Bruno Fernandes saw red for a second-consecutive outing as Manchester United surrendered a lead to salvage a point in a six-goal thriller with Porto.
Erik ten Hag’s men displayed all of the Jekyll and Hyde characteristics we have become accustomed to in recent weeks, starting strong and offering up needless opportunities throughout a manic Europa League fixture.
On a night where Rasmus Hojlund scored on his return to the starting XI, Marcus Rashford looked to be returning to his unplayable best with a goal and an assist.
However, despite registering 12 goals in their last four away European fixtures, United have failed to win in any (drawn two & lost two) following a bizarre 3-3 draw in Portugal.
Another night of talking points
Amidst an energetic partisan crowd at Estadio do Dragao, Porto started expectedly bright – cheered on by the passionate Azuis e Brancos.
But Rashford brought that to an abrupt end after seven minutes, cutting in from the left to beat Stephen Eustaquio and Joao Mario before smashing the ball past a visibly nervous Diogo Costa.
United doubled their lead after 20 minutes through a scintillating counter-attack, with the Wynthenshaw man slotting the ball through for Hojlund, who also profited from some lacklustre goalkeeping after a powerful effort.
It was confident football by United, without looking bothered by their opponents – although the ominous figure of Samu Omorodion was an intimidating sight in the final third.
Inevitably, as we have witnessed many times over the past 12 months, the fragility of this group is easily provoked, and a seven-minute spell saw the sides level before the break.
Both attacks came down United’s left, with Rashford and Diogo Dalot unable to deny Mario the opportunity to deliver two inch-perfect crosses.
The first saw Andre Onana acrobatically deny a backward header from Noussair Mazraoui before Pepe reacted quicker than Lisandro Martinez to guide the ball into an empty net.
The second was a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, with Omorodion comfortably beating Matthijs de Ligt to power a header home.
Rashford was withdrawn at half-time for Alejandro Garnacho, with the Englishman enjoying one of his finest games in a United shirt for some time – signalling the start of a frustrating 45 for Ten Hag.
Shortly after the restart, the imperious Samu once more got the better of De Ligt, easily getting in front of the Dutchman to smash a Nico Gonzalez ball into the roof of the net.
The home side, keen to maintain their lead and frustrate their guests, sat deep and welcomed United on, with the 20-time English champions enjoying an abundance of pressure and long-range efforts – all to no avail.
This was a team crying out for a leader – a voice of calm and reason to settle the passages of play. Instead, Fernandes cut a frustrated figure, receiving a second yellow for a high boot after 81 minutes.
Astonishingly, that was Bruno’s second dismissal in as many games and a harsh reminder of his ongoing struggles in 2024-25.
Deniz Gul had an opportunity to seal the win moments later but squandered – before substitute Harry Maguire guided a headed corner home to equalise in stoppage time.
Ten Hag was asked about Rashford after the final whistle, with expectation that the Englishman had collected an injury.
“We have to rotate,” he told media. “Garnacho has to play – we have a tough game on Sunday [at Villa Park], and we need players fresh.”
Given the frustration surfacing in the fanbase, news of his tactical ploy may not be a welcome one.
His side will need to lick their wounds and take pride in a stoppage-time equaliser, with a critical outing in Birmingham approaching.
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