Celtic 2-1 Lazio
Read Ewan Murray’s report from Celtic Park:
Arsenal 3-2 Vitória
Read Nick Ames’s report from the Emirates:
Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney talks. “It shows the other side of our game, it shows we’ve got fight and desire and that’s a positive for us,” he says. “I like playing with Gabi [Martinelli] and I hate playing against him. It’s a pleasure to play alongside him and you can see how clinical he is in front of goal. Everyone’s been magic with me [since joining from Celtic in the summer]. This is only my second 90 minutes in five or six months, so I’m just delighted to be back fit.”
Europa League results
Group A
Qarabag 2-2 Apoel Nicosia
Sevilla 3-0 Dudelange
Group B
Dynamo Kiev 1-1 Copenhagen
Malmo 2-1 Lugano
Group C
Getafe 0-1 Basel
Trabzonspor 0-2 Krasnodar
Group D
PSV Eindhoven 0-0 LASK
Sporting Lisbon 1-0 Rosenborg
Group E
Celtic 2-1 Lazio
Rennes 0-1 Cluj
Group F
Arsenal 3-2 Vitoria
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Standard Liege
Group G
Porto 1-1 Rangers
Young Boys 2-0 Feyenoord
Group H
CSKA Moscow 0-1 Ferencvaros
Ludogorets 0-1 Espanyol
Group I
Gent 2-2 Wolfsburg
Saint Etienne 1-1 Oleksandria
Group J
Istanbul Basaksehir 1-0 RZ Pellets
Roma 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach
Group K
Besiktas 1-2 Sporting Braga
Slovan Bratislava 1-2 Wolves
Group L
AZ Alkmaar 6-0 Astana
Partizan Belgrade 0-1 Man Utd
Updated
Full-time: Celtic 2-1 Lazio
Christopher Jullien’s goal is the winner – but only after Fraser Forster makes a world-class stoppage-time save to deny Cataldi a scorching leveller. Celtic top Group E.
Updated
Full-time: Arsenal 3-2 Vitoria
Nicolas Pepe gets Arsenal out of jail. Arsenal top Group F.
Updated
GOAL! Arsenal 3-2 Vitoria (Pepe, 90+2)
Another stunning postage-stamp free-kick. Unai Emery does not move an inch but applauds his record signing’s work.
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90 min: Five added minutes at a rocking Celtic Park for the hosts to hang on. Fraser Forster has just clung on to the ball to take the sting out of a Lazio attack. Meanwhile, there will be three added minutes at the Emirates, where Arsenal have another inviting free-kick 20 yards from goal ...
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GOAL! Celtic 2-1 Lazio (Jullien, 89)
Huge. Ryan Christie, who equalised for Celtic, sends in a corner and Christopher Jullien towers above everyone to glance home.
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87 min: Rochinha replaces Davidson.
85 min: It is almost deja vu for Pepe and Arsenal – but Vitória survive another dangerous free-kick from an almost identical position.
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82 min: Shkodran Mustafi, of all people, plays a wondrous weighted pass in behind the Vitória defence. Héctor Bellerín ghosts in and cuts the ball back for Martinelli, who is already celebrating in his head. Martinelli does almost everything right but Silva makes a fine save. Arsenal have gone up a gear since that exquisite strike.
Updated
GOAL! Arsenal 2-2 Vitória (Pepe, 80)
A £72m strike. Wonderful, curling left-footed effort.
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79 min: Vitória’s Pepe pulls back Torreira. Arsenal win a free-kick 25-odd yards from goal. Nicolas Pepe fancies it ...
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76 min: The big guns are on at Celtic Park. Ciro Immobile has been summoned in place of Correa, with Lazio determined to up the ante after that equaliser. At Arsenal, a lot rests on Pepe making a splash. Owing to Emery making a double change at the break, Arsenal are all out of subs. Elsewhere in the group, Eintracht Frankfurt are two goals to the good, with the Austria defender Martin Hinteregger adding a second.
Updated
75 min: Lacazette is booked for dissent and that’s the forward’s last contribution, with record signing Nicolas Pepe on in his place.
72 min: Arsenal are knocking on the door. Torreira and Lacazette have tried to make in-roads. Nicolas Pepe’s arrival is imminent.
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70 min: Marcus Edwards, the former Spurs youngster who opened the scoring at the Emirates, is withdrawn. On comes André Pereira.
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GOAL! Celtic 1-1 Lazio (Christie, 67)
Parity at Celtic Park! Ryan Christie applies a sweeping finish across goal after nifty hold-up play by the striker Odsonne Edouard.
Updated
64 min: Pepe is on ... but not for Arsenal. Vitória make a change, with Pedro Rodrigues Pepe on for the visitors in place of André Almeida.
Updated
59 min: Lacazette makes the most of a contretemps with García – it’s handbags at most – but the Frenchman pretends he’s been head butted. Nice try. García gets a booking for his part in giving Lacazette a minor bump bu the referee’s not buying the Arsenal forward’s theatrics. Lacazette is fortunate to escape a yellow.
Updated
55 min: Rennes, who are in Celtic’s group, are having a nightmare at home to Cluj. Not only do they trail 1-0 but the Ligue 1 side are also down to nine men after Eduardo Camavinga joined Edouard Mendy in being sent off.
54 min: Smith Rowe volleys wide! The Arsenal midfielder ends up shinning it for a goal-kick, after good work down the left flank by Tierney, who bombed to the byline before delivering a tricky cross. Tierney’s cross was cleared by the visitors, but only as far as Smith Rowe, who failed to punish Vitória.
Updated
51 min: Celtic are yet to get going this half – and nor are Arsenal.
50 min: Arsenal go to sleep in defence – again – and Davidson nips in to head at goal. But his effort is straight at a grateful Martínez, who saved from Almeida at his near post moments earlier.
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49 min: Mustafi nods wide! The German defender gets up above his marker to meet Dani Ceballos’s beautiful first-time cross, but the execution is not good enough. His header is off target and Vitória surge forward up the other end.
Updated
47 min: Smith Rowe does well, really well ... but then Lucas Torreira runs into trouble after picking up the pass. Smith Rowe, the academy graduate from Croydon, has been lively. He has probably been the best of a bad bench thus far. At Celtic Park, Lazio and Celtic renew battle. No changes.
Updated
46 min: Arsenal needed to change something – and Unai Emery has at the break. Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Joe Willock have been withdrawn. Dani Ceballos and Matteo Guendouzi on. Mesut Özil? He’s at home with his feet up.
Europa League half-time scores on the doors:
Group A
Sevilla 0-0 Dudelange
Group B
Dynamo Kiev 0-1 Copenhagen
Malmo 2-0 Lugano
Group C
Getafe 0-1 Basel
Trabzonspor 0-0 Krasnodar
Group D
PSV Eindhoven 0-0 LASK
Sporting Lisbon 0-0 Rosenborg
Group E
Celtic 0-1 Lazio
Rennes 0-1 Cluj
Group F
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 Standard Liege
Updated
Half-time: Celtic 0-1 Lazio
The Scottish Premiership leaders trail at the interval.
Half-time: Arsenal 1-2 Vitória
Bruno Duarte’s goal gives the Portuguese side the lead at the break.
GOAL! Celtic 0-1 Lazio (Lazzari, 39)
Lazio kill Celtic on the counterattack. Manuel Lazzari cuts in from the right flank and smashes the ball beyond a hapless Fraser Forster. Back in north London at the Emirates, Davidson sends a shot just past Emiliano Martínez’s left post! The Arsenal goal has been under siege throughout this first half.
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38 min: Vitória’s tails are up now. Meanwhile, up at Celtic Park, the winger Callum McGregor lashes an effort at goal – but his shot is deflected wide.
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GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Vitória (Duarte, 37)
Shambolic defending by Arsenal. So sloppy. Bruno Duarte da Silva punishes Arsenal after Davidson drove forward and rattled a post. It was Ainsley Maitland-Niles who surrendered possession after a hospital pass by Torreira. In fairness Duarte’s finish was better than he will get credit for – he absolutely rifled it in after seizing on Davidson’s seconds. Arsenal are back to square one.
Updated
33 min: Emile Smith Rowe almost adds a second – but his shot deflects just wide of goal. Smith Rowe was slid in by Joe Willock. Arsenal have woken up.
Updated
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Vitória (Martinelli, 32)
Gabriel Martinelli nods in Kieran Tierney’s cross. It was a wonderful ball in from the left and the teenager, left unmarked in the box, glanced home. It was Tierney’s first meaningful foray down the flank and how Arsenal and Martinelli were rewarded, with the striker heading in to give Unai Emery’s side something to build on after the most lacklustre start imaginable.
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29 min: At last, Arsenal seem to be stirring. Héctor Bellerín skates down the right and whips in a cross, which Martinelli tries and fails to meet. Arsenal waste the resulting corner but that’s about as good as it’s got thus far. Elsewhere, Eintracht Frankfurt lead Standard Liege 1-0 courtesy of Tammy David Abraham.
25 min: Martinelli tries to break from halfway but ultimately the teenager gets crowded out, with Venancio intervening. Credit to Martinelli, who then goes bustling after it – the Brazilian wants a second bite of the cherry – but Vitória snuff him out. Meanwhile, get a load of Jamie Jackson’s report from Belgrade:
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23 min: Héctor Bellerín is again exposed down the Arsenal right, with the Portuguese side furrowing into a gaping hole left by the full-back. A low cross trickles into the box but Arsenal eventually clear their lines.
21 min: Emery asked his Arsenal players for an aggressive and passionate display. This is not it. They have been lukewarm at best.
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17 min: Emile Smith Rowe turns beautifully but the visitors get the block in, just as the Arsenal youngster pulls the trigger. Meanwhile, in Group E, Cluj have taken the lead away to Rennes, with Ciprian Deac striking. Celtic remain level-pegging at 0-0 – but Ryan Christie has just rattled the woodwork for the hosts.
16 min: Arsenal really have not going. A penny for the thoughts of Mesut Özil, who continues to up the stakes in the the PR war. Around 15 minutes before kick-off, he tweeted a picture of him training with Robert Pires.
12 min: Arsenal, it is fair to say, are at sixes and sevens defensively. They are all over the shop. The Vitória fans are really enjoying themselves. It was some finish from Edwards.
Of course Marcus Edwards scores 👀
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 24, 2019
The former Spurs academy player puts Vitória ahead at the Emirates! pic.twitter.com/KbjrW1JMNe
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GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Vitória (Edwards, 8)
The former Spurs winger strikes. Of course. The 20-year-old, who was born in Camden Town, a stone’s throw from the Emirates, opens the scoring. It is a brilliant finish but Edwards wrings both Kieran Tierney and Héctor Bellerín inside out, twisting and turning in the box before getting the shot off, firing across goal. Arsenal did not heed that earlier warning.
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5 min: It has not been the most riveting start at the Emirates. André Almeida was allowed to swivel inside the box by Rob Holding and the Portuguese fired off a shot but, in the end, it lacked conviction. It was a well-worked move, with Vitória scooting in off the right. At Celtic, a goal-saving block by Jacinto Quissanga prevents Odsonne Edouard from giving the hosts an early lead.
A reminder of the team news:
Arsenal v Vitória
Arsenal: Martinez; Bellerín, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney; Torreira, Willock; Maitland-Niles, Smith Rowe, Martinelli; Lacazette
Subs: Leno, Chambers, Kolasinac, Ceballos, Guendouzi, Pepe, Saka
Vitória: Silva; Garcia, Venancio, Tapsoba, Hanin; Almeida, Agu, Poha; Edwards, Duarte, Davidson
Subs: Douglas, Pedrao, Bonatini, Rochinha, Mohamed, Pereira, Pepe
Celtic v Lazio
Celtic: Forster; Elhamed, Jullien, Ajer, Bolingoli-Mbombo; Brown, McGregor; Forrest, Christie, Elyounoussi; Edouard
Subs: Gordon, Bauer, Hayes, Bitton, Sinclair, Rogic, Bayo
Lazio: Strakosha; Bastos, Vavro, Acerbi; Lazzari, Parolo, Leiva, Milinkovic-Savic, Jony; Caicedo, Correa
Subs: Marchi, Gil, Berisha, Immobile, Lulic, Guerrieri, Cataldi
Updated
Anyway, that’s us – Ben Fisher will take you through the rest of the night.
Arsenal are coming out against Vitoria - they line up like this:
📋 Our team news for tonight's @EuropaLeague fixture…
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 24, 2019
🇫🇷 @LacazetteAlex starts
🇪🇸 @HectorBellerin captains the side
🏴 @KieranTierney1 also in the XI
🇧🇷 Martinelli earns another starting place
🏆 #UEL
AZ giving Astana six tells you all you need to know about United. They are rotten.
Let’s round up the other results *performs extremely James Alexander Gordon voice*:
Besiktas 1-2 Braga
Roma 1-1 Gladbach
CSKA 0-1 Ferencvaros
Qarabag 2-2 Apoel
Ludogorets -1 Espanyol
St Etienne 1-1 Oleksandriya
Gent 2-2 Wolfsburg
Istanbul Basaksehir 1-0 Wolfsberg
AZ 6-0 Astana
Updated
In the studio, Paul Scholes and Robin van Persie are laying into United, with sadness. Scholes laments the fact that there is no good football, no little moves to enjoy, no signs of progress. He notes that they only look dangerous on the counter – otherwise, they’re painful to watch.
Full-time: Slovan Bratislava 1-2 Wolves
That’s very impressive from Wolves, who were much improved in the second half. If they win the return in two weeks, they’ll be very nearly through.
Updated
Full-time: Porto 1-1 Rangers
What a result that is! Rangers earned the everything out of that, solid at the back and in goal, committed in midfield and aggressive in attack. They sit second in the group with four points; Porto have four points too, while Young Boys have six and Feyenoord three.
Full-time: Partizan 0-1 Manchester united
United win away for the first time since March, for the first time in five weeks their defence has seen out an odd-goal advantage, and they’re nearly. That’s the good news; the bad news is that they looked pretty poor while so doing, producing almost no decent football and needing a penalty to shade miserable opponents.
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Three additional minutes in Oporto...
Four additional minutes in Bratislava...
Three additional minutes in Belgrade...
RED CARD JOTA!
I’m afraid I missed what happened, but he went for two bookable offences. Can Wolves hang on?
Updated
McGregor to the rescue! What a double save! First, when a ball is flighted to the far post, he saves Soares’ volleyed shot, and then, when Luiz tees up Danilo, he extends a foot to save again.
Barisic curls just over the top.
Morelos seizes on a loose pass and sets off towards goal. He’s forced wide and Pepe doesn’t need asking twice, upending him as soon as there’s no risk of a red card. Free-kick Rangers, just outside the box, right of centre; Gerrard brings on Arfield and Ojo for Barker and Jack,
Braga now lead in Istanbul. If the scores stay as are, they’ll be top of the group with seven points, in front of Wolves with six, Bratislava with four and Besiktas with 1.
Updated
And have a look! Partizan win a corner, it goes to Asano at the near post, and he contorts nicely to send a header goalwards as Williams charges the space, playground style, but Romero makes a really smart reaction save.
United, though, do not like clean sheets.
Bloody hell, it’s been a good few days for Andreas Pereira. First, he does well against Liverpool, now he’s coming on for James Garner like he’s some sort of first choice, as United try and hold on for the win.
Rangers are giving as good as they get in Oporto.
“Will you please stop interrupting the discussion of City of God with meaningless references to football, please?” asks Andy Wilson. “Out Goodfellas Goodfellas.”
It’s rare to see a film whose aesthetic is so overwhelming, but that is one. The pace is also perfect, absorbingly quick, but slow when it needs to be.
In United’s group, AZ are 2-0 up at home to Astana. Most likely, everyone else beats them twice so the group will be decided by the three-way between United, Partizan and AZ.
In Wolves’ group, Besiktas have equalised against Braga.
Nice from Partizan, Nacho into Soumah, who touches off first-time for Sadiq, who spanks low and just wide. United are struggling to get out here.
For example...
“The photo of Morelos celebrating his goal for Rangers made me do a double take,” emails Peter Oh. “I don’t recall Rangers ever having worn red in the past. Could it be the influence of their Liverpool legend of a manager? Come on you Reds!”
I seem to recall some McEwan’s Lager red yins in the 90s – union flag and all that.
“With the talent coming through, it’s even more baffling to give new deals to the likes of Smalling, Young, Jones and Mata,” says Kevin Wilson. “All peripheral players - to even further block the progress of the kids. I’d rather see Williams on the left than Young, but then I thought Borthwick-Jackson looked decent when he first got a run of games.”
Two brilliant low crosses at Stamford Bridge, if I remember correctly. Smalling did an ok job last season and I’d have kept him over Jones if i could, promoted Tuanzebe and spent the Maguire money on a midfielder or two. Mata, I think, is there for the dressing room and as a potential coach, but yes, I’d have lozzed him and all. Young i’d have kept because he’s one of few who knows what a good team needs, but I’d not be picking him ahead of Williams or Laird at this point.
It’s getting tasty in Belgrade, with Nacho and Miletic booked in quick succession.
GOAL! Slovan Bratislava 1-2 Wolves (Jimenez pen 63)
Jimenez skips into the ball and the keeper moves to his right, so the slot goes the other way. Wolves have been excellent second half.
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PENALTY WOLVES!
Vinagre crosses, the defender shoves Jimenez, and the ref has an easy call to make.
United make a double change, replacing Martial and Wan-Bissaka, who will be needed at the weekend, with Rashford and James. I’m not sure about that one - I guess that if they win here they’re nearly through, but those two need a rest and will definitely start at Norwich on Sunday. I’d prbably have spared both the trip.
Wolves respond by bringing on Jota for Gibbs-White.
GOAL! Slovan Bratislava 1-1 Wolves (Saiss 57)
Oh dear. Saiss is allowed room to shoot from distance, strikes across the ball but not cleanly, and Greif waits until the last second to decide that needs to save it even so, and it bobbles past him.
Updated
“It’s just a masterpiece,” says Peter Cocker of City of God.
I agree. I’d go as far as to say that it’s perfect.
Wolves are well on top now; United have done nothing so far this half.
What a save! Rangers break again, Barisic slings over another lovely cross, and Morelos is up again! He makes great contact too, but heads too close to Marchesin, who adjusts hands brilliantly to shove over the top.
Dear oh dear! Soumah runs at Maguire who sells himself like a cheap thrill, diving in and opening up the way to goal. But Soumah panics, rushing his shot that bobbles wide.
In Bratislava, Nuno has introduced Traore and he’s already made a difference, just missing Jimenez with a cross after a charge down the right.
Soumah runs at Jones who again does well, standing strong, somehow refraining from giving away a penalty, and seeing the danger away.
It’s kind of strange how Solskjaer has handled his young players, only giving them minutes when he’s got no choice or when games are nearly over. Mason Greenwood looks ready, and Brandon Williams looks better than both Shaw and Young to me, and given that United are aiming to be competitive in a year or two, not not, worth giving a run.
Nacho goes low with the free-kick, from 20 yards and left of centre, bobbling it past the far post.
That’s a brilliant challenge. I’m not sure how the ref has apprised a foul there.
Sadiq gets away again, Jones makes what looks like a really good challenge, and the ref gives a free-kick on the edge.
Off we go again in Belgrade.
“ I think my Sunday league team circa 1976 would have given this Partizan team a game,” says Duncan Edwards. “They really are *anglo saxon*. Then again, Martial seems unable to even pick the right studs. Huh, cue him scoring!”
A mate in the away end sent me this:
MUFC in Belgrade 🔴⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/9yeelUtaEX
— Jeremy Levy (@RedJML) October 24, 2019
Me: Got your binoculars?
Him: It’s not that bad as it goes.
Me: The further away the better, I guess.
Him: Yes!
Elsewhere: in Wolves’ group, Braga now lead away to Besiktas.
Half-time: Porto 1-1 Rangers
Porto have been comfortably the better side, but Rangers have still threatened and their goal was a peach.
Half-time: Slovan Bratislava 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
I wonder how long it’ll be till we see Neves and Jonny because Wolves have played ok, but are lacking their usual control.
Half-time: Partizan 0-1 Man United
United started fairly but the penalty came just as Partizan were asserting themselves.
GOAL! Porto 1-1 Rangers (Morelos 44)
Barisic gets down the left and crosses low and long to the far side of the box, where Morelos collects and absolutely buries an expert’s finish inside the near post. That is very, very well done.
Updated
GOAL! Partizan 0-1 Man United (Martial pen, 43)
The keeper dives to his left and Martial eases the ball to his right. It’s not as comic as when Pogba misses, but it serves a different purpose.
Updated
PENALTY TO UNITED!
Williams dashes into the box, Pavlovic shoves him then trips him, and that’s a penalty! Partizan are crying, but I really can’y see why.
Here comes Sadiq again, finding Asano, and though Jones robs him, he’s already on the way down, and his momentum sends him right into the ball, conjuring a shot which goes wide.
It’s all kicking off! Sadiq, Partizan’s leading scorer, picks up a loose ball just outside the United box, advances, and caresses a glorious curling sidefooter onto the post, about halfway up!
Eeek! Morelos climbs high to power-glance a header onto the bar! On the bench, Gerrard makes that face I know you’re picturing.
Lingard hits the post! Wan-Bissaka does really well to win the ball on the edge of the Partizan box, tees him up, and from 20 yards, he carefully places an effort against the base of the woodwork.
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WHAT A GOAL! Porto 1-0 Rangers (Luis Diaz 36)
Rangers, silky devils that they are, try to play their way out when clearing a corner. Someone – Jack, I think – finds Luis Diaz, just outside the box, and he skips infield a little before unfurling a delicious curler that hisses and spits its way past McGregor.
Updated
Bratislava are looking ok against Wolves now; the other game in that group, Besiktas v Braga, is 0-0.
Oh! Ze Luis climbs high and hangs long to fling a header against the post. Porto are coming.
Goal in Rome! The excellent Zaniolo has put the home side ahead against Gladbach.
Updated
Wolfsburg now lead 2-0 in Gent; Apoel have equalised at Qarabag.
...Alex Telles curls over the bar.
Young Boys now lead Feyenoord 2-0; they currently sit top of Rangers’ group. Meanwhile, Morelos gives the ball away, Marega nashes towards the box, and Jack bumps him over. He’s booked, and Porto have a free-kick...
Rangers are doing well yakno, and get the ball out to Tavernier, nicely bouncing in front of him. But he doesn’t get his knee over it, lashing high and then some.
I’ve been watching United for more than 35 years now, and I don’t think I’ve seen less compelling football than in the Europa League group stages. I guess there are too many teams in the Champions League, but though the current standard isn’t great, that it’s improved massively in the era is unarguable.
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A nice pass from Garner finds Wan-Bissaka, and the ball goes back to McTominay. He has a man free outside him but opts to shoot – I don’t think anyone will chastise him for that, given hwo scared United usually are of the same – and doesn’t catch it perfectly, so it lopes just wide.
Updated
Back in Oporto, Kent has another run, winning a corner. It goes short, but the eventuating shot – I didn’t see whose – is blocked.
Goals not in our featured games:
Qarabag 1-0 Apoel
Ludogorets 0-1 Espanyol
St Etienne 1-1 Oleksandriya
Young Boys 1-0 Feyenoord
Pavlovic clatters Martial as they contest a high ball, and that’s a free-kick to United, 25 yards out, left of centre. I don’t think Mata can kick the ball as far as the goal, but he can curl a luscious cross onto McTominay’s brow! But, not for the first time, he misses a free header; what an oversight that is.
GOAL! Slovan Bratislava 1-0 Wolves (Sporar 11)
As I was saying! With their first attack, a goal! A fine pass with the outside of the foot sends Sporar away at inside-left, and when you’re in nick you’re in nick! He slows Coady down, moves off, and his shot clips the defender on its way inside the near post.
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It’s been a quiet start in Bratislava, but the territorial advantage is with Wolves.
Extremely tangentially, I rewatched City of God for the first time in years the other night. I cannot remember being so dazzled, visually and thematically, since the first day I saw it, when I went to the cinema in the afternoon, then again in the evening. Any more for any more?
At the Dragao, Corona has just slung over a lovely cross that Ze Luis headed wide.
“Please explain for me Ed Woodward’s disparaging comments about Daley Blind,” requests Robert Hisnay. “Who would you rather have, Rojo or Blind?”
As someone who hates United marginally less than every other football club in the world, I was sad to see Blind leave United. I think what happened was that they needed to raise money and he was one of very few any other club wanted. Mourinho never fancied him though – when he arrived, he didn’t even list him as a centre-back, was then forced to play him there, dropped him as soon as he made a mistake and never really acknowledged his role in the Europa League win. He is in different league to Rojo and also quite the dish.
Porto win a corner which Goldson heads clear and immediately Kent is on his bike, running through the first challenge and screeching all the way to the other box before his touch forsakes him. That’s exactly what Gerrard has planned.
Wolfsburg have taken the lead in Gent.
Updated
Decent move by United down the right, featuring Jones and Lingard, but Wan-Bissaka can’t find a cross. He’ll need to improve that part of his game if United are to make this system work - and I actually wonder whether, long-term, he might just make a centre-back. The raw materials are all there.
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First of many: Marcos Rojo clips aimlessly forward ... though not via rabona.
We’re away in Oporto ... and Belgrade...
The Dragao is extremely unfull, and perhaps that’ll help Rangers. They’ve taken a decent contingent, who can make themselves heard in the proper manner.
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I should note that Nuno has picked a strong team in Bratislava. I daresay he fancies a long run in this competition and why not? Wolves are an absolute bastard to play against, and have the attackers to give any team agita.
The players are tunnelled...
“The improved performance against Liverpool has me hopeful about United again,” says Duncan Edwards. “In my optimism I see us winning the Europa, finishing third in the league, signing the Norwegian Beast, and challenging for the title next season. Ah, hope...”
United could still make the top four – when people criticise them, they forget to note that they’ve been missing six of their first XI. I’d still have spent the Maguire money on the midfield, but I understand why Solskjaer didn’t.
Steven Gerrard tells BT that his team need to show belief in and out of possession, have a structure and defend aggressively. He also says that his ball-carriers and fast players – his “one v one merchants” – have to take responsibility when they can, but he accepts that Porto will have a lot of the ball. He’s looking forward to watching Barker, who’s been picked with that in mind.
Partizan were meant to be playing behind closed doors after racism from their crowd, but managed to get around the ban on a technicality, giving tickets away for free to kids and such. In the BT studio, Robin van Persie makes the point that walking off should not be a responsibility foisted upon the players – the officials should intervene on their behalf.
Other things to note about United’s XI: Martial, whose ambling shift against Liverpool was not at all good but whom United have unarguably missed, returns from the start; Lingard, who’s been horrible for months, is also back; and Jimmy Garner, who is now far too good for age-group football, makes his first start. I believe there are reservations about his power and speed, but he’s an intelligent and incisive passer of the ball.
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So, do Manchester United now play 3-5-2? That they’re doing so tonight, with radically different personnel to those who played against Liverpool, suggests a policy decision. And it’s not an inexplicable decision, given a surfeit a centre-backs and an absence of wingers. The question is whether something that worked against Liverpool, who demand a special plan, is necessarily something that will work all the time. In the end, it’s not possible to hide that midfield and that’s all there is to it.
Slovan Bratislava: Greif; Medvedev, Abena, Bozhikov, De Marco; Ibrahim, De Kamps; Daniel, Holman, Rharsalla; Sporar. Subs: Sulla, Ljubicic, Drazic, Ratao, Nono, Bajric, Cavric.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patricio; Boly, Coady, Kilman; Doherty, Saiss, Gibbs-White, Moutinho, Vinagre; Jimenez, Cutrone. Subs: Ruddy, Jonny, Perry, Neves, Dendoncker, Traore, Jota.
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Porto: Marchesin, Corona, Pepe, Marcano, Alex Telles, Otavio, Uribe, Danilo Pereira, Diaz, Marega, Ze Luis. Subs: Bruno Costa, Nakajima, Manafa, Mbemba, Tiquinho Soares, Diogo Costa, Silva.
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Barisic, Davis, Barker, Jack, Kamara, Kent, Morelos. Subs: Defoe, Ojo, Foderingham, Flanagan, Aribo, Katic, Arfield.
Partizan: Stojkovic, Pavlovic, Natcho, Tosic, Sadiq, Asano, Zdjelar, Soumah, Ostojic, Urosevic, Miletic. Subs: Vujacic, Lazar Pavlovic, Ivanovic, Scekic, Brezancic, Filip Stevanovic, Nemanja Stevanovic.
Manchester United: Romero, Jones, Maguire, Rojo, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Garner, Williams, Mata, Lingard, Martial. Subs: Lindelof, Rashford, Grant, Andreas Pereira, Fred, James, Greenwood.
Right, let’s have some teams...
Preamble
Thursday night, five to six, Thursday night, five to six. But of course! What else is to drink do at that time of the week, other than watch yet another football match? Exactly!
For those who like their football awful and hilarious, we have Partizan v Manchester United – United’s games against Astana and AZ were epochally awful, and there’s a good chance we’ll get to enjoy more of the same.
Elsewhere, Rangers visit Porto, an enticing fixture in the first instance, but one which acquires an entirely new dimension when it puts Pepe will be be in direct proximity to Alfredo Morelos. Oooh yeah!
And Wolves are also in action, away at Slovan Bratislava, though the pick of the ties – wait for it, because you’re not going to believe me – doesn’t involve a British club. I know! But believe me, it’s true, because we’ve got Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bundesliga leaders, entertaining Roma, sixth in Serie A!
And these are just the early games! Later on, we’ve got Arsenal-Vitória, Celtic-Lazio ... and they’re live!
Kick-offs – or should that be kicks-off – 5.55pm BST.
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