Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Manchester United: Five talking points

The return of Vidic sparks a spirited defensive display

There were times in the first half, when it looked as if it was the United of old were back. United’s defense managed to clear every cross, got to every second ball and were positioned perfectly to deal with any attacking threat that came their way. And barring a spell leading up to Shakhtar’s equalizer, they were dominant throughout the game, and Vidic in particular was a behemoth in the center of that defense.

The return of their captain, sparked a defensive display from United, which was in stark contrast to their performances so far this season. The duo of Smalling and Vidic were rock solid and let nothing through pass and showed signs of the type of defensive solidity that marked Moyes’s reign at Everton.

Shakhtar’s band of Brazilians

Before the game, a lot had been said about the band of Brazilians and how they were going to take the game by storm. And although that never really materialized thanks to a spirited defensive display by United, they still managed to show glimpses of what they were capable of. Douglas Costa in particular displayed his explosive pace and close control that caught the eye of many top European clubs over the summer.

So, it was no surprise, when the goal scored by Taison, a Brazilian. Whilst Shaktar’s attackers weren’t at their best, the combination play between Taison, Douglas Costa and Alex Teixeira was lightning quick and their explosive pace helped stretch the United defense. Whilst they were unable to crack open the United defense, not many will be able to contain Shakhtar’s attacking threat this year.