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Manchester United vs Twente in the UEFA Europa League.
We’ll shortly be bringing you our predicted line-ups and United injury news ahead of tonight’s 8pm (GMT) kick-off.
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