'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Looking to give the fans something to cheer about, Manchester United welcomed Brentford to Old Trafford in their final home game of the season on Monday (2 May).
Keeping their three-game winless run in the Premier League in mind, there was some anxiety about the outcome against a spirited Brentford unit. Fortunately for the Red Devils faithful, the team did not let them down and secured a comfortable 3-0 win.
Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Raphael Varane found the back of the net to guarantee Manchester United’s success at Old Trafford on Monday night.
The Red Devils took the lead after only nine minutes of play, with an unmarked Fernandes converting from close range. A couple of minutes later, Christian Eriksen tried to equalize for Brentford, but his effort was easily parried away by David de Gea. Ivan Toney got a glorious chance to punish Manchester United 10 minutes later, but the forward could not keep his header on target.
Trending
United doubled their tally just past the hour mark from the penalty spot. Ronaldo was carelessly brought down by Rico Henry inside the box, giving the referee no choice but to award a penalty to the home team.
The Red Devils’ No. 7 stepped up and comfortably converted the spot-kick, taking his Premier League goal tally to 18. Raphael Varane headed home United’s third 11 minutes later, putting the game to bed.
Following the win, Ralf Rangnick's stayed in sixth spot with 58 points from 36 games, six ahead of seventh-placed West Ham United, who have played a match less. United are three points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur, who are fifth, but Spurs have two games in hand. Brentford, meanwhile, dropped down to 14th spot with 40 points from 35 matches.
Here are five Manchester United players who shone in their home win over Brentford on Monday night:
#5 Anthony Elanga
Anthony Elanga has been Manchester United’s discovery of the season. The 20-year-old right-winger still has a lot to learn but he is clearly not afraid to take the fight to the opposition.
Last night, he turned on the afterburners to set up Bruno Fernandes’ opening goal, leaving the Brentford defense in the dust. In the ninth minute, he beat his marker, dashed down the right flank, and cut it back just before running out of room. Fernandes took care of the rest.
Elanga also made a key pass, won four duels, and drew two fouls before being replaced by Edinson Cavani in the 75th minute.
#4 Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes put an end to his dry spell (eight Premier League games without scoring) for Manchester United with a neat first-half goal against Brentford.
In the ninth minute, the Portuguese received Elanga’s cutback inside the Brentford box and guided it past David Raya into the back of the net.
He did not create any goalscoring opportunities for his teammates, but his efficient passing certainly came in handy.
At Old Trafford, Fernandes completed 77 passes with 88.5 percent accuracy, precisely delivered five long balls, and won two of three ground duels.
He also made a couple of interceptions, registered a clearance, and made an amazing nine recoveries in the game.
A decent outing from the former Sporting Lisbon star.
#3 Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane has not had the grandest of times since joining from Real Madrid at the start of the season.
He has suffered from injuries and mediocrity, often forcing fans to ponder why he was bought in the first place.
On Monday, too, he made a horrific mistake in the first half, allowing Ivan Toney to beat him easily. Luckily for the centre-back, Toney's headed effort sailed just over the crossbar, keeping the game at 1-0.
He improved in the second 45, reassuring fans and his teammates alike. In the 72nd minute, the Frenchman found the back of the net from an Alex Telles corner, registering his first goal in United’s colors.
The Frenchman also made five clearances and three interceptions, delivered three long balls and provided 55 passes with 96.5 percent accuracy.
#2 Juan Mata
With his contract expiring in June 2022, Juan Mata got the chance to bid Old Trafford a proper goodbye on Monday night.
The Spaniard, who has been criminally underused for the last three seasons, roamed freely and kept the game ticking with his accurate distribution. He brought his teammates into the game and stretched the Brentford defense, allowing the likes of Ronaldo and Fernandes to drift inside.
Mata completed 59 passes with 90.8 percent accuracy, precisely delivered both his long balls, succeeded in his attempted dribble, and won a duel.
A great performance by the Spaniard, who was replaced by Phil Jones in the 75th minute.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United’s knight in shining armor, Cristiano Ronaldo, deservedly scored in the club’s final home game of the season.
The 37-year-old was a breath of fresh air in attack, always looking for clever ways to slip behind Brentford’s backline.
He found the back of the net just before half-time with a tidy finish, but the VAR ruled out the goal for offside. The Portuguese finally got his goal just past the hour mark from the penalty spot. He himself won it by drawing a foul from Rico Henry. The former Real Madrid superstar's thundering strike took the ball past David Raya and into the bottom-left corner to put United 2-0 up.
Against Brentford, Ronaldo also played a key pass, registered 68 passes with 91.9 percent passing accuracy, won six of seven duels, and made a clearance.
With the Portuguese ace linked with a sensational return to Real Madrid in the summer (via The Mirror), it remains to be seen if we have seen the last of Ronaldo at Old Trafford.
