The last poster of the first day of the Premier League offered a great confrontation at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Wolverhampton. At home, Erik ten Hag trusted several recruits who arrived during this summer transfer window like André Onana and Mason Mount. Despite a good offensive animation on paper with Marcus Rashford leading the way, accompanied by Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes and Antony, the Mancunians had all the difficulties in the world to be dangerous at the start of the game.
It was also Wolverhampton who got the best situations like this tumble from Matheus Cunha who pierced the Manchester United midfielder before offering the leather to Pablo Sarabia. Unfortunately for the visitors, the shot from the former Paris Saint-Germain player was then deflected by Raphael Varane and then died at the foot of André Onana’s post (26th). The Brazilian striker from Wolves continued to struggle to take his chance in the box, from a very tight angle, and his shot finally fled the frame of the Mancunians (33rd). Just before the break, the Red Devils got their best chance during a mess in the opposing area but without real danger (39th).
MU wins against the run of play
When they returned from the locker room, the players returned with better intentions and the two teams then went blow for blow. But as in the first period, Wolverhampton got the best situations. Matheus Cunha, still as elusive, made an excellent exit from the ball and crossed the whole field before serving Pablo Sarabia on the right of the surface. The deflected center of the Spaniard came back to the Brazilian striker whose recovery at close range was then repelled by the amount of André Onana (49th). This same Cunha then solicited the Mancunian goalkeeper with a powerful strike (55th) while Antony had tried a clever lob a few minutes earlier but his attempt had been repelled just in front of his line by the head of Craig Dawson (53rd).
At the dawn of the last quarter of an hour, Pedro Neto sent a new praline into the niche of André Onana (73rd). At the heart of Wolves’ domination, Raphael Varane took advantage of a nice delivery from Aaron Wan-Bissaka to propel the leather from the head into the back of the net (75th, 1-0). In an intense end to the match, Wolverhaptom tried everything for everything and Fabio Silva once again made the Red Devils goalkeeper shine (84th). After additional time, Hee-Chan Hwang also sent a thrill through the stands of Old Trafford by finding the small net of the Mancunians (90th + 4). Just before the final whistle, André Onana violently collided with Sasa Kalajdzic but the referee, with the help of VAR, preferred not to give the visitors a penalty. Manchester United could then breathe after this victory obtained in difficulty…
