Manchester United 2-3 Galatasaray: Four Things We Learned

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Manchester United’s dismal run in the Champions League continued with a 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray at Old Trafford. Despite moments of promise, another poor performance has left Erik ten Hag’s side with no points after two games in the group stage.

Here are four things we learned from this disappointing result.

Rasmus Højlund Thrives in the Champions League

Rasmus Højlund delivered another standout performance on the European stage, scoring twice to give Manchester United hope. His first goal came from a classic counter-attack, with Marcus Rashford providing a pinpoint cross for the Danish forward to head home. Højlund, who has now scored in both of United’s Champions League fixtures, demonstrated his all-round game once again. His hold-up play, intelligent movement, and ability to run the channels were key highlights of his display, and his confidence will only continue to grow after this showing. His second goal was even more impressive, as he capitalised on a Davinson Sánchez slip, sprinted towards goal, and finished brilliantly. It was his first Old Trafford goal, and finally, there was no VAR to deny him.

Andre Onana’s Self-Destruct Button

Once again, Andre Onana found himself at the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons. A misplaced pass from the goalkeeper led directly to Casemiro’s red card and a penalty for Galatasaray. Although Mauro Icardi missed the penalty, Onana’s mistake was costly, and it raises further questions about his role in the team. The decision to start Onana over backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is now under scrutiny, and Erik ten Hag may need to reconsider his options for the next Champions League match. Despite Casemiro’s sacrifice to prevent a certain goal, the effort was in vain as Icardi later scored the winner, catching Onana out once more. The goalkeeper’s performance summed up a difficult night, highlighted by his desperate charge upfield in the dying minutes, hoping for an equaliser that never came.

Fragile Concentration Costs United, Again

Manchester United’s tendency to lose focus after scoring is becoming a troubling pattern. Wilfried Zaha’s equaliser came just six minutes after Højlund’s opener, and Galatasaray’s second goal followed only four minutes after Højlund’s second strike. This lack of concentration has been an ongoing issue for United this season. A similar scenario unfolded against Arsenal, where they conceded an equaliser minutes after taking the lead. The same happened against Bayern Munich, where a penalty and late winner undid United’s efforts shortly after Casemiro and Højlund found the net. With several experienced players in the squad, it’s concerning that these lapses in focus continue to occur, leaving Erik ten Hag with more questions than answers.

An Uphill Battle for United

With Bayern Munich coming from behind to beat Copenhagen 2-1, Manchester United now find themselves rooted to the bottom of the group with zero points, trailing Galatasaray by four. While United’s upcoming back-to-back games against Copenhagen offer a potential lifeline, confidence in this side’s ability to secure wins is fading. The road to qualification is steep, and unless United can drastically improve, their Champions League campaign could be over sooner than expected. At this point, it’s difficult to back this Manchester United team to beat anyone.

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