Manchester United defeated Real Betis 1-0 after Marcus Rashford’s 27th goal of the season with an aggregate 5-1 overall victory against Real Betis. Just before the hour mark, Rashford’s incredible long-range goal settled the game and ended Betis’ chances of an unlikely comeback. Until then, the Spanish team had appeared to be the more threatening.
Juanmi nearly gave Spain the early advantage, but the forward missed the net while through on goal. United failed to control the game in the first half, allowing it to become stretched, and Beti’s 41-year-old captain Joaquin almost put his side ahead with a deflected effort that hit the upright.
However, their wastefulness proved their downfall as the English side weathered the storm and progressed. This result marks an impressive turnaround in fortune for United and manager Erik ten Hag, who struggled to get the team going during the group stage.
After a shaky start, United’s fortunes changed when ten Hag took a more attacking approach, which paid off.
The Dutchman’s side has been in electric form since then, losing one game out of fifteen in all competition. They have scored a total of 27 goals in that run, with Rashford leading the way. His strike against Betis made it 27 goals in all competitions this season, the highest he scored in a single campaign.
This result also keeps United on course for a second trophy of the season, following the Carabao Cup win earlier in the year. With the likes of Rashford leading the line and ten Hag in charge, there’s no reason why United can’t make it all the way.
The draw for the quarterfinals will be difficult, with Bayern Leverkusen, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, Feyenoord, Sevilla, and Union Saint-Gilloise all in contention. United hopes to avoid some of these teams, but with their quality, they will be confident they can make it to the final.
No matter who they face in the next round, Manchester United has sent out a message that they mean business this season and will try to keep up their fantastic recent performance. With their sights set firmly on a second trophy, United will be determined to go all the way in the Europa League.