Young Boys 2-1 Man Utd: Player ratings as Red Devils stunned in Champions League

Manchester United were stunned by Young Boys in their Champions League opener, losing 2-1 in stoppage time after playing more than half of the game with 10 players.

United had been expected to win against the Swiss champions and things started well when Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first European goal for the club since May 2009. That took the Portuguese icon’s goal tally to three in two games since his sensational return last month.

But Young Boys, even when the teams were even, were keen to show they weren’t just there to make up the numbers and asked probing questions of the visitors.

Things then got far more complicated for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side when Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off in the first half, misjudging a 50/50 tackle. The man advantage lifted Young Boys’ spirits and they finished the first half the stronger and began the second in the same manner.

The equaliser from Nicolas Ngamaleu had been coming for a while. With United pinned inside their own half, the ball was fed wide and the Cameroon international was first to the cross.

United spent the remainder of the game trying to repel wave after wave of attack. They looked to have held on for a point, but one mis-placed back pass from Jesse Lingard in the 95th minute put Jordan Siebatcheu through on goal to win it.

Manchester United player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

David de Gea (GK) 6/10: Made an important late save to ensure United still came away with a point. Couldn't do anything about the winning goal.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB) 4/10: Got a 50/50 challenge wrong in the first half and saw red for it, which shaped the rest of the match for both teams.

Victor Lindelof (CB) 6/10: Favoured over Raphael Varane for his first appearance since 22 August.

Harry Maguire (CB) 6/10: Led well and stood tall in the second half.

Luke Shaw (LB) 5/10: Disappointing to see him not put pressure on Young Boys crosses on more than one occasion. One of those led to the equaliser.

2. Midfielders

Donny van de Beek (CM) 6/10: Handed a chance to prove himself and it didn’t end how he would have wanted it to. Did well enough in the first half but was tactically sacrificed at half-time in favour of another centre-back.

Fred (CM) 6/10: Was drowning in midfield for large parts of the second without enough support. Put in a huge effort.

Bruno Fernandes (AM) 6/10: Delicious assist to set up his fellow countryman. His influence started to wane after the red card and United ended up on the back foot.

3. Forwards

Jadon Sancho (RW) 5/10: Substituted in the first half through no fault of his own as Solskjaer was forced into a reshuffle to cover for Wan-Bissaka’s dismissal.

Cristiano Ronaldo (ST) 6/10: Showcased the kind of clinical ‘number nine’ he stands to be for United as he had barely been involved before he broke the deadlock.

Paul Pogba (LW) 5/10: Scored twice the last time United played in Switzerland but was much quieter here on a very disjointed night for the team.

4. Substitutes

Diogo Dalot (RB) 6/10: Like for like replacement for Wan-Bissaka at right-back.

Raphael Varane (CB) 6/10: Arrived at half-time as Solskjaer shifted to a back three.

Jesse Lingard (ST) 4/10: Brough on to provide some extra energy to press. His defining act was the sloppy back pass that gave Young Boys their stoppage time winner.

Nemanja Matic (CM) 6/10: Needed as an extra presence in midfield to stem the tide in the second half and he did make an important difference.

Anthony Martial (ST) N/A

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