Anthony Martial Destroys CSKA Moscow

United are playing better football than they have for years; so exciting to watch. But Martial was the standout performer and his form is even better than in his debut campaign. Something has clicked this season and defenders just can’t handle him.

Lukaku is also in amazing form, having scored 10 goals in nine appearances in all competitions. What is also impressive is how regularly he contributes in the lead up to his goals.

10 — Despite making five changes from the team that defeated Southampton on Saturday, Mourinho made United solid defensively, control the game in the middle of the park and create chance after chance.

Everything was on point.

GK David De Gea, 8 — Got down really well to stop Alan Dzagoev from immediately equalising after Lukaku’s opener and, not long before half-time, Fedor Chalov was denied by an hard-to-believe reaction.
De Gea kept his concentration to pull off big saves despite large periods of having nothing to do and there was nothing he could do to stop CSKA’s goal.

DF Ashley Young, 7 — Didn’t deliver as many dangerous crosses as in recent games, but got up the right flank well and also did well when tracking back to deny Dzagoev at 0-0. Replaced for the final 25 minutes.

DF Victor Lindelof, 7 — Adjusted well to playing as one of three central defenders. He dealt with everything that came his way, which wasn’t very much.

DF Eric Bailly, 7 — Solid performance in defence in his Champions League debut, having missed the opening game through suspension. That said, he will be disappointed not to get closer to goalscorer Konstantin Kuchaev in the last minute.

DF Chris Smalling, 7 — Did well to bully and keep out CSKA’s forwards when they posed more threat in the second half.

DF Daley Blind, 7 — A good showing going forward, he put in one brilliant first-half ball to Mkhitaryan that should have resulted in a goal.

MF Nemanja Matic, 7 — Protected United’s defence and moved the ball quickly to players ahead of him. The pass of the game was from his boot too, when playing a spectacular diagonal ball to Darmian. Another good performance from the midfielder.

MF Ander Herrera, 7 — In a key game for his United career going forward, Herrera saw plenty of the ball and controlled the midfield. He played a great ball to Martial in the lead up to United’s fourth and did well defensively when the home side started to attack more in the second half.

FW Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 7 — Should have put United 2-0 up after a one-two with Blind, the won the penalty from which Martial did double the lead. Mkhitaryan created space for himself by constantly losing his marker and his acceleration meant he made the most of the rebound from Martial’s shot to put United 4-0 in front.

FW Anthony Martial, 9 — A lovely flick allowed Mkhitaryan to break early before he set up Lukaku for the opening goal. Minutes later, Martial doubled United’s lead from the penalty spot, then assisted Lukaku again for the third. He also played a role in Mkhitaryan’s goal and, in general, destroyed the CSKA defenders.

FW Romelu Lukaku, 8 — Did well to head United ahead after initially playing in Martial and was in the right place at the right time for a simple tap in to put United 3-0 up, having anticipated Vasili Berezutski’s error.

Substitutes
FW Jesse Lingard, 6 — Replaced Mkhitaryan with half an hour to play and almost scored instantly but Igor Akinfeev made a great save.

DF Matteo Darmian, 6 — Did well to control a great ball from Matic but Akinfeev did well to narrow the angle and save.

FW Marcus Rashford, NR — No goal from the bench for him tonight; one free kick from distance was well off target.