The Aston Villa vs Manchester United match ended in a 2-1 win for the former at Villa Park last Sunday, December 21. Morgan Rogers scored a brace to help his side win, as Matheus Cunha scored the only goal for the visitors.
The Aston Villa vs Manchester United match was full of ups and downs. In fact, Manchester United were the slightly more dominant side and probably deserved to win the match. Villa thus remained in the third place with 36 points in 17 matches, while United are seventh with 26 from 17.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United Highlighted United’s Issues
Manchester United had way more touches than their opponents in the final third. However, Villa scored twice through Rogers, mainly owing to Leny Yoro’s inability to prevent him from taking the shots.
After a promising start to his career at United, Yoro has had an underwhelming time in the last few matches for the Red Devils. It is an issue Ruben Amorim will have to deal with, especially since Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are not available at the moment.
Still, the Red Devils pressed high with a high defensive line and managed to win the ball back in the final third repeatedly. However, they could not do enough with it inside the penalty box, with often Benjamin Sesko being the only United player who could break into it. Bruno Fernandes and Cunha kept supplying him with through passes.
However, had Sesko been more clinical inside the opposition box, he could have scored twice for the visitors in the first half itself. Sesko’s inability to go past Emi Martinez, when he had only the Aston Villa goalkeeper to beat, pointed out why the striker has scored only two goals in 14 matches for the Red Devils so far.
Cunha was tireless in his approach inside the opposition half, as was Patrick Dorgu with his overlapping runs down the left flank. Cunha was rewarded with a goal for his hard work, when he pursued the ball after Dorgu had provided him with it after winning it back in the final third.
Cunha, however, should have scored the equaliser for Amorim’s team in the second half of Aston Villa vs Manchester United match, but he failed to keep a free header on target from yet another cross from Dorgu. The Brazilian now has scored three goals for his new club. Manchester United‘s lack of accuracy in the final third led to the team’s downfall on Sunday.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Alexander Isak Injury Mars the Joy as Liverpool Continue Good Run
Manchester United Were Missing a Few Key Players in the Match
United were missing De Ligt, Maguire, Casemiro, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo for various reasons in the Aston Villa vs Manchester United match, but still managed to dominate the proceedings. With Amad and Mbeumo not there, the right side of Manchester United’s attack was weaker.
Diogo Dalot tried hard with his overlaps, but his crosses often lacked quality. Moreover, Mason Mount, who was playing in Mbeumo’s position, often had to fall back to be alongside Manuel Ugarte in the double-pivot and allow Bruno Fernandes the opportunity to move forward.
Fernandes’ through passes set Sesko free inside the final third at times, but the latter could not put them to good use. Fernandes left the pitch at half-time, as he pulled his hamstring to leave the visitors even more depleted.
Lisandro Martinez came in to play as a holding midfielder and impressed with his cameo. However, Amorim’s attempt to field a couple of teenagers in Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey along with Joshua Zirkzee looked a bit desperate, as they were hardly going to make much of a difference.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
Recording Date: 21.12.2025
