Manchester United made a triumphant return to the Champions League on Tuesday night, beating Swiss champions Basel 3-0 to kick-off their group stage travails.
Goals from Marouane Fellaini, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford may have given the Reds all three points at Old Trafford, but this was far from their best performance. The soaking wet weather and an early injury to stand-in captain Paul Pogba did not help matters.
Fellaini, who came on as an early substitute for Paul Pogba, headed home the first after being found by a pinpoint cross from Ashley Young on the right wing. Lukaku then doubled the tally in the second half in identical fashion, this time Daley Blind supplying the perfect cross.
The game then meandered to a conclusion, with Rashford’s maiden Champions League goal rounding off United’s night. José Mourinho will be happy with his side’s performance, picking up the three points after a year away from Europe’s premier club competition.
Here are five things we learned from United’s opening Champions League encounter:
