Player ratings as Europa League campaign begins with draw

Manchester United were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by FC Twente as they got their Europa League campaign underway at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

United were the dominant side overall and deserved to take the lead through Christian Eriksen in the first half. But unable to create enough clear chances to put the game to bed, a mistake from the same player resulted in Sam Lammers snatching an equaliser.

How the game unfolded

Erik ten Hag slightly rotated for the visit of his beloved boyhood club, but was still able to call upon a strong side with places for Manuel Ugarte, Christian Eriksen, Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo.

Neither team made a particularly quick start, although United could have been behind after nine minutes had Lammers’ effort following a low cross into the box crept the right side of the post. The hosts had a lot of the ball in the early stages without fashioning anything particularly dangerous, with Twente goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall first called into action 25 minutes in to parry what would have been a spectacular own goal from Mees Hilgers. Joshua Zirkzee was waiting just behind.

But there was a sense from that moment that United were beginning to build some attacking momentum. Zirkzee continued to sniff around, while Lisandro Martinez had a shot blocked and it wasn’t long until Eriksen lashed the home side into what was by then a justified lead. Diogo Dalot’s attempt to get into the box was thwarted, but the loose ball rolled invitingly into the path of the Dane and he drove it first time towards the far top corner of the goal.

The first then finished with Twente enjoying their first spell of sustained possession, although Andre Onana hadn’t really been tested by the time the interval came.

It was another relatively slow start to a half in the second 45, with United starting to go up through the gears around the hour mark. It was therefore unexpected when Twente drew level. Right-back Bart van Rooij made it possible with a surging run that advanced the visitors 70 yards up the pitch. He ran out of steam and the move looked to have petered out, but Eriksen was caught in possession by Lammers, who drove towards goal and deceived Onana to finish at the near post.

Into the final 15 minutes and Zirkzee drew an important save from Unnerstall, beating his marker with a Ronaldinho-esque stepover but seeing the Twente goalkeeper equal to the fierce shot.

A little more urgency came as the clock ticked on and, in stoppage time, Unnerstall…