UEFA Super Cup: Real Madrid 2-1 Manchester United, Player Ratings

Manchester United

David De Gea: 7/10

The Spaniard showed Madrid all they've been missing ever since fax-gate and pulled off two superb saves to deny Toni Kroos and Marco Asensio early on. Could have done very little against either Casemiro or Isco - their finishing was just too good.

Will want a steady backline in front of him this season, though

Victor Lindelof: 7/10

The Swede showed flashes of the promise that led Mourinho to splurge on him this summer - a tackle in the six-yard box to deny Karim Benzema was the stand out - and apart from the Casemiro goal (where he was offside, anyway) the United man hardly put a foot wrong. Did rather well to ensure Gareth Bale didn't wreck havoc in the early stages of the match.

Chris Smalling: 6/10

There's a reason Smalling isn't trusted by a vast majority of United fans and it was all too evident today - shaky when under pressure, prone to being a touch too physical whilst defending set-pieces, the Englishman was left for dead all too often by Messrs. Bale and Benzema - he did, though, fight through valiantly and you have to give marks for that

Matteo Darmian: 7/10

The Italian was quietly impressive as part of the back three in the first half as well as at left-back in the second putting in some neat tackles while moving the ball about neatly. Was given an absolute run-around by Vazquez but that one moment shouldn't colour the perception of his game.

Antonio Valencia: 8/10

United's only attacking outlet at times, the Ecuadorian was solid at the back and pretty good moving forward. It was his superb cross that led to Pogba's and Lukaku's squandered chances and he was a constant threat on the right side - getting past Marcelo with ease and sending in balls all day.

Ander Herrera: 5/10

The combative Spaniard fought away, as his wont, but couldn't stamp his authority over the game - he was rather loose with the ball and was utterly dominated by Casemiro & co. in midfield

Nemanja Matic - 8/10

The debutant was arguably United's best player and he showed just why Mourinho paid such big money for an 'aging' defensive midfielder. He was neat in possession, and strong in the tackle - and when he wandered forward he put in some useful little balls. It was from his powerful shot that Lukaku pounced - he looks like he'll be a mainstay in this United side.

Paul Pogba: 4/10

This was Pogba's game summed up in one tweet:

If Matic can't FREE Pogba, Mourinho should go and sign Michael Scofield
— Anda (@LazyWrita) August 8, 2017

Expand Tweet

Yes, it's an extreme troll, but Pogba does need to step up his game now that Matic is around to do the dirty work behind him.

The Frenchman started off brightly but petered out as United stepped on the gas - had a glorious chance to pull a goal back for United when his superb run into the box was found by Valencia but planted the header straight at Navas.

Jesse Lingard: 5/10

The young Mancunian was entrusted with playing the role of left-wing back and was decent for the first half and was taken off before United really stepped on the gas.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 7/10

The Armenian was rather good moving forward, slipping hither and thither behind, and around, Madrid's defence and they had a hard time keeping track of the man. He was especially good in the first half, although his best moment came in the second when he slipped in Rashford with an absolute gem of a through ball.

Romelu Lukaku: 6/10

The Belgian scored on debut. That will always be the defining fact that we'll remember from this match, and as impressive as he was in his hold-up play (treating Varane and Ramos with utter disdain at times) and passing he needs to make sure chances like the one that came popping around 9 minutes before he scored... he seems a decent buy, though and should make this United team a mite better than what it was last season

Substitutes

Marcus Rashford: 6/10

Oh, Marcus. The young lad's introduction brought with it that trademark surge of electricity and he upped the urgency in United's game, but he'd be kicking himself for not finishing off Mkhitaryan's lovely little through ball in the 81st minute.

Also, was utterly wasteful at times with his crossing. Unusually so.

Marouane Fellaini: 6.5/10

The man threw himself around in standard-edition-can't-play-me-I'm-massive style and was a handful throughout his time on the pitch - was involved in a painful collision with Ramos that he got the worse off of... but overall, he showed exactly why Mourinho doesn't want to sell him this summer.