Manchester United 6-2 AS Roma: Player ratings as Red Devils have one foot in the final | UEFA Europa League 2020-21

Manchester United have one foot in the Europa League final.
Manchester United have one foot in the Europa League final.

Manchester United came from behind to overwhelm AS Roma 6-2 at Old Trafford in the first-leg of their semi-final clash in the 2020-21 Europa League.

A brace apiece from Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani, coupled with goals from Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood, secured Manchester United an emphatic victory that all but assures their place in the final.

Lorenzo Pellegrini and Edin Dzeko scored in the first half to cancel out Manchester United's early opener. But a spectacular collapse in the second half have all but extinguished AS Romas' hopes of reaching the final.

Despite scoring two away goals, the Giallorossi face an uphill task in the second leg to mount an improbable comeback.

On that note, let's have a look at the player ratings of both teams.


Manchester United

David de Gea - 6/10

David de Gea wasn't at fault for either of AS Roma's goals and couldn't have done anything about them. He made one mistake by passing straight to Dzeko but made up for that almost instantly by getting a hand to the Bosnian's effort.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6/10

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was regularly caught out on the break but made up for that with an excellent attacking game, linking up brilliantly with Marcus Rashford.

Viktor Lindelof - 6/10

Viktor Lindelof was crucial to building from the back for Manchester United but left a lot to be desired in marking his opposite numbers. He also lacked positional awareness on the night.

Harry Maguire - 6/10

Harry Maguire struggled with Edin Dzeko's pace and was beaten by the Bosnian in the air for AS Roma's second goal too. The Manchester United captain improved after the break and got himself involved in the attack.

Luke Shaw - 6.5/10

Luke Shaw was largely quiet in the first half, but, like many of his Manchester United teammates, he burst into life in the second, overlapping brilliantly and providing some good crosses.

Scott McTominay - 6/10

Scott McTominay kept close to Mkhitaryan, who beat him once with a defence-splitting pass that led to Dzeko's goal. But McTominay kept the Armenian under wraps in the second half.

Fred - 5/10

On a night when Manchester United got everything right, Fred didn't. The Brazilian looked pale in comparison to his teammates and came a cropper defensively too.

Marcus Rashford - 7/10

Amidst the flurry of goals, Marcus Rashford worked hard to get the ball around but failed to get on target himself.

Bruno Fernandes - 8/10

For all the chatter about him not performing in big games, Bruno Fernandes walked off with two goals and two assists on the night, producing another vintage display for Manchester United.

Paul Pogba - 7/10

Paul Pogba was involved in Manchester United's opening goal and then conceded a penalty. But the Frenchman recovered by linking up with Fernandes to devastating effect. In an impressive outing, Pogba also provided Fernandes with a sublime cross to make it 5-2 for Manchester United on the night.

Edinson Cavani - 8/10

El Matador also struck twice - one was a lovely finish, while the other came after he pounced on a mistake from the AS Roma goalkeeper. Edinson Cavani capped off a superb performance with a deft assist for Fernandes. Do Manchester United need any more reason to extend his contract?


Ratings of Manchester United Substitutes:

Mason Greenwood - 7/10

The Manchester United youngster added the finishing touches to a glossy win with a sublime goal to make it six, bringing his season tally in all competitions to nine.

Nemanja Matic - 6/10

Nemanja Matic came on in the 86th minute but looked anonymous.

Juan Mata - N/A

Juan Mata didn't see much of the ball, as he came on too late.

AS Roma Ratings against Manchester United

AS Roma were blown away by Manchester United's second-half blitzkrieg.
AS Roma were blown away by Manchester United's second-half blitzkrieg.

Pau Lopez - N/A

The Spaniard was the second of three casualties for AS Roma against Manchester United, as Paul Lopez went off clutching his left shoulder.

Chris Smalling - 5/10

It was not the homecoming at Manchester United he would've expected. Chris Smalling was ripped to shreds by the likes of Cavani and Fernandes in the second half. He also left some gaps at the back, yet the former Manchester United man had the most clearances in the game with seven.

Bryan Cristante - 6/10

Bryan Cristante marshalled the AS Roma backline with elan in the first half, making some key clearances, but faded after the break, as he proved to be no match for Manchester United's high press.

Roger Ibanez - 7/10

When the rest of the team succumbed to Manchester United's pressure, Roger Ibanez stepped up, jumping into tackles and reading the game brilliantly. He produced four clearances and three interceptions in the game.

Rick Karsdorp - 7/10

Rick Karsdorp won a penalty in the first half and was an unlikely wellspring of defence-splitting passes and through-balls against Manchester United.

Jordan Veretout - N/A

Jordan Veretout went off just five minutes into the game with a hamstring problem and will likely kiss the rest of the season for AS Roma.

Amadou Diawara - 5/10

The former Napoli man gave away possession cheaply against Manchester United and looked shaky on the ball.

Leonardo Spinazzola - N/A

Less than ten minutes after Lopez was taken off, Leonardo Spinazzola succumbed to an injury, too, compounding AS Roma's misery against Manchester United. Until then, he was impressive, as he started the move for AS Roma's second goal with a mazy run down the left.

Lorenzo Pellegrini - 7/10

Another bright spot for AS Roma, Lorenzo Pellegrini, looked to get in behind Manchester United's defence. He set up Edin Dzeko for his team's second goal.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan - 6.5/10

The former Manchester United man was involved in AS Roma's second goal and looked generally bright in a promising first half. But he was completely outpaced, outmanoeuvred and outclassed in midfield after the break.

Edin Dzeko - 7/10

Edin Dzeko's love affair with Manchester United at Old Trafford continued with another goal as the veteran Bosnian striker remained a thorn in the hosts' flesh going forward.


Ratings of AS Roma substitutes against Manchester United

Gonzalo Villar - 6/10

Gonzalo Villar came on for the injured Veretout and put in a decent shift. Villar went into the books for a foul on Pogba, though.

Antonio Mirante - 5/10

Antonio Mirante was at fault for one of the five goals he conceded, spilling a save that allowed Cavani to net home from close range. However, there was nothing he could've done about the others, as he was let down by his defence on the night.

Bruno Peres - 6/10

Bruno Peres replaced Spinazzola and made his presence felt in defence, making three interceptions and two clearances. But he was nowhere to be seen during Manchester United's second-half onslaught.

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