Manchester United enjoyed a 2-0 win over FCSB in the Europa League on Thursday, making it back-to-back wins and clean sheets for Ruben Amorim’s side after beating Fulham on Sunday.
Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo scored in quick succession in the second half against the 1986 European champions, who made a game of it as best they could, but ultimately lacked the quality.
How the game unfolded
Bucharest’s National Arena was a hostile setting for United and the already loud crowd inside the incredible stadium erupted after ten minutes when it looked as though Mihai Popescu had given the hosts an early lead. His far-post volley on the stretch from Risto Radunovic’s in-swinging free-kick was only narrowly wide, but highlighted a known set-piece danger.
United had their own chance not long after when Mainoo made a run into the box, channelling Euro ’96 era Paul Gascoigne as he flicked the ball over an approaching defender, but failing to properly connect with the eventual shot as it dropped. The same player then skied a decent opportunity 12 yards out after Rasmus Hojlund’s cutback from the inside left channel.
Hojlund saw a header comfortably saved by home goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu half an hour in. But while the atmosphere remained and the game was played at a decent tempo, most of the opening 45 minutes passed by without more than just a handful of real chances.
United had edged the first half without consistently creating, and it was an FCSB mistake that almost gifted a goal straight after the restart. Half-time substitute Alejandro Garnacho snapped up a loose back pass, but could only direct his finish against the outside of the post. The introduction of Garnacho, along with Amad Diallo, provided fresh impetus for Amorim’s team.
Bruno Fernandes rattled the crossbar from distance only moments before Dalot’s breakthrough on the hour mark. Mainoo deserves credit for the clever run from a throw-in to create the space for a low cross, drilled toward Dalot closing in at the far-post from the left.
FCSB hit the opposite crossbar almost immediately through Daniel Birligea from outside the box, a warning for the visitors, before Mainoo provided some vital breathing room. A promising initial move broke down, but United pressing quickly won it back, with Garnacho’s cutback calmly converted in the middle of the box with a first-time finish by the impressive No.37.
United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir didn’t let a quiet night affect his concentration when FCSB substitutes Marius Stefanescu, Alexandru Baluta, as well as Birligea all forced saves out of the Turkey international in the closing stages. Fernandes probably could have scored a third at the end, just unable to wrap his foot around the ball from close-range after an excellent backheel from Garnacho.
Check out the player ratings for FCSB vs Man Utd here.
United didn’t have the best start in this season’s Europa League, drawing three games on the spin against Twente, Porto and Fenerbahce. But four consecutive wins against PAOK, Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen and Rangers saw them climb from 21st to fourth in the standings.
This was a fifth consecutive victory to ultimately jump higher still, into third, taking 18 points from 24 overall and finishing only a point behind Lazio and Athletic Club in first and second respectively.
Only the top eight automatically qualify for the last 16, with teams placed ninth to 24th facing a knockout play-off round. Bypassing that stage is crucial for two reasons. Firstly, it is two less games to play in an already congested schedule. Secondly, it means two clear runs next month with no midweek fixture, providing Amorim with uninterrupted time on the training pitch he’s had so little of.
This was a big one for Kobbie Mainoo. It looked like business as usual for the 19-year-old when the team list was published before kick-off. But he effectively swapped places with Bruno Fernandes, lining up in an advanced role, and the captain taking the deeper central midfield position instead.
What it did was highlight an array of attacking qualities. Mainoo was constantly making runs forward into the inside left channel, proving really difficult for the FCSB defence to pick up. He had two excellent chances to score in the first half alone, before laying on the opener for Diogo Dalot and then scoring the killer second goal himself.
It was an interesting role for him and, on this evidence, something we could see again.
Alejandro Garnacho didn’t start the game because he had been ill beforehand, while Ruben Amorim described Amad Diallo as “on the limits” in terms of fatigue. Both players made a huge difference when they came on at the break, particularly Garnacho.
The Argentine offered United an extra gear they didn’t have in the first half, asking questions of FCSB, hitting the post and creating Mainoo’s goal.
There have been suggestions that he doesn’t have a clear role in an Amorim system. But, after a brief spell out of favour, he has featured regularly in recent weeks. It begs the question again, given his impact, whether the better option is to keep, rather than sell, in the final days of the transfer window.
Toby Collyer made his first-team debut under Erik ten Hag but has clearly made an impression on Amorim in recent weeks. The 21-year-old came in for praise from teammate Lisandro Martinez off the back of his performance against Fulham at the weekend with a start here.
Including substitute appearances, this was a sixth successive game across three competitions for Collyer, whose willingness to put in the hard yards in midfield helped establish a foundation. He made way for the more incisive Amad at half-time, but he is forging a valuable role for himself.
