Manchester United have beaten Istanbul Basaksehir 4-1 in tonight’s Champions League match-day number four as the Reds edge closer to reaching the illustrious competition’s knockout rounds.
The Reds continue to sit top of Group H’s table after previous wins against PSG (2-1) and RB Leipzig (5-0) now puts them on nine points with two games remaining.
In light of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s third win on the bounce, we have rated every United player who featured.
David De Gea
I don’t believe United’s number-one had a save to make during the first-half.
However, during the second-half, United’s Spaniard was called into action but a decent diving, low save ensured the Reds remained 3-0 up.
Unfortunately, De Gea’s heroics could not prevent a clean sheet being spoiled after a late Istanbul free-kick from Turuc crept over the line despite a decent effort to keep it out.
Rating: 7/10
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
It is becoming increasingly apparent that United’s right-back is gaining in confidence when going forward, Wan-Bissaka’s link-up play with team-mate Marcus Rashford down the right-hand side was brilliant at moments during the first 45-minutes.
Looked to be carrying a knock and was eventually brought off in the 59th-minute for Brandon Williams.
Rating: 7/10
Victor Lindelof
Played an absolutely sublime first-half ball which travelled the length of the pitch and into the path of Rashford who eventually went on to win the Reds a first-half penalty to make the score 3-0 at the break.
Subbed off at half-time for Axel Tuanzebe.
Rating: 7/10
Harry Maguire
Got himself in the way of a late Istanbul shot to keep the score at 3-0 going into the break.
United’s captain should have got on the scoresheet himself during the second-half but had to watch as his header went just over the bar.
Maguire was forced to command his back-line for the final 10-minutes of the game after Istanbul got a taste for blood after a second-half free kick found it’s way over De Gea’s line.
After what should have been an easy second-half, United made the final minutes hard work for themselves but credit to Maguire for ensuring his defensive colleagues remained focused.
Rating: 6/10
Alex Telles
Looked brilliant when attacking, United’s Brazilian left-back’s moment of the first-half came when he dropped his shoulder and played a pin-point cross-field ball over to Rashford.
Telles stayed on for the duration and after a great display, the Brazilian’s form will make it tough for Luke Shaw to nudge him out of the team.
Rating: 7/10
Fred
Fred ensured things kept ticking over in midfield as he continues to impress. Looked to team-up well with new-signing Donny van de Beek in the middle of the park.
Rating: 7/10
Donny van de Beek
Another great performance from United’s new Dutch midfielder. Alongside Bruno Fernandes, van de Beek was easily one of the most creative and forward thinking players on the pitch.
Becoming increasingly more obvious that van de Beek has a lot more to offer than Paul Pogba, including his desire to play for our wonderful club.
Rating: 8/10
Bruno Fernandes
First-half master class from United’s number-18. Scored an absolute screamer before the 10-minute mark to help set the tone for the rest of the game.
Fernandes should and could have had a first-half hat-trick but his team mentality allowed him to gift a penalty to Rashford forcing him to go into the second-half still seeking a third.
Unfortunately, Fernandes missed out on a well deserved hat-trick after being subbed off in the 59th-minute in favour of teenage sensation Mason Greenwood.
Rating: 9/10
Marcus Rashford
Looked lively from the get-go, ran at Istanbul’s defence relentlessly all evening. Rashford cooly tucked home a first-half spot-kick to put himself on the scoresheet. Really good showing despite operating on the right.
Taken off in the 59th-minute in place of Daniel James.
Rating: 8/10
Anthony Martial
Quiet-ish first-half, but a much improved showing in comparison with his last few outings. Looks to be more creative when operating as a left-sided winger but ultimately drifted out of the game during the second-half.
Taken off with nine minutes to go for defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic.
Rating: 5/10
Edinson Cavani
The former Paris-Saint Germain marksman has some serious movement. Cavani’s teasing runs helped free up his team-mates all evening.
Unfortunately for the South American, he was unable to bag a goal but if he keeps getting himself in the positions he did tonight, it won’t take long to add to his United account.
Rating: 6/10
Subs:
Axel Tuanzebe
Came on at half-time in a like-for-like switch for Lindelof.
United’s young defender filled in seamlessly for Lindelof as he dealt with the industrious and physical Demba Ba competently.
Rating: 6/10
Mason Greenwood
Subbed on for Fernandes in the 59th-minute.
Could have bagged a brace of assists during the second-half but his desire to write his name in the headlines prevented United adding to their tally.
Greenwood’s selfishness in-front of goal didn’t leave team-mate Cavani too impressed but you have to admire the youngster’s fearless nature.
United’s teenage sensation did learn from his previous mistakes with two-minutes to go though as he was through on goal and opted to square the ball to James who tucked it home to make it 4-1.
Rating: 6/10
Brandon Williams
Part of a triple substitution from Solskjaer, came on in place of Wan-Bissaka in the 59th-minute.
Didn’t do too much wrong during the time he was on the pitch for, got forward often and well down the right-hand side. It will be interesting to see if United opt to loan the young defender out in January.
Rating: 6/10
Daniel James
Subbed on for Rashford in the 59th-minute.
The Welshman was desperate to put in a cameo performance which could reignite his United career and the youngster didn’t do his cause any harm.
A late goal from the 23-year-old saw United extend their lead to 4-1 and may have just bought James some more time to impress his manager.
Rating: 6/10
Nemanja Matic
Subbed on to add some stability in United’s midfield in the 82nd-minute in place of Martial.
Matic had less than 10-minutes on the pitch, impossible to rate.
Rating: N/A
Read more: Video: Rashford 75th Manchester United goal with penalty against Istanbul Basaksehir
we need to sell pogba in order to acomodate dvb and bruno they are doing a worderful job in midfield including fred.
nice rating, i want to see Van de beek more on the pitch, He was the best player today, f not of Bruno 2 goal