Manchester United vs Partizan LIVE: Score, goals and latest updates from the Europa League
Manchester United beat Partizan at Old Trafford as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side sealed qualification for the knockout stages
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Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford netted fine goals as Manchester United beat Partizan Belgrade to seal their place in the Europa League knockout phase with two games to spare.
Having seen a three-match winning run come to a disappointing halt at Bournemouth at the weekend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side rallied and secured a comprehensive Group L victory under the lights at Old Trafford.
Classy goals by Greenwood, Martial and Rashford gave free-flowing United a deserved 3-0 victory on Thursday night, ensuring progress to the Europa League round of 32 with games against Astana and AZ Alkmaar still to play.
Solskjaer can now experiment and rest key players in those fixtures - a boost with the energy-sapping 6,000-mile return trip to freezing Kazakhstan looming large later this month.
The United boss named a strong team in a bid to get qualification wrapped up early and teenager Greenwood, one of four changes from the Cherries loss, showed excellent composure to make space and send Partizan's goalkeeper the wrong way to open the scoring after 22 minutes.
The 18-year-old's pressure led to the home side's second of the evening, although Martial deserves all the credit for the way he turned superbly, evaded three challenges and slotted home a magical goal.
A thumping strike by Rashford early in the second half wrapped up victory against Savo Milosevic's side, with the only negative for United being the sight of Scott McTominay limping off.
Thursday's match provided entertainment too often lacking at Old Trafford this season, with both sides seeing goals ruled out for offside during the opening four minutes.
That deflected effort off Umar Sadiq was as close as Partizan would get, with Rashford fizzing wide, forcing Vladimir Stojkovic into a close-range stop and volleying over inside the opening 15 minutes.
Murmurs of frustration followed the latter opportunity, but Rashford's directness soon helped unlock the Partizan defence.
The 22-year-old's pass found Greenwood in the box, with the teenager making space to hit a left-footed strike that bamboozled Stojkovic.
It was a lovely finish and United stepped up a gear after Seydouba Soumah, impressive in the return fixture, curled wide.
Greenwood's pressure led to a clearance ricocheting off him into the path of Martial, who showed exceptional skill to collect the ball and turn Strahinja Pavlovic in the same motion. The Frenchman did not stop there, with his fine footwork and calmness seeing him avoid three challenges and beat the goalkeeper.
Martial tried to add to that before half-time, as did Rashford and Ashley Young.
United were in control and the second period was just four minutes old when Young laid a pass into the path of Rashford to leather into the top left-hand corner in front of the Stretford End to make it 2-0.
Young and Fred went close with free-kicks as Solskjaer's Reds looked to press home their advantage, but the game was over and they eventually dropped their intensity a gear or two.
James Garner, who started in Belgrade, came on for his first senior appearance at Old Trafford, before McTominay went off with what appeared to be a foot issue.
PA
Prediction
Manchester United suffered a set back at the weekend and only just edged past the Serbians last time out in this competition, but should have enough quality to beat them at home, even with a changed side.
2-1 to Manchester United is our prediction.
Odds
Manchester United 2/5
Draw 16/5
Partizan 10/1
When is it?
The match kicks off at 8pm GMT on November 6.
How can I watch it?
The match will be aired live on BT Sport 2, with coverage beginning at 7.30pm.
Subscribers can also watch the game via the BT Sport app, or online via the BT Sport player.
Team news
Paul Pogba is expected to be out until December, while Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic and Axel Tuanzebe are likely to return after the international break. Diogo Dalot is also expected to miss the game, along with longer-term absentees Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given chances to a number of younger players in this competition, so there could be further opportunities for James Garner, Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams.
Predicted line-up
Manchester United: Sergio Romero; Phil Jones, Harry Maguire, Marcos Rojo; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred, James Garner, Brandon Williams; Jessse Lingard, Juan Mata, Mason Greenwood.
Man Utd 2 - 0 Partizan
48 mins: McTominay is fouled and United win a free kick. They elect not to send it into the box and play it back instead. Fred makes a poor pass and Partizan almost sneak the ball into the box but Romero is able to send it forward again.
Man Utd 3 - 0 Partizan - Rashford
49 mins: GOAL! A cross field pass from Mata comes into the left side of the box. Ashley Young brings it down and sets it up for Rashford. Rashford puts his foot through the ball and gets the goal that's been eluding him all night.
Man Utd 3 - 0 Partizan
51 mins: Zdjelar brings down Rashford on the edge of the box and United have a free kick on the edge of the box.
Rashford wants the take it but Young is the one to strike it. The ball goes over the wall and curls past the post.
Man Utd 3 - 0 Partizan
54 mins: Rojo catches Sadiq with an attempted tackle and Partizan send their free kick into the box. Romero comes out and claims the ball.
Man Utd 3 - 0 Partizan
57 mins: McTominay takes out Sadiq and Partizan have another free kick. It comes into the box and Wan-Bissaka sees it away before losing it to Urosevic. Fred wins it back and sends the ball forward.
Greenwood is blocked off cynically by Pavlovic who is shown a yellow card.
Man Utd 3 - 0 Partizan
60 mins: Fred takes the free kick this time and forces Stojkovic into a comfortable save that he pushes out for a corner.
Natcho goes off for Tosic.
The corner ball comes into the box, it bounces around the area before Scekic sends it flying away.
Man Utd 3 - 0 Partizan
63 mins: 18-year-old James Garner makes his first appearance at Old Trafford for Manchester United as he replaces Fred.
Man Utd 3 - 0 Partizan
66 mins: Man Utd are letting Partizan have possession of the ball. They are closing them down as quickly as they were in the first half but the visitors are creating anything with the ball.
Marcus Rashford goes off for Andreas Pereira.
Man Utd 3 - 0 Partizan
69 mins: Asano goes off for Partizan with 17-year-old Stevanovic coming on. The game has died down in all intensity and the substitutions are providing the most excitement for commentary.
Oh wait Ashley Young is booked for a poor challenge.
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