Just as they did at the conclusion of the Premier League season, Manchester United kicked off their Europa League campaign with a frustrating 1-1 draw against FC Twente.
United began positively, but Twente defended tightly, limiting space for Erik ten Hag’s squad.
Despite their movement creating some danger, Twente posed minimal threat. Christian Eriksen capitalized on a loose ball in the box, scoring a powerful goal that gave United the lead in the first half.
The second half saw both teams competing vigorously until mistakes allowed Twente to advance and score an unexpected equalizer.
This marked United’s second frustrating draw in four days, despite Ten Hag’s attempt to shake things up with a triple substitution, which ultimately did not pay off.
Here’s how the players rated:
**Andre Onana – 5**
Lammers outsmarted him by shooting at the far post after he was already positioned there. Did not have much else to do.
**Noussair Mazraoui – 7**
Quickly becoming a regular in the lineup, he had an excellent match aside from one cross-field pass that went to the opposition.
**Harry Maguire – 5**
Sliding in a dangerous area was unwise as it allowed a Twente player to score the equalizer, leaving him in a vulnerable position.
**Lisandro Martinez – 7**
Found himself in a rare scoring position and capitalized well. He was confident defensively and smooth in possession.
**Diogo Dalot – 6**
Almost allowed a goal due to a careless play that gifted Twente their best early chance. His current performance doesn’t meet previous standards.
**Manuel Ugarte – 6**
At times, he seemed a step slow and overly eager to press, which backfired occasionally. Enjoyed valuable moments with new teammates.
**Christian Eriksen – 7**
Scored a powerful shot to give United the lead, making it three goals in four matches. However, he lost focus, leading to Twente’s equalizer.
**Bruno Fernandes – 4**
Repeatedly lost possession, mirroring his performance against Crystal Palace. His passing can be bold but often results in frustration. His final free kick attempt summed up his night.
**Amad – 7**
Always eager to push forward, his ambidextrous skills significantly boost the attack. United looks threatening when he’s on the ball. Replaced Garnacho as Ten Hag rotated his forwards.
**Marcus Rashford – 8**
Is Rashford back to form? While he didn’t score, his overall performance showed improvement, highlighted by an impressive elastico in the first half. It was surprising to see him substituted given his danger.
**Joshua Zirkzee – 6.5**
Not a natural scorer, but his ability to connect with teammates enhances United’s play. This dynamic could develop further with Hojlund.
**Substitutes:**
**Eleazar Garnacho – 7**
Ten Hag instructed him to focus on defense, but once Twente equalized, he transitioned to an attacking role, making several threats.
**Rasmus Hojlund – 6**
Looked a bit rusty as some balls didn’t stick to him. He needs more time to regain his sharpness.
**Kobbie Mainoo – 6**
Had a strong start in Europe with some nice forward runs, but also lost possession a few times.
**Mason Mount – 6**
Consistently pressed, but the outcome was lacking. Needs time to readjust following his surgery.
