Benfica 0 - 1 United

Goal! EveningStandard.co.uk

Ah almost fell asleep there. We were in complete control all game long but never really shifted from second gear. It had to be a big error from Benfica's debuting goalie, after a speculative shot by Rashford, that won us the three points. Not much I can say today except that we've got the job done. No matter the performance, we wanted another three points away from home and we got exactly that. I expected us to win the group and it looks like that's what'll be happening come December. 

It is difficult to pick a stand-out performer tonight as our forward players were quite average and our defence didn't have much to do. Our goalie didn't have to make a single save today, that speaks heaps of the quality of our opponents. I don't really follow other leagues in Europe, so I don't know what happened at Benfica recently, but I  remember times when playing against them was one heck of a challenge...definitely not today. 

Mkhitaryan and Lukaku were really poor tonight. Way below average. We need these two to be at the top of their game but that's two consecutive games they've gone missing now. If these two are on fire, then we've got absolutely no problem as one would be creating and the other would be finishing. With so many important players out injured, we need them to step up and continue their start of season form.

Good to see Lindelof play today. Not that he had much to do, but he did the little he had to do well. Also great to see Lukaku give Benfica's young Belgian goalie some words of encouragement at the end of the game. Paul Scholes said that's the closest our Lukaku came to their goalie...hah! Anyway, I really felt sorry for the 18 year old Benfica goalkeeper. Reminded me a bit of our own goalie's struggle at the start of his Manchester United career. 

Huddersfield next. Fingers crossed Rashford's only got a minor injury and won't be out of our next game. I expect three points and I am confident the boys will be delivering. Come on United!