Manchester United won this shock against Aston Villa (3-2) while the Red Devils were trailing 2-0 at the break. A double from Garnacho and a goal from Rasmus Hojlund made the difference in the second half.
The Premier League knows how to spoil its fans. On the program this post-Christmas day, a big duel between Manchester United and Aston Villa . Two teams with very different dynamics. Unai Emery's team continues to impress across the Channel, and began its match as third in the championship. And this, having beaten teams of the caliber of Arsenal or Manchester City in recent weeks. Opposite, the disappointing Red Devils, coming off a new defeat last weekend, against West Ham, and eighth at kickoff of the game. As if the roles had been reversed, in a way. For this match where Erik ten Hag played big, the Dutchman relied in particular on the young Kobbie Mainoo in the midfield, with a trio composed of Rashford, Fernandes and Garnacho to support the also very criticized Rasmus Hojlund. Unai Emery relied on his strong men like Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey. Note that the French Clément Lenglet and Lucas Digne started in the rearguard.
The meeting started at a fairly intense pace. Little by little, the Villans began to gain the upper hand in the game, without creating huge chances. Both teams were going quite hard in the engagement and there were therefore no very heated situations in the areas. The difference was also going to be made from a set piece. On a free kick that was quite far away and at a fairly tight angle, John McGinn deceived Onana (0-1, 22nd). The ball crossed the surface, without finding a taker to the surprise of the Mancunian goalkeeper, who saw the ball slip past him and lodge in the back of the net. Galvanized, Unai Emery's troops were not going to stop there. A few minutes later, John McGinn was at work again, this time from a corner. Lenglet put himself in front of the goal, and Leander Dendoncker, with a nice gesture, sent him to the back (0-2, 26th).
Hojlund to the rescue!
A great start to the game for the Birmingham team. But the Red Devils would react rather well in the minutes that followed. Bruno Fernandes, for example, offered himself a half-volley off target (31st), and in the process, Rashford tried his luck but saw how Emiliano Martinez captured the ball without too much trouble. There was improvement on the Red Devil side, with a new save from the Argentine goalkeeper on Rashford (35th), but it was not enough to shake things up on the scoreboard. The Mancuniens did not materialize this highlight despite a final warning from Rashford, and the two teams were sent back to the locker room with this 2-goal advantage for the visitors. Coming back from the break, Alejandro Garnacho thought he had gotten his team back into the swing of things.
On a well-led counter-attack by his team and after a final serve from Rashford, the Argentinian hooked his compatriot Martinez at the edge of the area and catapulted the ball deep to reduce the gap. But it was canceled due to offside. More fear than harm for Unai Emery's men, as Rashford continued to set fire in the final meters. A few minutes later, Garnacho would finally score legally. On a new cross from Rashford, the native of Madrid, at the far post, pushed the ball into the back of the Villans cages (1-2, 58th). Behind, there were situations on one side or the other.
Onana was decisive in front of Bailey (61st), while Garnacho attempted a fairly dangerous cross shot (63rd). The Argentinian was going to make the talk again, with a powerful pivot shot after a cross pushed back by the opposing defense (2-2, 71st). And it was at that moment, when the match could swing one way or the other, that a certain Rasmus Hojlund decided to score his first goal of the season in the Premier League. A nice volley from a corner poorly cleared by the Aston Villa defense (2-3, 82nd). With three points in their pocket, Manchester United takes a little breath and temporarily climbs to sixth place. Erik ten Hag can breathe.