Manchester United opened their 2017-18 Champions League Group A campaign with a 3-0 win over Swiss champions Basel at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
Marouane Fellaini came off the bench to open the scoring in the first period, before Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford netted after the break as the 20-time English champions secured a comfortable three points on their Champions League return.
Man United might have made the breakthrough inside the opening two minutes when a half-cleared corner fell to Lukaku inside the Basel box, but the Belgian saw his strike blocked, before Martial fired over at the far post.
Jose Mourinho’s side made the breakthrough in the 35th minute when Fellaini rose highest to head a pin-point Young cross into the back of the net, and it was no more than the Red Devils deserved after dominating the first period.
Basel had another half-chance in the latter stages of the first half after Mohamed Elyounoussi met a free kick from the right, but the attacker could only head into the arms of David de Gea, and 1-0 was how it stayed entering the half-time interval.
Man United doubled their lead in the 53rd minute, however, when Lukaku headed a super Blind cross into the top corner as the Belgian centre-forward registered his first ever goal in the Champions League.
Elyounoussi was Basel’s biggest threat on the night, and the attacker sent another effort wide of the post just before the hour as the visitors continued to struggle in the final third of the field.
Lukaku had a wonderful chance to score his second in the 62nd minute, but Vaclik was on hand to keep out the striker’s header, before De Gea made a smart save to deny the dangerous Elyounoussi down the other end of the field.
Rashford was introduced for his Champions League debut in the 77th minute, and the England international got his name on the scoresheet seven minutes later when he finished at the far post after excellent work from Fellaini.
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