Manchester United produced a controlled home display to defeat Aston Villa 3\u20131 at Old Trafford. Villa levelled early through Ross Barkley\u2019s crisp left-foot drive, but Matheus Cunha turned the game with a well-timed run in behind Ezri Konsa and a composed finish beyond Mart\u00ednez.<\/p>\n
Bruno Fernandes again shaped the decisive moves. He was the architect of Cunha\u2019s goal and, across the afternoon, accumulated his 15th and 16th assists of the 2025\u201326 Premier League season, taking him to 100 assists for the club. His brilliant pass for Cunha was his 16th assist of this Premier League season, breaking United\u2019s club record previously held by David Beckham. Benjamin \u0160e\u0161ko\u2019s deflected effort later wrong-footed Mart\u00ednez and put the result beyond doubt.<\/p>\n
The match also underlined Casemiro\u2019s return to form. Once criticised during 2024\u201325 and the target of the comment \u201cLeave the football before the football leaves you,\u201d from Jamie Carragher, Casemiro has since become a steadying presence. Approaching the end of his contract and having communicated that he\u2019ll be leaving in the summer, he has stabilised things for Carrick since he took interim charge, complemented Kobbie Mainoo and added a renewed goal threat, including from set pieces. Fans may well hope for one more year if this level continues.<\/p>\n
Player ratings:
\nGK: Senne Lammens\u20146.5: Barely called into action. Could do nothing to stop Barkley\u2019s low drive.
\nRB: Diogo Dalot\u20147.3: Recalled for Noussair Mazraoui and justified his selection.
\nCB: Leny Yoro\u20147.7: Maturing and making better decisions; the back four switch suits him.
\nCB: Harry Maguire\u20147.4: A hooking on the hour-mark for Ollie Watkins underlines his handling of Villa\u2019s main threat.
\nLB: Luke Shaw\u20147.4: Perhaps his most consistent spell in terms of performance and fitness.
\nCM: Casemiro\u20147.7: Another game, another goal for the serial Champions League winner.
\nCM: Kobbie Mainoo\u20148.0: Outperformed Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley, sending a strong signal to England manager Thomas Tuchel.
\nRM: Amad Diallo\u20147.7: Restored to the lineup for \u0160e\u0161ko, solid but offered limited end product.
\nAM: Bruno Fernandes (c)\u20148.9: The standout, providing the decisive pass and a club-record assist tally.
\nLM: Matheus Cunha\u20147.9: A superbly timed run and finish.
\nST: Bryan Mbeumo\u20146.5: Hard-working for 75 minutes but lacked clinical edge.
\nSUB: Benjamin \u0160e\u0161ko (75\u2019 for Mbeumo)\u20147.0: Converted to make it his eighth goal of the season.
\nSUB: Manuel Ugarte (90\u2019 for Casemiro)\u2014N\/A<\/p>\n
Unused subs: Altay Bay\u0131nd\u0131r, Ayden Heaven, Tyler Fletcher, Noussair Mazraoui, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzeem, Tyrell Malacia.<\/p>\n
Match stats: possession 53% to 47%, xG 1.07 to 1.02, shots 16 to 9, shots on target 6 to 2, big chances 3 each, passing accuracy 85% each, fouls 10 to 5.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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