London (AFP)

Paul Pogba allowed Manchester United to draw a 1-1 draw from Tottenham by winning an equalizing penalty on Friday for matchday 30 in the Premier League in a match still marked by tributes to the "Black Lives Matter" movement.

In the standings, Manchester maintains its 5th place with 46 points, but above all its 4 lengths ahead of Tottenham, still 8th, in a race to Europe which promises to be indecisive until the end.

But before letting the sportsman take his place, the two teams respected the now well-honed ritual of paying homage to the nursing staff who fought the Covid-19 epidemic and to the movement to combat racism and police violence. .

A minute of silence, this time adorned with applause from the players, then a knee on the ground for a few seconds, a gesture that became the symbol of the "Black Lives Matter" movement, whose slogan was written on the players' backs instead of their name.

Throughout the match, United may have a few regrets, having seemed generally more leggy and enterprising than his opponent.

But the men of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preserve at least their beautiful series of invincibility, which now reaches 12 matches (9 wins and 3 draws).

They can thank Paul Pogba, who came into play in the 63rd minute of play and who put the team back in the running direction, even getting the penalty - the 16th of the season for the Red Devils, including 12 transformed - from the equalization for a fault by Eric Dier.

Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who has still not suffered defeat with his new team since he arrived at Sporting Portugal winter, took on the task of transforming him by defeating a Hugo Lloris, flawless until there (1-1, 81st).

- Sharpened Lloris -

A nice reflex stop on a recovery from Rashford (23rd), a ball well followed after a free kick and which rolled towards the nets (30th), a distant shot of floating Fernandes perfectly blocked (45 + 3) and especially a parade of 'a very firm hand on a shot by Anthony Martial (66th) proved that the doorman of the world champions is very sharp.

José Mourinho will no doubt be relieved not to be beaten a second time this season by his former club. The first leg loss (2-1) in December was his first on the Spurs bench.

Concerned by the return of injured Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, who had not played together since before Christmas, the Londoners, however, seemed a little borrowed offensively.

Deprived of Dele Alli, suspended a match for a video deemed racist posted on social networks, Tottenham relied on a flash from his flying Dutchman, winger Steven Bergwijn.

The latter recovered a ball 40 meters before taking advantage of a placement error and the incredible slowness of Harry Maguire to turn around and strike hard on a David De Gea betrayed by his right wrist, who could only deflect the ball into its cages (1-0, 27th).

A defeat would undoubtedly have compromised the dreams of the Champions League of Spurs which however need it financially.

© 2020 AFP