Manchester United kicked off their Europa League campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against FC Twente at Old Trafford on September 25, 2024. It was a night where United showed flashes of their potential but ultimately failed to secure all three points against a resilient Dutch side. Here's a simple rundown of the match:

First Half: United Start Strong

Manchester United came out with a positive mindset, trying to set the tone early. Erik ten Hag made a few changes to his lineup, bringing in Marcus Rashford, Manuel Ugarte, and Harry Maguire. Rashford looked sharp on the left wing, creating some dangerous moments, and linking up well with forward Joshua Zirkzee. Despite dominating possession, it took the Reds some time to break through Twente's solid defensive setup.

The breakthrough came in the 35th minute when Christian Eriksen opened the scoring with a beautiful first-time strike from outside the box. Bruno Fernandes played the ball forward, and after a quick deflection, it fell kindly to Christian Eriksen, who made no mistake in finding the far corner. The goal sent the Old Trafford crowd into celebration, and Manchester United went into halftime with a 1-0 lead. 

Second Half: Twente Fight Back

The second half saw Twente come out with more intensity. They pressed higher up the pitch, making it difficult for United to play out comfortably. United were nearly caught off guard a few times, and eventually, it led to Twente's equalizer.

In the 68th minute, Sam Lammers scored for the visitors after capitalizing on a mistake in Manchester United’s midfield. Lammers stole the ball from Christian Eriksen, who was caught in possession, and after a quick exchange of passes, he fired a powerful shot past Andre Onana, leveling the score at 1-1. This goal shifted the momentum in Twente’s favor for a brief period​.

Late Push for a Winner

After conceding, Manchester United tried to reassert control. Ten Hag made some changes, bringing on Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, and Kobbie Mainoo to add fresh legs and creativity. The substitutions brought new energy, but despite United’s dominance in the closing stages, they couldn’t find the winning goal.

Harry Maguire came close with a header that was deflected wide, while Alejandro Garnacho, who had come on for Amad, saw a long-range shot narrowly miss the target. Bruno Fernandes also had a chance in the dying moments, but his effort from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Twente’s goalkeeper​.

Final Thoughts

The match ended 1-1, and while it wasn’t the result United had hoped for, there were some positives to take away. Eriksen’s performance in the first half showed his growing influence on the team, while Rashford was lively throughout, creating several chances. Manuel Ugarte and Noussair Mazraoui, who were both making their Europa League debuts for the club, put in solid shifts, suggesting they’ll be valuable assets as the campaign progresses​.