Bruno Fernandes bagged a brace as Manchester United strolled to a comfortable win over Turkish champions, Istanbul Basaksehir at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese had the chance to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot but stepped back for Marcus Rashford who made no mistake to make it 3-0 from the spot, making it the first time United had led by three goals at half-time in a Champions League game at Old Trafford since beating Roma 7-1 in April 2007.
Basaksehir started the second half stronger and we’re rewarded when Deniz Turuc’s curling free-kick – initially cleared off the line by David de Gea – was given after goal-line technology adjudged it to have crossed the line.
But it proved to have been nothing but a consolation as Daniel James turned in Mason Greenwood’s cross to seal the win.
The win takes United top of Group H, needing a draw from the remaining two group games to clinch their spot in the knockout stage.
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- Manchester United have won their last seven home games in European competition by an aggregate score of 24-2.
- Istanbul Basaksehir have lost their last four away games in major European competition by an aggregate score of 2-12.
- Manchester United have scored nine goals in their two Champions League home games this season, compared to just three goals in five league games at Old Trafford this term.
- Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford has scored five goals in four Champions League games this season – as many as he’d netted in his first 18 appearances in the competition.
In the group’s other game, Neymar’s goal from a spot-kick in the 11th minute sealed a 1-0 victory for Paris Saint-Germain over RB Leipzig, to take the Ligue 1 champions into second place with six points from four games.
Juventus 2-1 Ferencvaros: Ronaldo and Morata scores for hosts
Alvaro Morata scores in stoppage time as Juventus overcame a stubborn Ferencvaros to seal qualification into the Champions League round of 16.
Cristiano Ronaldo drilled home Juve’s first with a left-footed hit from 20 yards – his 749th career goal – to cancel out Myrto Uzuni’s opener for the Hungarian champions who looked set to earn a rare point from Italy, but Alvaro Morata had other ideas.
Andrea Pirlo’s side sits second in Group C, and remain three points behind Barcelona after Ronald Koeman’s side, without Lionel Messi won 4-0 against Dynamo Kiev.
An inexperienced Barca side was named with Lionel Messi and many other first-team regulars missing in the starting XI but they eventually cruised to an emphatic win away to Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday to reach the Champions League knockout stages for the 17th consecutive season.
Ronald Koeman made eight changes to his side, including keeping captain Messi and Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong at home as Barca named their youngest starting XI in a Champions League game in nine years, with an average age of 24.
After a very slow start in the first half, the Catalans forged ahead soon after the break as Sergino Dest scored his first goal for the club while Martin Braithwaite added a brace with his first set of goals in Europe’s top competition at the age of 29.
Antoine Griezmann got the fourth goal for Barcelona in added time, rounding off a victory that took Group G leaders Barca on to 12 points from four games and clinched their place in the last 16.
Chelsea and Sevilla both win in Group E and are level on points
Olivier Giroud’s late header helped Chelsea beat Rennes 2-1 to clinch a place in this season’s Champions League knockout stages with two games to spare.
The Frenchman made the most of his time on the pitch, scoring in injury time after Timo Werner saw his effort saved.
Rennes thought they had stolen a draw off the visitors after Serhou Guirassy headed home from a corner kick in the 86th minute to cancel out Callum Hudson-Odoi’s opener, but Frank Lampard’s team had other ideas as Giroud’s goal sealed their spot in the next round.
“I’m very happy to qualify with two games to spare. It was a really tough match, they’re a very good team. Their recent form doesn’t reflect how good they are, it was a tough, hard-fought win,” Chelsea Manager Frank Lampard told BT Sport.
“We have to prioritise the game in front of us but we’re aware of where we are in the league and that Sunday is a big game.
“It always will be because of the rivalry and they are a great team and now it’s just about preparing well. They’ll have a day off tomorrow and then come Thursday morning we’ll start thinking about Spurs properly.”
In Group E’s other game, Sevilla – like Chelsea – also benefitted from a late winner as both teams took their tallies to 10 points each, with Rennes and Krasnodar both sitting on one each.
Erling Braut Haaland can’t stop scoring, Sancho regaining form too
Over in Group F, Erling Braut Haaland continued his fine goal-scoring form by netting a brace to become the fastest player to 15 Champions League goals, as Borussia Dortmund brushed aside Club Bruges.
The Norwegian striker, who was awarded the 2020 Golden Boy crown over the weekend, was already the joint-fastest to score five Champions League goals (3 games) and the quickest to 10 goals, in just seven matches.
The 20-year-old English winger, Jadon Sancho, who scored either side of Haaland’s brace, said: “I’ve been practising my free-kicks recently, so I’m happy it came off today.
“I’m just happy I’m playing and that I have coaches who believe in me. It’s been a hard situation for me recently, but it’s all about how I come back.”
Dortmund now need a draw from their two group games to secure passage to the knockout stages, while a win over Lazio next Wednesday would see them clinch pole position in the group.
In the group’s other game, Lazio beat Zenit St. Petersburg 3-1 at the Stadio Olympico to strengthen their chances of qualification with eight points on the log, just one-off leaders Dortmund.
Champions League Matchday 4 results
- Krasnodar 1-2 Sevilla
- Rennes 1-2 Chelsea
- Manchester United 4-1 Istanbul Basaksehir
- PSG 1-0 RB Leipzig
- Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Club Bruges
- Lazio 3-1 Zenit St. Petersburg
- Juventus 2-1 Ferencvaros
- Dynamo Kyiv 0-4 Barcelona
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