Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP)

After his victory at the Park (2-1), Manchester United on Wednesday followed up a second success in the Champions League by crushing Leipzig (5-0), including a hat-trick from Marcus Rashford in half an hour after coming into play.

With six points, United occupies the head of Group H, three lengths ahead of Leipzig and the Parisians who went to win in Turkey (2-0) against Basaksehir.

Once again, Manchester United put out a good performance for the big dates, while some doubted they were capable of it.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had however made rather radical choices, leaving in particular Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford on the bench at kick-off.

He had, on the other hand, started the Dutchman Donny van de Beek, main recruit of the summer, but very little used since the start of the season.

De Beek was at the high point of a diamond midfield in a very unusual 4-4-2, alongside Paul Pogba, as Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial made up the attack.

A tactical move that was rather successful, United showing themselves very solid against a team from Leipzig faithful to their principles of play for an hour.

The English even found the flaw in the 21st minute on a ball recovered by Fred and which allowed Paul Pogba to project himself towards the opposing goal.

- Paid coaching -

His pass millimeter and in good timing allowed Mason Greenwood, still as clinical precision in his strikes, to deceive Peter Gulasci with a cross shot (1-0, 21st).

But the difference was mainly made thanks to the coaching, and when we have on the bench of Fernandes, Rashford or Cavani, it's still easier.

Rashford, entered on the hour mark, scored a hat-trick in half an hour.

He first started from his half of the field, on a brilliant blind opening from Fernandes, to win a face-to-face with the opposing goalkeeper (2-0, 74th), before taking advantage, four minutes later of a new interception from Fred to deceive Gulasci with a low strike (3-0, 78th).

He then generously left Anthony Martial a penalty for the French to score his second goal of the season in the Champions League (4-0, 87th).

But in added time, the French center forward returned politeness to him by serving him ideally against goal for the 5th goal (90 + 2).

This success - the heaviest loss suffered by Leipzig since its rise to the Bundesliga in 2016 - already gives an option in the eighths to the Red Devils before facing twice Basaksehir, the weakest team in the group.

For the Germans, on the other hand, the double confrontation against Paris Saint-Germain, who eliminated them in the semi-finals of the competition last year, will almost look like the round of 16.

© 2020 AFP