Bruno Fernandes helps Manchester United bounce back against Real Betis

“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.

United were brisk when winning a first corner through Diogo Dalot and then impressive when scoring moments later. Six minutes had not ticked by when Bruno Fernandes’s cross, aimed at the lurking Wout Weghorst, caused Luiz Felipe to hit the deck via his backside and inadvertently tap the ball to Marcus Rashford. The forward rolled it forward and blazed past Claudio Bravo for his 26th goal in United colours this term.

It was a fine start but Ten Hag was soon howling instructions at Fred and was not impressed when a David de Gea pass went straight to Luiz Henrique, the type of sloppy football the manager detests: the passage of play encapsulated United’s opening half. Next, the camera cut to a disbelieving Ten Hag after Weghorst somehow missed a classic poacher’s chance from a Luke Shaw cross following a one-two with Rashford.

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