Manchester United 5 RB Leipzig 0 – MBE Rashford scores hat-trick as United maul Leipzig Updated for April 2024

Updated: 26 November

UEFA Champions' League Group E – Manchester United vs RB Leipzig – Wednesday, 28 October 2020 – Matchday 2 of 6 report

Manchester United 5 RB Leipzig 0

Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score a hat-trick as Manchester United ran roughshod over RB Leipzig 5-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

After a tight start to the proceedings, the hosts took the lead when Paul Pogba released a brilliant ball through on the left to Mason Greenwood who beat the off-side trap to finish clinically to the far corner of the net.

There was A VAR check to ensure that Greenwood wasn't offside when Pogba made the pass, but the decision for a goal stood as the scoreboard showed 1-0 to United in the 21st minute.

With RB Leipzig responding well after the United goal, the hosts' slender lead lasted well into the second-half till Ole Solksjaer effected changes after an hour's play gone.

Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were sent in to replace Nemanja Matic, Donny van de Beek and Mason Greenwood.

Rashford's introduction was particularly telling. Honoured with an MBE earlier in the month and continuing his fight against the government over free meals for school children, the 22-year old star English forward latched onto a Bruno Fernandes through-ball before finishing, but the offside flag went up quickly.

However the goal was allowed as Rashford was seen starting his run in his own half. Rashford trebled the Red Devils' advantage four minutes later in the 78th when he jinked past central defender Dayot Upamecano before finding the bottom corner once more for his second of the night.

United were by now cutting the Leipzig defense to pieces as Anthony Martial in one of his runs into the area was felled by Marcel Sabitzer's desperate tackle.

The Frenchman converted the penalty awarded to register his first goal of the season.Hero of the evening, Rashford, completed the rout of the visiting Germans with his third, drilling his shot home in the 2nd minute of stoppage time.

United backed up their superb win against Paris St-Germain in their opening UCL fixture by adding another impressive three points to extend their unbeaten run to four games.

David de Gea had probably the most comfortable night in a long time and the only couple of times he was tested was when he kept out efforts from Christopher Nkunku and Ibrahima Konate.

Few would have expected Solkjaer's side to collect six points and move decisively to the top of Group H against two of the most difficult opponents of the cluster.

In the Group H's other fixture, runners-up Paris St-Germain picked up their first points with a 0-2 win over Istanbul Basaksehir away in Turkey.

Manchester United starting XI:

De Gea (goal), Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, Matic, Pogba, Van de Beek, Greenwood, Martial.

Subs: Rashford, McTominay, Fernandes, Tuanzebe, Cavani.

RB Leipzig starting XI:

Gulacsi (goal), Angelino, Upamecano, Konate, Poulsen, Forsberg, Nkunku, Halstenberg, Olmo, Henrichs, Kampl.

Subs: Sabitzer, Sorloth, Kluivert.

Man of the match:

Marcus Rashford

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