Barcelona. The Catalan giants are the last team to come to Czech Republic and beat Viktoria Plzen at their own ground. And that was two years ago. Since than, the small team from Czech Republic played nine Europa League games and never lost. On the other hand, the great and ritch Manchester United cannot win in and away match in Europe since March last year and came into this game shaken after two Premier League defeats. And until 56th minute, the score was 1-1 and it looked that the Red Devils will continue their bad tradition against Czech clubs (no wins at all), until Ruben Amorim introduced Rasmus Hojlund. The Dane striker came in and first scored an equalizer after just six minutes, and then added another one two minutes from time to finally give United an away win in Europe: Plzen – Manchester 1-2.🚨🇪🇺 GOAL | Viktoria Plzen 1-0 Manchester United | Matej VydraMANCHESTER UNITED HAVE GONE BEHIND!pic.twitter.com/rpvbYQcmjx— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 12, 2024 Another game in which Ruben Amorim‘s team didn‘t shine (on the contrary), another game in which Andre Onana made a blunder and the opposite team scored, but this time around, the England giants had Hojlund to save them from another embarrassment. Ruben Amorim made five changes from last time out in this competition, the 3-2 home win against Bodø/Glimt, with a completely different front three from match week five, with Amad, Rashford and Zirkzee coming in for Garnacho, Hojlund and Mount, but it didn‘t work out. The first half was among the most boring ones in recent games. Both clubs showed nothing, and while it was expected that the Czech team won‘t be good anyway, considering the quality of the team, the Red Devils made the first shot on target after only half and hour, when Fernandes took a shot from distance but the home keeper Jedlička saved it.🚨🇪🇺 GOAL | Viktoria Plzen 1-1 Manchester United | Hojlund pic.twitter.com/jMYyNcgeBn— Kevin Morales (@KevinMoral96566) December 12, 2024 RASMUS HOJLUND GoalHe’s in form💥💥🎥: @FootballReprt pic.twitter.com/7OFmY8rEXM— TheMysteryMan (@TheMysteryMarn) December 12, 2024 It was the second half which brought all the excitement, especially once Plzen took a surprising lead in the 48th minute. The Premier League veteran Matej Vydra scored one of his easiest goals after Onana made a terrible pass to De Ligt, which was intercepted by Pavel Sulc. This was the Cameroonian‘s second mistake which led to an opposition goal in succession. And then Amorim subbed the uninspiring Marcus Rashford and brought in Rasmus Hojlund. He repaid with an equalizer just six minutes after coming from the bench and thus scored his ninth European goal for United, becoming only the third player for Red Devils to do so while 21 or younger (Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney). United took control after an equalizer and Hojlund could have scored the winner in the 71st minute, but was late just a few inches to touch the ball and score. Next big chances went to Mason Mount in the 77th minute, but he took a shot straight at Jedlička, instead of lobbying him. The same player misses another one before the Danish striker shrugged off his guards and scored a winner with his left foot.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE – ROUND 5Thursday Hoffenheim – FCSB 0-0Ludogorets – AZ Alkmaar 2-2 (0-2)/Chochev 60, Duah 63 – van Bommel 13, Maikuma 19/Malmo – Galatasaray 2-2 (1-1)/Botheim 24, Pena 90 – Jelert 43, Akgun 56/Olympiakos – Twente 0-0PAOK – Ferencvaros 5-0 (2-0)/Taison 10, Thomas 29, Chalov 76, Zivkovic 80(p), Despodov 90/Plzen – Man.Utd. 1-2 (0-0)/Vydra 48 – Hojlund 62, 88/Roma – Braga 3-0 (5.40)/Pellegrini 10, Abdulhamid 47, Hermoso 90+1/St.Gilloise – Nice 2-1 (1-1)/Ivanovic 33, 90+2 – Guessand 45+1/23.00: (2.30) Ajax (3.50) Lazio (3.25)23.00: (1.85) Bodo (3.80) Besiktas (4.50)23.00: (2.60) Elfsborg (3.40) Qarabag (2.70)23.00: (1.55) Maccabi T.A. (4.00) Rigas (6.25)23.00: (2.15) Olympique Lyon (3.60) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.50)23.00: (1.32) Porto (5.30) Midtjylland (9.50)23.00: (3.40) Rangers (3.50) Tottenham (2.10)23.00: (1.57) Slavia Praha (4.30) Anderlecht (6.50)23.00: (1.27) Sociedad (5.60) Dynamo Kyiv (12.0)***odds are subject to change***
