Ighalo became the first Nigerian to score for Manchester United

Manchester United 5-0 Club Brugge: 5 players who impressed for the Red Devils | Europa League 2019-20 

Manchester United continued their impressive run of form, with a 4-0 victory over Club Brugge making it a season-best seven games without defeat in all competitions for the Mancunians.

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First half goals from Bruno Fernades, Odion Ighalo and the returning Scott McTominay saw the hosts go to half-time with a 3-0 lead, the first time they have posted such convincing result in a first half this season.

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Both sides had played out a 1-1 draw last week in Belgium but having impressed in front of their own fans, Brugge had their work cut out when defender Simon Deli was given a contentious red card for a hand ball.

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After a lengthy VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot and Bruno Fernandes made it two from two from the spot to put United ahead in the 27th minute.

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Soon after that, fellow new signing Odion Ighalo opened his account for his boyhood club, showing great positional awareness and strength to convert a square ball from Juan Mata and Scott McTominay marked his first start since December with a well-taken rifled shot from the edge of the box to put the result beyond Club Brugge.

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The second half was pretty much cruise control for the Red Devils and Fred capped up a fine performance with a late brace to serve as icing on the cake in what was a complete performance.

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This was unarguably Manchester United's best display of the season and several players gave a good account of themselves and here, we shall be highlighting five players who shone the brightest for the Red Devils.

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#5 Juan Mata

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Club Brugge v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League Round of 32: First Leg

After a poor start to the campaign, Juan Mata has benefited from a spate of injuries in the United midfield and he made the most of his chances and has been a fixture in the starting lineup in recent weeks.

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The 31-year-old was started on the right of an advanced midfield three and he impressed in this position, setting up Odion Ighalo for the second goal of the night.

The former Chelsea man showed his class for 90 minutes and made a game-high six key passes while he also combined well with Bruno Fernandes on several occasions

#4 Scott McTominay

Manchester United v Club Brugge - UEFA Europa League Round of 32: Second Leg
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After enjoying a breakthrough season in 2018-2019, Scott McTominay built on this, cementing his stake in the first team and was one of the best players in the current campaign before a knee injury sustained in December halted his momentum.

Following his return to full fitness, the Scottish international was slowly eased back into competitive action and was handed his first start in over two months in the clash with Club Brugge.

The 23-year-old was charged with anchoring the base of midfield alongside Fred and he once more showed what Manchester United have been missing, with an assured performance that belied the fact he has been out of action.

He and Fred were on hand to mop up any chance fashioned by Club Brugge on the rare occasions that they ventured forward, ensuring that the home side totally dominated proceedings.

The two men combined in the 41st minute, with the Brazilian international teeing up McTominay and the academy graduate did not make any mistake, rifling in a one-time shot past the dive of Simon Mignolet.

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He was substituted for Mason Greenwood in the 72nd minute and with his performance tonight, he would be a shoo-in back to the first team.

#3 Odion Ighalo

Odion Ighalo scored the second goal of the night
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When Manchester United completed the deadline day loan signing of Odion Ighalo from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, there were more than a few raised eyebrows around the world.

The 30-year-old was the unlikeliest of signings but while his arrival might have been strange, it was not as left-field as many were suggesting.

He has distinguished himself as a proven goalscorer over the years and ended his first spell in the Premier League with 33 goals from 82 matches for modest Watford, while he also outscored everyone in the league in the calendar year of 2015.

Ighalo also finished as the top scorer for both the qualification stage and the tournament proper at the Africa Cup of Nations last year and his record of 46 goals from 72 Chinese Super League matches was impressive.

Having fulfilled his childhood dream by playing for Manchester United, the former Nigerian international opened his account for the club on his first start, dedicating the strike to his late sister who sadly passed on before she could see him complete his dream.

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His goal was a typical poacher's strike and he impressed with his holdup play and forced two smart saves from Simon Mignolet.

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With Anthony Martial having picked up a knock in the buildup to this game, the goalscoring burden has been placed on Odion Ighalo but on evidence of his performance at Old Trafford, he would be up to the task.

#2 Bruno Fernandes

Club Brugge v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League Round of 32: First Leg
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With each passing week, Bruno Fernandes is looking increasingly like the playmaker that Manchester United have been crying for over the last few years.

The 25-year-old completed his protracted transfer from Sporting Lisbon in January and he has been worth the wait, with his performances each match getting better and giving fans of the Red Devils nostalgic feelings of years gone by.

Fernandes is a naturally attack-minded player and very everytime he touched the ball, his head always went up to find a forward pass and more often than not, he connected with his teammates, with his vision and technique slicing the Brugge defence at will.

Another cause for concern for United in recent weeks has been their woeful penalty record but the Portuguese international might have the magic wad in this regard and he made it two from two penalties when he grabbed his second United goal in the 27th minute.

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His combination with Juan Mata in particular looks promising and with Bruno dictating the tempo from midfield, the Mancunians could well end this season on a high.

#1 Fred

Fred has been a player reborn in recent weeks and he gave another five-star performance in the 5-0 demolition of Club Brugge.

His partnership with Scott McTominay at the heart of the United midfield was impenetrable and the pair also combined well going forward.

Having marshaled the midfield with distinction for most of the match, the Brazilian international got the goal his performance merited when he converted in the 87th minute and grabbed his first brace in United colours in the second minute of added time.

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Edited by
Kingshuk Kusari
 
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