“Bruno, Bruno” was the ecstatic cry offered to Manchester United’s talisman, whose goal here – his side’s third of the night – killed off Real Betis and gave the Portuguese a dash of redemption four days after the 7-0 humbling by Liverpool.
Fernandes’s petulant display in that horror show led to his status as United’s stand-in captain being questioned, so to score in this Europa League last-16 first leg was the perfect response – as was the result for Erik ten Hag’s team.
In choosing the same XI that earned the wrong kind of immortality at the hands of their arch rivals, the manager’s thinking was an if-it’s-broke-you-lot-fix-it approach.
It worked, though United were tentative before an upgrade in performance after the interval. Antony, so far, is proving a one-trick footballer but what an act it is: he once more dipped on to his left foot before caressing in United’s second goal to calm his team.