'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United played their penultimate pre-season friendly of the summer as they took on Kristiansund in Norway.
The Red Devils dominated the game right from the get-go and although they weren't at their best in front of goal, they saw off their opponents 1-0 thanks to a Juan Mata penalty.
The score-line doesn't do justice to Manchester United's brilliance as the game was a one-sided affair.
Manchester United carried on their perfect defensive record in pre-season and with a game to go before they take on Chelsea on opening day, the record English champions are yet to concede a goal in pre-season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's son Noah, currently on the books of Kristiansund, came on to a rapturous ovation from both sets of supporters are his Dad watched on from the dugout with a beaming smile on his face.
In a game where Manchester United exerted their dominance and eventually saw off their opponents with a late goal, let's look at some of the talking points.
#1 - Scott McTominay continues to grow in stature
Scott McTominay started alongside Nemanja Matic in a double-pivot and the Scottish midfielder was the standout player for Manchester United before being substituted.
The Scotsman staked his claim for a spot in the season opener and his bright showing is sure to have impressed his manager.
Manchester United started with a 4-2-3-1 formation with McTominay and Matic at the heart of midfield and the academy graduate was up for it from the get-go, putting in an all-round performance.
McTominay was instrumental in breaking up opposition attacks and he combined his positional awareness with his terrific box-to-box ability to cause the opposition defenders problems.
The 22-year-old put in yet another assured performance in the centre of the park and looks set to be a key player for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the Red Devils look to find the perfect partner to complement Paul Pogba.
#2 - Kristiansund goalkeeper Sean McDermott put up an inspired performance
Sean McDermott was handed a start between the sticks for the home team and the Irish goalkeeper was in inspired form as he saved everything that came his way in the first half.
The 26-year-old was in the thick of the action and despite Manchester United's best efforts, the goalkeeper looked unbeatable as he thwarted everything Manchester United threw at him.
Marcus Rashford's vicious free-kick was brilliantly tipped away by McDermott and he did so despite being wrong-footed initially.
As the home side struggled to make an impression on the game against quality opposition like Manchester United, the Irishman was the standout player for his team as he kept the game scoreless before being substituted at half-time.
McDermott would go on to make multiple crucial saves and he was arguably one of the best players on the pitch before being replaced.
#3 - Manchester United lacked the cutting edge in the final third
Despite seeing most of the ball, Manchester United's attackers failed to make an impression in the final third as they were held to a goalless draw by minnows Kristiansund.
The likes of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Daniel James started from the get-go and the Red Devils were left to rue their missed chances as they failed to trouble the score-sheet barring a late Juan Mata penalty.
New signing Daniel James was in the thick of the action but the young Welshman was not decisive enough in and around the box, despite getting himself into decent positions.
United's had a flurry of chances and although the trio of goalkeepers impressed between the sticks for Kristiansund, United failed to put away a number of clear-cut chances.
The Red Devils went ahead through a Juan Mata penalty after the Spaniard was fouled inside the box in the closing stages of the game and it could be argued that the score-line doesn't do justice to Manchester United's dominant performance.
