UEFA Europa League 2019-20 | Manchester United 3-0 Partizan Belgrade: 3 reasons why the Red Devils won

#2 Partizan Belgrade fail to make the most of their openings

Partizan failed to make the most of their openings

A couple of weeks ago, Partizan Belgrade were unlucky to return empty-handed against Manchester United. On that night in the Serbian capital, the former kept knocking on the door incessantly and were unfortunate not to break it down. The Red Devils, meanwhile, rode on Martial’s penalty to secure three points.

Thus, plenty expected the Serbian outfit to showcase similar attacking verve at Old Trafford, especially considering the strife they’d put United under a fortnight back.

And, though the visitors displayed confidence in midfield at times, they lacked conviction in the attacking areas, meaning that they spurned several promising openings.

On numerous instances, the away side broke through United’s pressing lines. Unfortunately, though, they chose the wrong option always, thereby allowing the hosts the requisite time to recover and get back into shape.

Consequently, they weren’t able to create anything of note as most of their offensive moves were nipped in a bud.

Additionally, whenever they got into good crossing positions, they invariably failed to clear the first man, thereby disabling Umar Sadiq from attacking those deliveries and putting the likes of Harry Maguire and Marcos Rojo under pressure.

Coming to Old Trafford is never an easy task and only the most sanguine of optimists would’ve envisioned the visitors getting anything from the encounter. Having said that though, the Serbian outfit didn’t really cover itself in glory when it had the opportunity to do so.

And, when one doesn’t take one’s chances, one usually doesn’t go unpunished, especially against sides with continental pedigree.