Manchester United emerged from an invigorating contest with a surely unassailable advantage that all but places them in the Europa League final next month.
This victory, secured despite a 2-1 deficit at half-time, had the feel of the next major step in the evolution of Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side. Bruno Fernandes’s 70th-minute penalty may have been dubiously awarded – Chris Smalling’s “foul” on Edinson Cavani appeared to be the latter merely falling over – but United’s talisman made no mistake.
