Young Boys held a much-rotated and youthful Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Before this game, the hosts had already qualified for the Champions League knockout stages as group winners. On the other hand, Young Boys has knocked out of the competition a fortnight ago.
On the other hand, the Swiss champions could finish third in Group F and extend their European stay by entering the UEFA Europa League. That would have required them to become only the third club in history to defeat United both at home and away in a Champions League campaign.
They also needed Villarreal to win at Atalanta, postponed owing to significant snowfall in northern Italy.
Manchester United picked a widely rotated lineup, with the majority of the players coming from the fringes and the academy. Interim manager Ralf Ragnick rested his entire starting team against Crystal Palace in the Premier League last weekend.
Thanks to a quick start, the Red Devils broke the deadlock in only the game’s ninth minute. Jesse Lingard, Amad Diallo, and Luke Shaw were involved in a well-worked team goal. Mason Greenwood put United ahead with an acrobatic strike from the left-cross. back’s
Juan Mata and Amad Diallo had more wonderful chances for Manchester United, but they begged.
When Young Boys equalised through Fabian Rieder, they punished the hosts’ wastefulness. Dean Henderson had no chance as the 19-year-old struck a sensational equaliser from a distance.
United opened the second half on the front foot, but when Young Boys began to dominate, they pulled their foot off the gas. Former Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton made his United debut at the hour mark. In two decades, he became the oldest Englishman to make his Champions League debut at the age of 35, 16 years after joining the club’s academy.
Young Boys created a few chances to win the game in the dying minutes thanks to a pair of missed passes by the hosts. However, they lacked the required calmness in the last third.
As a result of the tie, the Swiss have been eliminated from European competition. United’s focus now shifts to this weekend’s match against Norwich City, where many of their regulars are set to return.
