Real Betis vs Manchester United – Football Match Report – Mar 16, 2023

Manchester United advanced to the Europa League quarter-finals after a goal from Marcus Rashford secured a 1-0 win at Real Betis on Thursday to complete a 5-1 aggregate win in the last 16.

Three goals down from the first leg at Old Trafford a week ago, Betis needed an unlikely result in Seville to reach the last eight. The LaLiga fifth-placed threw everything at the Premier League opponents but was unable to break through thanks to a series of saves from David de Gea.

Rashford then dashed any hope of a miraculous comeback in the 55th minute by scoring an excellent strike from almost 30 yards. The goal was Rashford’s 25th in European competition for Man United, which puts him sixth in the club’s all-time list and a lead over Cristiano Ronaldo.

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With his 26th goal in all competitions this season, the 25-year-old now sits third among players from Europe’s top five leagues, behind only Man City’s Erling Haaland (39) and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe (31).

United, already winners of the Carabao Cup and with an FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham on Sunday, now face their Europa League quarter-final opponents in Friday’s draw.

“Betis are a really good team, we saw that against Real Madrid and Barcelona but we beat them twice so I think we played really well,” manager Erik ten Hag told BT Sport. “In the second half we were a lot better with the ball, we kept it in our own half and then you create chances.”

Despite threats of suspension for the first leg of the quarter-finals if either of them gets another yellow card, Ten Hag opted to play with both Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.

That experience looked to be needed as Betis pushed forward in search of early goals.

Twice in the first half Juanmi got behind United defenses only for De Gea to come to the visitors’ aid. Between those two golden opportunities, veteran midfielder Joaquin hit just the outside of the post with a long-range flick.

Just in time for half-time, Facundo Pellistri, who was making his debut for Man United, fired a shot against the post with Wout Weghorst unable to put a toe on the ball to deflect it into the net.

De Gea was again forced to parry an Ayoze Perez header from a corner early in the second half as Betis continued to threaten, but it was United who broke through.

Moments after unusually blasting a clear chance high into the stands, Rashford added another memorable moment to his best season of his career.

The England striker threw in a devilish shot with a flick and dip to give Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva no chance before the ball was snuggled into the corner of the net.

With the extra goal pad, Ten Hag took the opportunity to give Rashford and Fernandes a breather as United marched on.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.