Loss for Manchester Utd in Europe
Manchester United’s disappointing season hit a new low with a 2-1 loss at Danish champions FC Midtjylland in the Europa League last 32 overnight.
Manchester United players leave the pitch after the loss. Photo: HENNING BAGGER, EPA.
And to add to their woes, star goalkeeper David De Gea suffered a pre-match injury and his place in the line-up had to be taken by Sergio Romero.
Sevilla boosted their quest for a third straight title in Europe’s second-tier competition by beating Molde 3-0, while there were also wins for Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal over Porto and Napoli, respectively.
Fiorentina and Tottenham drew 1-1.
Winning the Europa League is regarded as United’s best chance of returning to the Champions League next season, but that will be difficult after squandering a lead earned by Memphis Depay.
Pione Sisto and Paul Onuachu replied for Midtjylland, who have reached the last 32 of the Europa League for the first time in their history and were playing their first competitive game for two months while on a winter break from domestic competition.
And it could have been worse for United with Romero producing three stunning saves.
The De Gea setback adds to United’s lengthy injury list that already contains 13 players, including Wayne Rooney who missed the game after being ruled out this week with a knee problem.
“It’s difficult to cope with such a list of injured players,” United manager Louis van Gaal said.
“In the second half, I have to say Midtjylland was winning every ball. That is very disappointing – you know in advance that is the key to this game.”
Ousted from the Champions League at the group stage and struggling in fifth place in the Premier League, beleaguered manager Louis van Gaal had been looking for some respite from a tough season by winning the Europa League.
The second leg is next Thursday at Old Trafford.
“Still we have a chance, I think,” Van Gaal said.
Fernando Llorente scored two goals and Kevin Gameiro added a third for Sevilla in a comfortable home win as the Spanish team looks to back up title wins in 2014 and ’15.
Dortmund beat FC Porto 2-0 through goals by right back Lukasz Piszczek and Germany forward Marco Reus, and Denis Suarez scored with a free kick off the underside of the crossbar to give Villarreal a 1-0 win at home to Napoli.
Tottenham were pegged back after scoring a penalty through Nacer Chadli, with Federico Bernardeschi grabbing Fiorentina’s second-half equaliser.
-AP
