Granada v Manchester United player ratings: Marcus Rashford and Victor Lindelof shine in Europa League

A 2-0 win in Spain puts Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side in control of the quarter-final tie

GRANADA PLAYER RATINGS: Rui Silva 5 – United barely threatened Silva’s goal apart from the two goals they scored. He could do little about Rashford’s effort but he will feel disappointed he didn’t get more behind Fernandes’ penalty. He earlier made a key stop to deny Fernandes who was through on goal. Getty Images

Victor Diaz 6 – Looked solid at the back despite facing Rashford’s speed, and he also caused problems going forward when he flashed a superb cross across the area. Unfortunately, there was no one there to finish it off. AP

Jesus Vallejo 7 – The loan defender had a bright game at the back and didn’t really put a foot wrong. AFP

Domingos Duarte 5 – Coped well with Greenwood, Rashford and James, though his evening came to a premature finish when he came off worse following a heavy challenge on Daniel James. AFP

Carlos Neva 6 – Returning from injury, he coped admirably before being replaced by Foulquier before the end. Getty Images

Yangel Herrera 7 – Pulled the strings for the home side at times and he came close to levelling the scores when he struck the outside of the post. Later, he should have done better when two on two, but his attempted pass to Soldado was cleared by Lindelof. His final ball let him down again when attempting to release Neva. EPA

Maxime Gonalons 6 – The experienced midfielder played in a deeper position and enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half. He did well to restrict Fernandes throughout. Getty Images

Antonio Puertas 6 – Puertas kept his place in the side from the weekend and you could argue his biggest contribution was earning fouls that got both McTominay and Shaw booked for the second leg. AP

Angel Montoro 6 – The progressive midfielder put himself about at set pieces. He wasn’t able to have his usual influence when it came to creating chances, though. PA

Kenedy 7 – Had Granada’s first effort when he blazed over from a tight angle and came close with two efforts either side of the break too, the first a volleyed effort that was struck neatly. He had three of the game’s four shots on target. Reuters

Roberto Soldado 5 – Had few opportunities as the lone striker but came close when he fired into the side netting from a tight angle. He had another chance before the break but dragged a shot wide of the near post. Was well marshalled by Lindelof and Maguire. Reuters

SUBS: German Sanchez (Duarte, 54) 6 – Replaced by Vallejon at the heart of defence ahead of kick-off, he performed well when covering for the injured Duarte (no match photo available). AFP

Dmitri Foulquier (Neva, 74) N/A – Did little to impact the game when he came on 16 minutes from time (no match photo available). Reuters

Yan Brice Eteki (Gonalons, 86) N/A – He had a disastrous impact when his nudge on Bruno Fernandes gave away the penalty that lead to the second goal (no match photo available). Getty Images

Darwin Machis (Kenedy, 75) N/A – The talented youngster saw a long-range shot deflected just minutes after coming on. AP

Luis Suarez (Soldado, 87) N/A – The second goal killed the game and Suarez didn’t have much of a sniff after coming on in the aftermath. AFP

MANCHETER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 7. United felt Granada’s main threat could come from crosses and recalled the Spaniard. A shot hit the post after 41 mins but he had it covered. Firm in saving a shot from a minute before half time and again after 49, but seldom seriously challenged as most efforts came straight at him. AFP

Aaron Wan Bissaka 7. Had to be careful as Granada’s main threat was going to come down the wings. He was. Came inside when he needed to, muted the threat of Kenedy. Got forward to cramp Granada’s big soccer night. Reuters

Victor Lindelof 8. He carried the ball deep into the Granada half as the Spanish side compacted defensively. Then he hit a 60-yard ball from deep in his own half for Rashford to cushion, control and score the opener. Well positioned throughout and blocked a 70th minute Granada attack. Best player on the pitch in another away clean sheet in Europe. AFP

Harry Maguire 8. Busy with more touches than any player as United dominated with 68 per cent of first half possession. Frustrated that neither he nor Lindelof got onto a 54th minute Fernandes set-piece, so took things into his hands three minutes later when he strode forward and shot wide. Chipped by Herrera a minute after that. Booked and will miss second leg. Getty Images

Luke Shaw 6. Conceded a 43rd minute free-kick which led to a booking and he’ll also miss the next game. United are comfortable at left back, Telles will be able to cover as he did when he came on at half time, but the referee was definitely more suited to the softer Spanish game. EPA

Paul Pogba 6. Broke strongly after four minutes and played Rashford in. Lively in the middle. The first of three United players to be booked in the first half and constrained a little thereafter. PA

Scott McTominay 6. United expected to have most of the possession against a highly motivated and organised opponents. But none were as loud or motivated at McTominay. The most vocal player on the pitch, his shouts of ‘second ball!’ penetrated the Andalusian night. Booked and is another one who will miss the return leg. Getty Images

Daniel James 6. Busied himself down the right. Limp ball when three forwards were waiting after 36. Poor touch when Pogba played him in and expected a return on 45. He becomes more effective as games go on because his energy levels are so high, but didn’t have a huge impact on the game. EPA

Bruno Fernandes. 7. Always encouraged Greenwood and drove United forward as they had eight shots in the first half, but while he got in the right positions, the magic wasn’t there for him. He did step up to score his 19th penalty out of 20 taken for United to put his side in a very strong position. PA

Marcus Rashford. 8. Takes free-kicks from distance with a fine technique but needs to find his range. Caught out with the ball on the halfway line soon after, then curled a ball just over after 27, but his control of a long Lindelof ball and subsequent finish was top class. Still doesn’t look 100 per cent fit after injury but with Martial out he’s needed more than ever. Second consecutive season he’s hit more than 20 goals. EPA

Mason Greenwood 6. Played as lead striker but almost was as isolated as Romelu Lukaku on United’s last visit to Andalusia. When he got on the ball he ran at defenders despite Bruno shouting for it. He’s been training well, playing well and scored at the weekend with an instinctive header. No goals tonight, but improved in the second half. EPA

SUBS: Alex Telles 6. On for the cautioned Shaw at half time. Takes a wicked corner, but tried to lift a short one in which didn’t work. Getty Images

Edinson Cavani 6. On for Rashford after 65. He might not be at United for a long time, but he’s going to be important for the end of season run-in. Went straight into the central position but his reverse header to end a Granada attack after 72 was his first key contribution. AP

Nemanja Matic 6. On for Pogba after 74. Controlled in possession and earned a ‘Well done Nemanja’ from McTominay for playing the ball out of a dangerous position. Fifth United player to be booked. Getty Images

Donny Van de Beek On for Greenwood after 85. PA

Manchester United defeated Granada 2-0 in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie in Spain on Thursday to put themselves in pole position for a place in the last four.

Marcus Rashford raced on to a long ball by Victor Lindelof to fire United in front at Los Carmenes on 31 minutes against a team enjoying a brilliant debut European campaign.

Bruno Fernandes converted a late penalty after he was caught off the ball by Yan Eteki, with the Portuguese midfielder's spot-kick squirming agonisingly through the hands of Rui Silva.

Yangel Herrera volleyed against the post for Granada as Spain international David de Gea kept a clean sheet on his first appearance for United since the end of February.

However United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be without the suspended trio of captain Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay for the second leg at Old Trafford next week.

Assessing the performances at Los Carmenes, Nick Judd and Andy Mitten provide their player ratings for Granada and Manchester United respectively in the photo gallery above.

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