Manchester United continued their pre-season preparations with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Real Betis at the Snapdragon Stadium on Wednesday evening. The match, filled with end-to-end action and moments of brilliance, showcased the attacking potential of Erik ten Hag’s side as they build momentum ahead of the new Premier League season. Goals from Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Jadon Sancho sealed the win for the Red Devils, while Real Betis pushed United all the way with a spirited performance.
A Promising Start
United came into the game on the back of a mixed pre-season campaign, having secured a win against Lyon but also suffering a defeat to Arsenal. The match between Manchester United vs. Real Betis provided another opportunity for ten Hag to assess his squad and fine-tune tactics, with several new signings and young talents on display.
The Red Devils started brightly, dominating possession and pressing high up the pitch, a clear indication of ten Hag’s tactical approach. The opening goal came just 15 minutes in, with Marcus Rashford once again showing why he is one of United’s most dangerous attacking threats. A swift counter-attack saw Rashford latch onto a perfectly weighted pass from Mason Mount, who was impressive in midfield, before calmly slotting the ball past the Betis goalkeeper. The goal was Rashford’s second in pre-season, highlighting his readiness for the upcoming campaign.
Betis Fight Back
Despite United’s strong start, Real Betis quickly found their rhythm and began to impose themselves on the game. The Spanish side, known for their fluid attacking play under manager Manuel Pellegrini, responded with a goal of their own midway through the first half. A well-worked move down the left flank resulted in a cross that found its way to Borja Iglesias, who finished clinically to level the score.
The equalizer injected confidence into Betis, who started to exploit gaps in United’s defense. United’s backline, featuring Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, was tested repeatedly, and it wasn’t long before Betis took the lead. A clever through ball split United’s defense, allowing Ayoze Pérez to break through and calmly finish past Andre Onana, leaving United trailing 2-1 just before the break.
Manchester United’s Resilience
The second half saw United make several changes, with ten Hag keen to give minutes to a number of squad players. The introduction of Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho provided a fresh impetus, with Fernandes in particular taking control of the midfield. It was Fernandes who brought United back into the game, scoring a trademark goal from outside the box. His powerful shot took a slight deflection, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and bringing United level at 2-2.
With the game finely poised, both teams pushed for a winner, and the match opened up, much to the delight of the crowd at the Snapdragon Stadium. United’s pressing game began to pay dividends as they forced Betis into mistakes in their own half. The winning goal came in the 75th minute, courtesy of Jadon Sancho. The winger, who has been looking to regain his form, capitalized on a defensive error, cutting inside from the right before curling a left-footed shot into the far corner. It was a moment of individual brilliance that underlined Sancho’s potential to be a game-changer for United this season.
Also Read:
