Highlights: Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United, Bruno fires Fernandes hat-trick at Old Trafford Opener
As supporters return to Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes (3), Mason Greenwood, and Fred destroy Leeds; Luke Ayling stuns academic; Paul Pogba stars in exciting Old Trafford battle.
Opta stats: Bruno, Pogba, and Man United’s first-day delight
- Manchester United won their first Premier League game of the season for the 20th time, becoming the only club in the competition’s history to do so.
- Leeds have surrendered five or more goals in each of their last two away games against Manchester United in all competitions (including 2-6 in the league last season), more than in any of their previous 50 away games against United.
- Bruno Fernandes, a Manchester United midfielder, has been directly involved in 48 Premier League goals (29 goals, 19 assists) since his competitive debut in February 2020, four more than any other player.
- After Dennis Bergkamp, Jose Antonio Reyes, Cesc Fàbregas, Emmanuel Adebayor, Santi Cazorla, and Harry Kane, Paul Pogba of Manchester United became the seventh player in Premier League history to assist four goals in a single game.
- Bruno Fernandes’ hat-trick for Manchester United was the 10th in Premier League history on the opening weekend, with Leeds becoming the first team to permit two such trebles (also via Mo Salah last season).
- Since Lou Macari’s hat-trick against Birmingham in 1977-78, Bruno Fernandes became the first Manchester United player to score a hat-trick on the first day of a league season.
Match Report
Manchester United made a sensational start to the new Premier League season with a 5-1 thumping of old rivals Leeds at a boisterous Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick.
In front of over 75,000 people, Fernandes shone in a tense match, scoring 30 goals before settling an epic duel following a frenetic second-half run in which Luke Ayling’s magnificent strike had briefly drawn Leeds level.
Roberto Firmino scores twice as Liverpool beat Osasuna 3-1 to end pre-season with a win.
Liverpool beat Osasuna 3-1 to end pre-season with a win. Roberto Firmino scores twice for the Reds.
Mason Greenwood (52) put Manchester United back in front before Fernandes ruthlessly sent them clear (53, 60) to excitely begin a season that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has deemed “vitally crucial” in his quest to finally win silverware.
When Paul Pogba teed up Fred for a fifth (68), he recorded his fourth assist of the game and, in yet another demonstration of Manchester United might, made way late on for £73 million signing Jadon Sancho.
This irresistible attacking display sent an ominous early message of intent for Solskjaer, who has declared that “nothing is beyond” his players this season. With more recruits to unleash, as well as absent high-profile players to return, this irresistible attacking display sent an ominous early message of intent.
Player Ratings
Manchester United: De Gea (7), Wan Bissaka (6), Lindelof (7), Maguire (7), Shaw (8), McTominay (7), Fred (7), Pogba (9), Fernandes (8), James (6), Greenwood (6), Man United: De Gea (7), Wan Bissaka (6), Lindelof (7), Maguire (7), Shaw (8), McTominay (7), Fred (7), Pogba (9), (7).
Substitutes: Martial (6), Sancho (6), Matic (6)
Leeds: Meslier (5), Struijk (4), Koch (4), Cooper (5), Ayling (6), Dallas (5), Klich (5), Raphinha (6), Rodrigo (4), Harrison (6), Bamford (6). Leeds: Meslier (5), Struijk (4), Koch (4), Cooper (5), Ayling (6), Dallas (5), Klich (5), Raphinha (6), Rodrigo (4), Harrison (6), Bamford (6) (6).
Substitutes: Firpo (6), Roberts (6), Costa (6) are the substitutes (6).
Paul Pogba was named man of the match.
How did Solskjaer’s team issue a statement?
The frenetic mood inside Old Trafford was further heightened when Raphael Varane was introduced to the crowd prior of kick-off, with Solskjaer acknowledging that a disrupted pre-season made it “too soon” for a start.
Returning fans of two historic rivals erupted in applause, but the hosts set the tone on the pitch, with Scott McTominay, who scored twice in last season’s 6-2 blowout, forcing Liam Cooper into a smart early stop after being slid in by Fernandes.
News from the team
With Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani out, Manchester United named Jadon Sancho to the bench and Mason Greenwood to lead the attack.
Leeds also had new acquisition Junior Firpo and talented midfielder Kalvin Phillips on the bench.
As relentless harrying left Leeds bewildered, Mason Greenwood made Illan Meslier struggle, before Pogba went wide after one too many stepovers, but David de Gea had to deny Jack Harrison and Mateusz Klich as the visitors served a reminder of their own threat on the attack.
Leeds were settling in before Manchester United took the lead, with Fernandes, who tormented Robin Koch with Kalvin Phillips on the bench, taking a controlled touch with his right foot on the run before watching a shot with his left bounce off Meslier’s leg and into the net.
As Old Trafford rocked, Solskjaer pumped both hands in the air, and Luke Shaw, high up the pitch and always enterprising, came near to adding to the celebrations with a stinging effort that went into the side-netting.
At halftime, Marcelo Bielsa introduced new signing Junior Firpo for Rodrigo, but a Leeds stalwart restored parity moments later, Ayling taking a touch before arrowing into the top corner.
Manchester United were stung, but only for a brief moment, as the game sped back to life.
Greenwood converted Pogba’s brilliant channel ball to quickly reclaim the initiative, and the hosts suddenly had a cushion as Fernandes – again found by Pogba – cut inside and watched Ayling struggle in vain to prevent his effort across the chalk, goal-line technology confirming it.
After another arcing run to meet a Victor Lindelof ball was followed by a blistering strike into the roof of the net, Fernandes had completed his hat-trick, and Solskjaer’s side were rampant, fueled by the might of four stands.
As Manchester United made it five, Pogba’s pull-back was swept in by Fred, the Frenchman exiting to huge applause as Sancho finally got a taste of his new surroundings.
Raphinha lost a penalty appeal for Leeds, and a Tyler Roberts penalty appeal was dismissed with contempt, but this was Fernandes’ day, the Portugal star leaving with the match ball clutched close, to the sound of jubilant returning home fans.
What comes next?
Manchester United will play Southampton at 2 p.m. on Super Sunday, while Leeds will hope that the long-awaited homecoming of fans to Elland Road will help them bounce back against Everton the following Saturday.
