Manchester United v Aston Villa | 2022/23 PL | Three Crucial Things Learnt

We learnt three things as Manchester United secured a gritty 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford. With this win, the Red Devils moved closer to a return to the Champions League for next season.

During the first half of the game, Manchester United were undoubtedly the better attacking side, and they were rewarded when Bruno Fernandes scored just before halftime. Meanwhile, the Villans had several chances to equalise in the final ten minutes but the Red Devils held on.

Manchester United, Aston Villa — Image Obtained Via Yahoo News UK

The best opportunity for Unai Emery’ side came via Ollie Watkins, who broke free and ran down the left flank, before crossing low into the box. Marcel Sabitzer cleared the ball, but it bounced off Luke Shaw and landed at the feet of Douglas Luiz. Although Sabitzer blocked Luiz’s first attempt, Victor Lindelof produced a fantastic header on the goal-line to deflect the Brazilian’s second shot away from the goal.

1. Bruno Fernandes Shows His Captaincy Credentials

Despite suffering an injury during the FA Cup semi-finals against Brighton and playing through the pain, Bruno Fernandes once again proved crucial for Manchester United by scoring the winning goal in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Aston Villa.

After giving the Portuguese midfielder the captain’s armband and naming Harry Maguire on the bench, Erik ten Hag expressed his delight with Fernandes’ performance. The attacking midfielder scored his 11th goal of the campaign, helping the Red Devils secure a 1-0 win at Old Trafford against Unai Emery’s men. The Portuguese international has made 52 appearances in all competitions this season (stats via Transfermarkt).

2. Victor Lindelof Steps Up In The Absence Of Martinez And Varane

Victor Lindelof put in a remarkable defensive display during the team’s narrow victory over the Lions. He produced another top performance at the heart of the backline. The Swede had 72 touches and completed a stunning 97 per cent of his passes. He also managed seven ball recoveries with four clearances.

Victor Lindelof’s game by numbers vs. Aston Villa:

97% pass accuracy
72 touches
7 ball recoveries
4 clearances
1/1 aerial duels won
1 long ball completed

Some vital contributions from the Iceman today. 🧊 pic.twitter.com/R1CoDhBWzI

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 30, 2023

The 28-year-old produced a goalline clearance too, although Ollie Watkins was offside in the lead-up. There has been a lot of speculation regarding Lindelof’s future, but in our opinion, the Swede still has plenty to offer to United for the next couple of seasons at least.

3. The Red Devils Are On Course For Champions League Qualification

Manchester United dominated the attack against Aston Villa and were rewarded for their efforts. Despite the Villans’ efforts to equalise in the second half, United’s defence held strong and prevented any goals, which has been something that Ten Hag has managed to get his team to do at home.

Following the match, captain Bruno Fernandes expressed his belief that the Red Devils deserve to play in the Champions League next season. With six games remaining in the season, including a game in hand as compared to their nearest rivals, United are two points behind third-placed Newcastle United and need a maximum of 11 points to secure their spot in the top-four. While Fernandes acknowledges that there is still work to be done, he is confident in the team’s ability to achieve their goal.

Aston Villa had emerged as one of the biggest threats to Manchester United in regard to Champions League qualification, but Unai Emery’s side were handed their first defeat in 11 Premier League games as they failed to score for the first time under the Spaniard.

The Red Devils now have a nine-point advantage over fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, while the Villans remain in sixth position on the table.

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