Club Brugge 1 Manchester United 1 - Recap and reaction

Club Brugge manager furious his side didn't get a penalty

United midfielder Juan Mata praises Anthony Martial impact

Juan Mata has piled the praise on Anthony Martial following his impressive goal for Manchester United against Club Brugge in the Europa League.

United were held to a 1-1 draw by the Belgian champions on Thursday night in the first leg of their Europa League knockout tie as Martial salvaged a dismal first-half display.

Martial has now been directly involved in four goals in his last four appearances on the road in all competitions (3 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 10 games.

Speaking after the match Mata praised the French forward and explained what makes him such a special talent for their side.

You can read the full story here.

More from Mata

“Obviously we wanted to win and I think in the second half we pressed better and played more time in their half,” he told MUTV.

“We had chances to maybe score the second. But they started well, they’re a team that play good with the ball and defend very compact without the ball, they put a lot of bodies in the back. And we couldn’t find the spaces in the first half. They scored a goal we shouldn’t concede. We scored a goal from their mistake. So we wanted to win, obviously 1-1 is not a very bad result, but we always want to win.

“We just couldn’t find spaces, they defended very well with five plus four. We tried to play a few times through the middle, which we didn’t succeed to do that. Then we scored that goal and from then we played a bit better. We had a chance with Brandon, we had a post with Anthony. In the second half we played much better than the first, controlled more of the game. We had some chances or half chances to score the second goal.”

'It showed how important Fernandes has become to this side already'

The stats behind Bruno Fernandes' impressive cameo

The one real positive from tonight.

Watch: Picture highlights from Jan Breydel Stadium

Anthony Martial saves United after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tactical mistakes

Almost everything about Manchester United was negative yet the result was positive. Just. United have an away goal, though that will only count if they play for a goalless draw in their return leg with Club Brugge. Which would be undeniably negative.

The casks of Belgian beer United fans neck in Bruges will not be in celebration of their team’s performance. Their Europa League status has been reflected by their manager’s European away day tactics that reaffirm the big-game nous and small-time mentality of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s current United. The Club Brugge fans even chanted ‘who the f--- are Man United?’

Solskjaer has already revelled in a goalless group stage draw already this campaign at The Hague and his conservative team in Bruges had the makings of a score draw. The rain was relentless and hail stones pounded the roof of the Jan Breydel Stadion. Bruges was like Stoke away, only with charm, and they got their score draw. A buoyant Solskjaer applauded the travelling fans on the drenched pitch at full-time.

You can read the full story here.

Mata reflects on draw

“They started well, they play good with the ball and defend compact,” he told MUTV.

“We shouldn’t have concede but we scored from their mistake.

“Second half we played much better than the first. We had some chances.”

Martial the main man

Anthony Martial has been directly involved in four goals in his last four appearances on the road in all competitions(3 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 10 games.

United's task is now simple

A clean sheet next week and United are through.

Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw good vs Club Brugge

Sergio Romero

Committed a rare error by rushing out of goal and was lobbed by Emmmanuel Bonaventure. Made a decent save in the second-half. 5

Diogo Dalot

Made little impression down the right and hardly offered an outlet. Dalot was poorer at attacking than Aaron Wan-Bissaka this week. 4

Victor Lindelof

Helped deny Brugge early on but his lack of match rhythm was apparent against the hosts’ quicksilver forwards. 5

You can read the full story here.

FT | Club Brugge 1-1 United

A fair result as Anthony Martial’s goal cancels out Emmanuel Dennis’ opener.

90+3' - Last chance

United win a free-kick right on the edge of the Brugge box...

1-1

90+1' - Save

A tame effort from Lingard is saved with ease.

1-1

90' - Added time

Four more minutes to play.

1-1

88' - Pressure builds

Decent play from United as they pump corners into the box, but nothing has come from it.

1-1

86' - Changing the game

United’s subs have made the difference.

That free-kick incidentally was wasted.

1-1

85' - Pressure builds

United see some good efforts blocked on goal, but now have a free-kick in a very good position...

1-1

83' - Chance!

World-class pass from Bruno Fernandes to pick out Juan Mata who is then thwarted by Mignloet. However, the Spaniard was just offside anyway.

1-1

81' - Final change

Fernandes is on for Dalot.

1-1

80' - Stoppage in play

United had the ball in a decent area but Ighalo kicks it out after Dennis goes down.

1-1

78' - HAS TO SCORE

A huge let-off for United. Brugge counter down the right, work the ball into the middle of the box and Kossounou fires wide from yards out.

1-1

75' - It's pouring

Hail and rain pouring down here. But it’s dry in terms of quality... if that makes sense...no?

1-1

73' - Maguire defends well

Harry Maguire clears the ball well at the back for United.

Meanwhile, De Cuyper is off for Schrijvers.

1-1

72' - Why Martial sub is a compliment to him

Quite a turnaround for Martial in that he’s now the first player to be withdrawn and is being wrapped in cotton wool ahead of the game with Watford on Sunday. It’s been another good night for him and a good week, he’s looked United’s most dangerous attacker, although there’s not been much competition for that title in truth.

1-1

71' - United change

Fred is on for Pereira.

1-1

69' - Lindelof composed

Some great defending from Lindelof as he ushers the ball out of play. Brugge soon get the ball back and Pereira is booked for a clumsy challenge.

1-1

67' - Ighalo is on

The Nigerian is on for Martial.

1-1

64' - Scrappy

This game is really suffering at the moment and there is no rhythm for either side.

1-1

63' - Brugge change

Tau is off for De Ketekalare.

1-1