da prosport bet： The fit-again Dutchman scored the only goal of a disappointing game as Erik ten Hag's team made it two wins from two in pre-season
da pixbet： Donny van de Beek announced his return to full fitness with a stunning strike – and an almighty roar – as Manchester United beat Lyon 1-0 at Murrayfield on Wednesday afternoon.
Erik ten Hag's team had started their second pre-season fixture brightly, with Antony and Amad Diallo squandering two early chances to break the deadlock, but the Red Devils' more established stars faded the longer the half went on, perhaps unsurprisingly.
However, as happened in last week's win over Leeds, United improved after the introduction of some of their most exciting youngsters and, just three minutes into the second half, Daniel Gore did fantastically well to drive over a cross from wide on the right-hand side that was brilliantly converted by the fit-again Van de Beek.
GOAL looks at what we learned during the clash in Edinburgh…
Van de Beek isn't done at United yet
It may only have been a friendly, but Van de Beek clearly didn't care. After breaking the deadlock with a brilliant volley just moments after coming on, the attacking midfielder showed just how much the goal meant to him. And why not?
This was his first appearance for United since January 3 because of a knee injury, so his spirited celebration represented an understandable release of pent-up frustration. Of course, the challenge now for Van de Beek is to kick on from here.
It's no exaggeration to say that this goal will already rank among the highlights of his time at United, given he has known little other than disappointment since joining from Ajax in 2020. All is not lost, though. Ten Hag knows full well what Van de Beek is capable of when fully fit and firing.
So, if he can continue making a positive impact during the remainder of United's pre-season campaign, he may well yet manage to resurrect his United career. He's still only 26, remember!
AdvertisementGetty ImagesHannibal puts his hand up once again
Hannibal Mejbri's impressive loan spell at Birmingham last season has clearly done him the power of good, because he has arguably been United's most impressive pre-season performer so far. He was the best player on the pitch in the win over Leeds and he excelled again in Edinburgh.
He brought the right kind of intensity and aggression to the game, breaking up play brilliantly in midfield, but he also carried an attacking threat, heavily involved in United's two best chances of the first half.
In the first instance, he pounced on a loose pass from Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes to start a counter-attacker that really should have ended in a goal, and then, he created an excellent chance for Amad with a clever stepover.
Most of those who started here underwhelmed during the opening 45 minutes – but Hannibal showed precisely why he deserves even more game time during the upcoming tour of the United States.
VAR will always be a talking point
Just before the break at Murrayfield, Amin Sarr took advantage of some shoddy United defending to work his way into the area. Alvaro Fernandez halted his progress in the clumsiest possible fashion, resulting in Sarr ending up on the deck, appealing furiously for a penalty.
The referee was having none of it, though, and allowed play to continue. It was the wrong call. As the replays underlined, Fernandez had clearly fouled Sarr. Was it the most clear-cut penalty you'll ever see? Certainly, had there been a Video Assistant Referee, it most definitely would have been given.
In the grand scheme of things, it matters little. This was just a friendly, after all, but one could help but once again wonder about the pros and cons of VAR. There are obviously flaws with the way in which it is applied – and ultimately, if the person reviewing the images doesn't understand the rules, let alone the game, the use of technology will never stop causing controversy.
But, at the same time, are we willing to accept some refereeing mistakes if it means the game flows a little more freely? It's a debate that is just likely to run and run…
Getty ImagesEvans could prove an inspired signing
It would be ridiculous to read too much into a low-quality, non-competitive fixture, but there's no denying that, from a United perspective, Jonny Evans looked like he'd never been away. The veteran centre-half came on at half-time in Edinburgh and slotted seamlessly into the back four. His passing was spot-on while he never put a foot wrong from a positional perspective.
He will face far tougher tests than this – even during pre-season – but Evans remains a Premier League-quality defender who could provide useful cover for United even after a Harry Maguire replacement is signed. Don't be surprised if this short-term solution ends up proving a very shrewd signing.