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As it happenedended

Valencia vs Manchester United as it happened: Jose Mourinho's side miss chance to top Champions League group

Re-live all the action from the Mestalla

Nathan Jacobs
Wednesday 12 December 2018 14:21 EST
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Valencia v Manchester United: Champions League match preview

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Manchester United blew the chance to top their Champions League group as Jose Mourinho's much-changed side slumped to a 2-1 loss at Valencia.

Progress to the last 16 was already assured ahead of the trip to the Mestalla, yet this was a chance for Paul Pogba and Co to prove their worth and secure a win that would see them top Group H in the unlikely event that Juventus slipped up in Switzerland.

The improbable played out 650 miles away as Young Boys secured a remarkable 2-1 win against the Serie A behemoths but United failed to capitalise as they lost by the same scoreline in Spain, with Marcus Rashford grabbing a late consolation after Carlos Soler struck and Phil Jones turned into his own goal.

It was a largely lifeless, incoherent display from Mourinho's men and awful preparation for Sunday's trip to Premier League-leading rivals Liverpool.

A coupon busting CL gameweek sees Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus all fail to win. 

Only Manchester City did their job as favourites and here's the main man celebrating one of his two goals. 

Thank you for joining me this evening on the Independent live blog and be sure to catch all of tomorrow's Europa league updates here, too. 

Nathan Jacobs12 December 2018 22:01

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