Manchester United 4-1 Real Betis: Antony and Fernandes help steer United back on track

By Sports Desk March 09, 2023

Manchester United got back on track with a 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 clash at Old Trafford.

Just days after humiliation at the hands of Liverpool, an unchanged United side responded fiercely to put one foot in the quarter-finals.

It was not all plain sailing for Erik ten Hag's side though, with Ayoze Perez equalising in the first half after Marcus Rashford gave the hosts an early need.

A strong second half put United in control though, as Antony guided home a trademark curler and Bruno Fernandes headed home to ensure a firm lead.

United came out of the blocks flying and, having already seen a Weghorst goal disallowed for offside, took the lead in the sixth minute as Rashford capped off a fine counter-attack to smash into the top corner. 

Claudio Bravo was called into action to deny Weghorst and Rashford, before Betis equalised against the run of play when Juanmi clipped a pass to Leicester City loanee Perez, who drilled into the far corner and give David de Gea no chance. 

Two minutes before the break, the visitors almost took the lead. De Gea sloppily gave the ball away to Juanmi, who fed a pass through to Perez, but United got away with it as his pass across the face of goal was deflected onto the post by Lisandro Martinez.

United retook the lead seven minutes after the restart, Antony cutting inside onto his left foot and curling beyond the reach of Bravo from outside the box.

The hosts' advantage was doubled just six minutes later, Fernandes finding space at the near post to head Luke Shaw's corner home despite Bravo getting both hands to the ball.

Bravo kept the scoreline respectable with a number of crucial saves but could do nothing as Weghorst tucked home on the rebound after Scott McTominay's effort was saved, with United on course for the quarter-finals.

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    Glenn Hoddle

    Chelsea 1993-96: P157, W53 (33.7 per cent), D54, L50

    Tottenham 2001-03: P104, W41 (38.3 per cent), D18, L45

    The long-time Spurs midfielder finished his career as Chelsea player-manager for two seasons before a third solely in the dugout. His sides never finished higher than 11th in the league but reached an FA Cup final, losing 4-0 to Manchester United, and semi-final as well as a Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final.

    After spells with England and Southampton, he took charge at White Hart Lane with similar results to his Chelsea spell – Spurs reached a League Cup final, losing to Blackburn, but finished ninth and 10th in the league before he was sacked six games into the next season.

    Andre Villas-Boas

    Chelsea 2011-12: P40, W19 (47.5 per cent), D11, L10

    Tottenham 2012-13: P80, W44 (55.0 per cent), D20 L16

    After their success with Jose Mourinho, Chelsea once again turned to Porto to recruit Villas-Boas, who had worked as part of Mourinho’s staff. He was unable to work similar magic as manager, lasting just 40 games and less than a season in the role.

    He lasted twice as long at Spurs but narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification in his first season and was dismissed with the club lying seventh shortly before Christmas in his second, having failed to make the most of the then-world record fee received for Gareth Bale’s move to Real Madrid and lost 6-0 to Manchester City and 5-0 to Liverpool in his last five league games in charge.

    Jose Mourinho

    Chelsea 2004-07, 2013-15: P321, W204 (63.6 per cent), D69, L48

    Tottenham 2019-21: P86, W44 (51.2 per cent), D19, L23

    Announcing himself as a “Special One”, Mourinho lived up to that billing in his first spell at Stamford Bridge with back-to-back league titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups. His unbeaten home record in the league lasted 77 games in all and into his second spell, when he won the Premier League and League Cup for a third time each.

    After another League Cup and a Europa League with Manchester United, Spurs banked on Mourinho as Pochettino’s replacement to end a trophy drought amounting to a solitary League Cup since 1991. With Spurs finishing sixth and then seventh in the league, though, Mourinho was sacked just days before his chance to bring silverware in the 2021 League Cup final – which Manchester City won 1-0 against a team led by caretaker manager Ryan Mason.

    Antonio Conte

    Chelsea 2016-18: P106, W69 (65.1 per cent), D17, L20

    Tottenham 2021-23: P77, W41 (53.2 per cent), D12, L24*

    Conte brought a Premier League title and an FA Cup to Chelsea, but was sacked after they finished only fifth in the league in his second season.

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    Tottenham 2014-19: P293, W159 (54.3 per cent), D62, L72

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    Jose Mourinho

    Chelsea 2004-07, 2013-15: P321, W204 (63.6 per cent), D69, L48

    Tottenham 2019-21: P86, W44 (51.2 per cent), D19, L23

    Announcing himself as a “Special One”, Mourinho lived up to that billing in his first spell at Stamford Bridge with back-to-back league titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups. His unbeaten home record in the league lasted 77 games in all and into his second spell, when he won the Premier League and League Cup for a third time each.

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    Chelsea 2016-18: P106, W69 (65.1 per cent), D17, L20

    Tottenham 2021-23: P77, W41 (53.2 per cent), D12, L24*

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    Tottenham 2014-19: P293, W159 (54.3 per cent), D62, L72

    Chelsea: appointed 2023

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    Espanyol

    Won 53, drew 38, lost 70; 32.9 per cent win rate

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    Southampton

    Won 23, drew 18, lost 19; 38.3 per cent win rate

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    Won 159, drew 62, lost 72; 54.3 per cent win rate

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    Paris St Germain

    Won 55, drew 15, lost 14; 65.5 per cent win rate

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