Manchester United 2-1 Leicester
Many saw the opening match of Premier League between Manchester United and Leicester City as a comfortable win for the Red Devils. While Jose Mourinho is sulking about the team’s lack of purchases in the transfer window, the quality of his roster is miles ahead of the Foxes.
However, what many didn’t foresee was a great duel between two superb football clubs. Multiple players stepped up and made impressive plays. There was rarely a dull moment as all of the players on the pitch played with intensity and intention.
Many SBOBET Premier League 2018 punters were probably surprised with how the game played out. It didn’t go against Manchester United vs Leicester predictions, but the contents of the game show that the result could have gone either way.
I, alongside the thousands of Premier League fans, will be absolutely delighted if this is how the rest of the league will play like for 38 games.
Highlights of the game
United played fantastic attacking football from the moment the match began. Paul Pogba, named captain by Jose Mourinho, immediately made his presence known with crisp passes and his involvement in United’s quick opening goal.
The first goal came within the first 90 seconds of the game. United’s relentless attacks at the first minute of the game ended up with Daniel Amartey committing a handball in the penalty area. The referee immediately blew his whistle and pointed to the spot.
Pogba immediately stood at the spot, made a weird run-up to the ball, and fired the ball to the top-left corner. Kasper Schmeichel, another World Cup player who impressed in Russia, made the correct guess. However, the ball was too quick for his reflexes, and it flashed straight to the net. Mourinho celebrated with a silent fist pump as his United team took the lead.
The Theatre of Dreams roared to life, but the Red Devils aren’t done just yet. Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata, and Andreas Pereira have tested the Harry Maguire-led backline with piercing attacks in the early minutes of the game.
The Foxes eventually found their attack and began threatening United. Demarai Gray looked effective from the left, constantly challenging Matteo Darmian and making dangerous passes from the left. They had a good chance to equalise within 20 minutes when Gray made a beautiful lob to Kelechi Iheanacho in front of the goal. Unfortunately, the linesman deemed him offside.
United are playing great football in the first half. Eric Bailly has brilliant defending against Leicester’s threats, and Fred has also tackled well in United’s midfield. Marcus Rashford, looking good with the number 10 on his back, showed bits of flair after stealing the football off a Leicester man from underneath his opponent’s legs.
Leicester almost had turned the tables an equaliser in the 29th minute of the match. Quick passes between Ricardo Pereira, James Maddison, and Wilfred Ndidi ended up with Maddison having the ball in front of goal and with no one near him. He fired a powerful shot only to see David De Gea make a world-class save to deny the goal. His abysmal performance in Russia is well and truly forgotten.
Since then, Leicester continued to dominate possession. They have made the right passes time and time again and have used many an attacking angle to catch the Man United defence off-guard and even the score. However, Bailly and Victor Lindelof have played strong defence time and time again.
The second half started with quality action from both Rashford and Gray. A scuffle in front of the Manchester United box eventually saw Mata making a pass to the No10. Rashford had a speedy battle with Gray as the England international tried to double the lead. Gray stopped the danger with an equally impressive tackle.
Leicester tried dinking the ball past the backline and have Iheanacho power his way through the defence, but Bailly continues to stop any dangerous attempts. Claude Puel decided to up the attack and insert Jamie Vardy on the 62nd minute. Three minutes later, Mourinho takes Rashford off for Romelu Lukaku.
The two clubs traded blows for much of the second half, but Iheanacho almost equalised once more. A scuffle in front of goal saw the ball land in front of Gray. He fired another bullet of a shot that was saved once again by De Gea.
Sanchez and Lukaku brewed up something in response, with the Belgium international left alone with the ball and Schmeichel. However, the son of United legend Peter Schmeichel pulled off a save with a quality that matches De Gea’s.
Luke Shaw sealed the game with a brilliant goal. Dominant plays from Pogba attracted the defence, opening Leicester’s right side. Mata placed a beautiful pass through for Shaw, and the 23-year-old scored a superb low goal past Schmeichel. Old Trafford celebrated, and Mourinho pumped his fists in delight.
While many United fans think that the game is over, the Jamie Vardy Party had supporters break out in sweat. A cross from the right saw Vardy dash for the ball but didn’t reach the ball. In a bizarre twist of fate, the ball bounced off the post and into Vardy’s view. He immediately headed it in to deny De Gea of a well-deserved clean sheet.
The game ended with the Foxes threatening a comeback from a corner. Kasper Schmeichel moved up to head the ball to the goal. Unfortunately, the ball went wide and the game ended with a 2-1 win for United.
Key statistics
Mourinho has never lost a Premier League Most, if not all, of Manchester United’s six fouls in the first half were committed close to the penalty box. Leicester’s almost-equaliser came from the scramble that came after one of those free kicks. If Mourinho wants life to be easier for his team this season, he has to make sure that his players are well-disciplined. Thankfully, they got their act together in the second half and conceded less free kicks near their goal.
It may be the armband, but Paul Pogba’s performance less than a month after winning the World Cup is incredible. His dribbles through the middle, his pin-point passes, and defensive presence was a boon for the Old Trafford side. His 8.37 rating is well-deserved.
What’s next?
I hope to see more Premier League 2018 results like this when the two clubs move on to play their next games.
The Red Devils head to East Sussex to fight Brighton & Hove Albion and hope to start a winning streak to get their season going on the right note. Meanwhile, Leicester will be playing Wolverhampton at the King Power Stadium next week. Gray and Vardy will be hoping to at least console the home fans with a win against the recently promoted Wolves.
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