A clean sheet at Granada’s unfashionable 19,000 seater Los Carmenes stadium, and a two goal advantage to take to Old Trafford for the second leg. But few know that the Spanish side’s amazing rise to the top is nothing at all to do with splashing the cash. In fact their most expensive signing in their current team is forward Luis Suarez (not the former Liverpudlian), who cost just £6.75m from Watford. Suarez in fact only came on in the second half. Granada had finished second in their Group and they went on to knock out Napoli and Molde to get this far. Playing against United was the biggest game in their history as they participated in a European quarter-final for the very first time.
I have to agree with Ole, who opined that the United Man of the Match was Victor Lindelöf, ‘Yes, definitely, he kept us glued together. He was good on the ball, took command, and what a pass for the first goal!”. Strong in defense with a particularly important block in the first half, against some rough play from Granada. He did well to avoid a booking in a physical game with a trigger happy referee, and as stated , he provided an excellent assist for Marcus Rashford’s opening goal.
While the Red Devils might have the advantage, this tie is far from over though and the La Liga side are very capable of springing a surprise. Thus, United must be careful going into the second leg on Thursday , more so when the Reds will have to finish the job without captain Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw, who are all suspended after picking up yellow cards.
Article contributed by Contributor Kenneth. Comments are appreciated on our Facebook page.