Premier League: Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United. (X)
Neither team was able to breach the opposition defence before the referee blew his whistle to bring the game to a conclusion as Erik ten Hag’s men managed to pick up one point on the road against Unai Emery’s Villans.
Manchester United returned with a point from Villa Park on Sunday following a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Erik ten Hag started Andre Onana in goal, behind the defensive line of Diogo Dalot, Johnny Evans, Harry Maguire and Noussair Mazraoui. Christian Eriksen, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes made up the midfield with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho on the wings. Rasmus Hojlund was the lone man upfront.
Unai Emery deployed goalie Emi Martinez behind the defensive quartet of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne. Ross Barkley, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers made up the central region of the pitch with Leon Biley and Jadon Philogene on the right and left flanks as Ollie Watkins led the line.
Emery was forced to make an early change as Konsa seemed to have pulled his hamstring and Diego Carlos came in to replace his teammate.
Rashford nearly got on the scoresheet in the first half as he halted Cash’s run forward on the left flank before surging towards goal. The Englishman cut in and got into a shooting position, only for his attempt to be straight at the goalkeeper Martinez, who held his ground and palmed the ball out of danger.
Villa had the opportunity to inch ahead, but Morgan’s strike found the side netting. Shortly after, Philogene tried his luck from range, only to watch his effort go wide of the mark.
Erik ten Hag was forced to make a halftime change as Maguire limped off right before the HT whistle and Matthijs de Ligt came on to replace the Englishman, while Mazraoui was withdrawn in favour of Victor Lindelof.
Rashford started the second half strong as he cut in from the left to get a shot away, but his attempt went high over the bar.
Tielemans forced Onana into a save as the United custodian duly obliged to keep the scoreboard from ticking.
Emery brought on Jhon Duran in place of Bailey around the hour mark, while ten Hag made a double switch with Joshua Zirkzee and Anthony coming on to replace Rashford and Hojlund.
Fernandes nearly put United ahead with his freekick, but was unluck to see it bounce off the crossbar, with Anthony smashing the follow-up strike way off mark.
A couple of nervy final minutes went by in a whisk as neither team was able to breach the opposition defence before the referee blew his whistle to bring the game to a conclusion.
