Omonia vs Man Utd LIVE REACTION: Martial and Rashford spare Red Devils’ blushes against minnows in Europa
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MANCHESTER UNITED fought back to beat Cypriot minnows Omonia Nicosia 3-2 in the Europa League.
Neil Lennon-managed Omonia led 1-0 going into the break, before a Marcus Rashford double and a Anthony Martial goal spared Erik ten Hag's blushes.
Everton are up next for United in the Premier League on Sunday night.
- Result: Omonia 2-3 Man Utd
- Man Utd XI: De Gea, Malacia, Martinez, Lindelof, Dalot, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Antony, Sancho, Ronaldo
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Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
21. The Omonia fans continue to make themselves heard.
It only holds 20,000 fans here but it sounds like a lot more.
Man Utd patiently play forward again.
Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
19. United come streaming forward.
Fernandes is slipped in and chips the ball over the keeper only to see it rebound off the crossbar.
The flag goes up for offside as soon as Ronaldo tries to head the ball back towards goal.
Credit: Reuters Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
17. Despite this being seen as the lesser competition, it offers a pathway into next season's Champions League.
United should be seeing this as a viable option and silverware.
Antony uses his pace and draws the keeper in out wide, he looks to square it to a team mate but can only find a defender.
Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
15. United come forward switching play from right to left.
Omonia are getting numbers behind the ball.
The visitors are struggling to break them down and have to go backwards.
Ronaldo finds some space with a great turn but his shot is blocked for a corner.
Martinez meets the cross but heads over.
Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
13. The only test for the Omonia keeper so far was that Ronaldo shot.
He did well to get down to his left sharply to get a firm hand to it.
Ronaldo goes to ground as he is caught on the back of the head.
Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
11. The hosts are starting to spend some time in the United half.
When the play breaks down they are carved open all too easily by the Man Utd counter-attack.
Ronaldo is trying desperately to find pockets of space.
Credit: Reuters Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
9. United should be winning all games in this competition with ease.
Sociedad proved a shock with their win at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo shoots from a wide position, solid save from the Omonia keeper.
Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
7. Neil Lennon's side have some British contingent.
Adam Matthews, the Welsh full-back and ex-Cardiff City player.
Midfielder Brandon Barker used to be on Man City's books.
Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
5. Omonia are looking to go direct with their passing.
Ansarifard is struggling to hold the ball up.
United come forward down the left with Sancho.
He cuts inside and looks to shoot but hits the side netting.
Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
3. United are happy to patiently pass the ball about.
Giving every player an early feel of the ball.
If there is no pass on, going backwards and starting again.
Omonia 0-0 Man Utd
1. The Cypriot side's fans are making this a rowdy atmposphere.
Trying to act like the twelfth man.
Omonia will need all the help they can against Man Utd this evening.
Kick-off: Omonia vs Man Utd
And we are underway in Cyprus.
Omonia start us off with the home fans making themselves heard.
ten Hag will be keen for a positive start from his side.
Credit: AFP History favours ten Hag's side
Omonia and Man Utd have never locked horns competitively before but the Cypriot side have lost all four of their previous games against English clubs.
The hosts did not win a single game in last season's Europa League and have struggled to create chances in this campaign.
Lennon's side have won just one of their last 26 European matches, excluding qualifiers.
Red Devils in need of reboot
Winning four games on the bounce in the Premier League would seemingly have been ideal preparation for the trip to the champions but Man Utd were torn to shreds by their 'noisy neighbours'.
They still seem to be finding their feet under manager Erik ten Hag.
With Man Utd playing catch-up in the UEFA Europa League Group E so they cannot afford any slip-ups in Cyprus tonight.
CR7 with point to prove
This was always going to be a tough test for Neil Lennon's side but they now have to face the reality of having to cope with a five-time Ballon D'Or winner in Cristiano Ronaldo.
Having not seen much game time of late, Ronaldo will be looking to show his manager why he should be one of the first names on his team sheet.
The Portuguese forward has a great chance tonight to stake a claim in this Man Utd team.
Credit: Rex
Omonia on the rise
Back-to-back domestic wins will give Neil Lennon's side some confidence going into this game.
They beat Enosis and Doxa in the past couple of weeks.
Omonia has scored six goals and conceded none in those two Cypriot First Division games.
Man Utd subs:
31. Dúbravka, 22. Heaton, 23. Shaw, 17. Fred, 39. McTominay, 28. Pellistri, 55. Iqbal, 36. Elanga, 49. Garnacho, 9. Martial, 10. Rashford
Man Utd starting XI:
Erik ten Hag makes three changes from the side well-beaten by rivals Man City on the weekend with Casemiro, Lindelof and Ronaldo all coming into the team.
1. de Gea, 20. Dalot, 2. Lindelof, 6. Martinez, 12. Malacia, 18. Casemiro, 14. Eriksen, 21. Antony, 8. Fernandes, 25. Sancho, 7. Ronaldo.
Credit: @ManUtd Omonia Nicosia subs:
1. Panayi, 10. Loizou, 13. Papoulis, 14. Kitsos, 20. Zachariou, 23. Uzoho, 30. Panagiotou, 80. Kakoulli, 90. Bezus
Omonia Nicosia starting XI:
Neil Lennon's side will play in a 5-3-2 formation as they look to upset the odds against Man Utd this evening.
40. Ribeiro de Freitas, 3. Matthews, 73. Miletic, 6. Yuste, 22. Lang, 17. Lecjaks, 42. Diskerud, 76. Charalampous, 11. Barker, 7. Souza da Silva, 18. Ansarifard
Cristiano the born winner
Erik ten Hag said that Ronaldo was happy at United but he was asked how a player with his status and ambition can be happy not playing:
He is not happy that he wasn't playing on Sunday, don't get me wrong. But that wasn't the question. The question was what he is like on the training pitch and what his mood is around the team. He is happy. But of course, he wants to play and he is p****d off when he is not playing, clearly.
Erik ten Hag
Cypriots with big challenge ahead
After back-to-back defeats against Sheriff Tiraspol and Real Sociedad, Omonia are at risk of an early European exit.
The team now managed by ex-Celtic manager Neil Lennon were close to snatching a point away to Real Sociedad after coming from behind.
In the last ten minutes the La Liga giants snatched a late winner.
Credit: Rex Coach reflects on what is needed
Erik ten Hag spoke about whether Sunday’s result against Man City was a ‘reality check’ for his side:
No. I know when you are in a process, it will not go only your way. You will have setbacks, and we beat the number one in the league [Arsenal], we beat Liverpool. On Sunday, we had a bad day at the office and we got beat. And in this moment, on that day, City were better. We have to accept that. But what we can't accept is our performance. That was unacceptable.
Erik ten HagOld foe looks for upset
Omonia Nicosia are managed by ex-Celtic manager Neil Lennon.
Lennon locked horns as a player with Man Utd in the UEFA Champions League during his time at Celtic.
He will be hoping to upset the odds with his new team who have not won a single game against English opposition in four attempts.
Hard one to watch for Ronnie
Cristiano Ronaldo was forced to watch his side’s heavy defeat against neighbours Man City at the weekend.
Erik ten Hag said he left the five time Ballon D’Or winner on the bench out of ‘respect’.
The Portuguese forward wants game time and will be keen to play the full game this evening.
