PSG inflict Solskjaer's first defeat as Manchester United coach

Manchester United 0-2 PSG: match report

Manchester United have a lot of work to do in Parc des Princes in three weeks time after falling to PSG in the first leg of their last 16 tie at Old Trafford. If United's luck was in leading up to the game, they ran out as soon as the whistle blew with injuries, cards and frustration plentiful on the night.

Paris started the game minus two of their most important players with Neymar and Cavani ruled out but before the first half was over, Ole Gunner Solskjaer would have two injured attackers himself.

Jesse Lingard was subbed off first before Anthony Martial was forced off at the break with two muscular injuries and Alexis Sanchez and Juan Mata replacing them respectively. United were well in the game until the break despite never really threatening Buffon's goal.

Marcus Rashford was the only player to hit a shot on target in that opening 45 and that was down to sheer persistence rather than the carving out of a decent chance. He linked with Young before launching a shot from the most impossible angle that might have been sneaking in at the near post before it was met by the keeper's fists.

If United were the team with more of the ball, even back then PSG looked more dangerous. Alves was popping up in dangerous positions and Juan Bernat was also putting in a shift on the left. Between Draxler, Mbappé and Verratti, you felt like they had the keys to unlock United's defense.

Presnel Kimpembe, who might have felt slightly lucky to still be on the field after getting a booking in the first half and then pulling Rashford back at the start of the second. The referee didn't give a free, however, and if he gave the foul it would have been a yellow. He let play continue.

Within minutes, the defender popped up at the back post to tap home a corner after some good pressure from the visitors.

They made it two just seven minutes later and this was a free-flowing spectacle finished by Mbappe. United lost the ball in the final third and Verratti was found before he sent it out wide to Di Maria. The Argentine put it on a plate for Mbappé, who opened out his foot perfectly and slid it by De Gea.

Di Maria, who was booed for much of the night, had two assists and a decisive influence on the game. He would go off later to a mixture of applause and abuse.

United brought Lukaku on with time running out but the crosses they had been providing when he was on the bench just did not come. PSG did a good job of limiting every United attacking chance and option once they got close to goal. What resulted was a tepid display by United, who did a lot of huffing and puffing when two down with little end result.

Paul Pogba, who was booked for a needless foul on Marco Verratti in the first half, was given his marching orders after a lunge on Dani Alves. He will miss the second leg in his home country, which diminishes United's chances even further.

United were seeing the red mist as their frustration grew. PSG were happy stroking the ball around them to finish things off as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tasted defeat in his first European game in charge of Manchester United.

At this stage, the questions might not be whether United can stop them as it seems out of reach. The question might be: can anyone stop them?

Manchester United vs PSG live online: match updates

Manchester United vs PSG live online: preview

There is a sense of the unknown about both Manchester United and PSG heading into the last 16 first leg at Old Trafford. Manchester United have freed themselves of Jose Mourinho's influence and are playing with increasing freedom under form player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer while PSG are missing two of the players that make up their ever so dangerous trident in attack with Neymar and Cavani sidelined. It is the first time we will see VAR in the Champions League despite it being deployed in several of the biggest leagues in the world and while it could cause confusion at first, it should also clear up any doubt on the biggest stage of all.

Manchester United

United have not lost since Solskjaer took over and that includes a run of nine Premier League games with eight wins and a draw. The Norweigan has won 25 points in those games when Mourinho could only earn one more point in 17 attempts. Under the Portuguese, they were sinking, but with Solskjear in charge, they have soared. The problem is that if you were looking for holes in the theory that they are a new team, you could find them. They have played at least seven relegation contenders in that time and were outplayed by Spurs despite winning 1-0. But Paul Pogba looks transformed and ditto for Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.They have just one injury with Matteo Darmian missing out but aside from the full back's absence, they are at full strength. They face their most stern test under their new manager on Tuesday at Old Trafford and with the injuries to Tuchel's side, they seem to be getting the rub of the green once again.

PSG

As for PSG, they recently suffered their first defeat in the league and got knocked out of the Coupe de Ligue by Guingamp. They also lost Neymar for the guts of 10 weeks and Cavani limped off against Bordeaux after scoring a penalty in the first half. Thomas Tuchel, the German in charge of his first knockout tie with the Parisians says "It's not his [Mbappé's] job to replace Neymar and Cavani and do the job of all three of them." But the French wonderkid will see the lion's share of the ball in an effort to at least score an away goal to bring home to the French capital. Thomas Meunier is out with a concussion and Adrien Rabiot didn't travel to Manchester while Marco Verrati looks set to start despite not playing a full game since January.