Manchester United vs Real Betis summary: score, goals and highlights | Europa League 2022/23

Europa League: Thursday's results in full

This is how all eight last-16 ties stand after today’s first legs:

Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Ferencváros
Juventus 1-0 Freiburg
Manchester United 4-1 Real Betis
Roma 2-0 Real Sociedad
Sevilla 2-0 Fenerbahce
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Feyenoord
Sporting CP 2-2 Arsenal
Union Berlin 3-3 Union SG

A reminder that the second legs are to be played next week, on Thursday 16 March.

Ten Hag lauds "brilliant" Bruno Fernandes

Erik ten Hag has praised Bruno Fernandes' "brilliant" display tonight, after the Portuguese came in for particular criticism for his role in United's 7-0 defeat to Liverpool.

"Bruno, I think he was brilliant today," Ten Hag told BT Sport. "He led the time from the first minute by his game, in possession, making the rhythm of the game and then scored a goal. So I'm happy."

The Dutchman added: “I think we played well, second half especially. 4-1, good goals, a good performance - that gives something to the fans. They gave us something back as well, because they were behind us and we’re very grateful after Sunday."

"[Wout Weghorst] was so close many times already, and he created so many chances and goals for others by making space. And now he has his goal, and he deserved it."

Rashford: "The only way for us to bounce back"

Marcus Rashford has been speaking to UK channel BT Sport.

“It’s always important to win the next fixture [after a heavy defeat]," he said. "That’s the only way for us to bounce back and try and continue the momentum that we had before that game [against Liverpool]. I’m pleased that we’ve managed to win the game and it’s put us in a good way in the tie.”

On Weghorst's goal, Rashford added: “He’s a forward, he gets joy from scoring goals. And as good as he works hard and does all the other stuff, he wants to score goals. So yeah, everyone’s really pleased for him.”

Weghorst breaks Old Trafford duck

That Weghorst goal was his first at Old Trafford, by the way. He celebrated like he'd won the World Cup, the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or all at the same time - and, given his difficulties in front of goal, you can understand why.

(Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble)

We can turn this tie around - Pellegrini

Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini has just spoken to Movistar.

Asked about Los Verdiblancos' collapse in the second half, he said: “It's a great goal by Antony and three, four minutes later they scored from a corner. That opened up the game completely.”

On Betis' chances of recovering to win the last-16 tie, he said: “Everything can be turned around in football. It won’t be easy, but we’ll give it our best.”

Rashford tally equal to 20/21 and 21/22 combined

BT Sport note that Marcus Rashford has now scored as many goals this season as the previous two combined.

He's now the top scorer in this term's Europa League, having moved ahead of Santiago Giménez, Wissam Ben Yedder and Vitinha. Giménez is the only one of those three whose club - Feyenoord - are still in the Europa League.

FT scores from around the Europa League

Here are the full-time scores from the four late kick-offs in the Europa League. Six-time winners Sevilla put their domestic woes to one side to put themselves in the driving seat against Fenerbahce, and Juventus have a narrow advantage over Freiburg. Shakhtar and Feyenoord remain level ahead of the second leg.

United stretch home scoring run

Betis' seven-game European unbeaten run is over, then. For United, meanwhile, it's the first time since 2000 that they've scored two or more goals in 15 consecutive home games.

Betis not good enough after break - Pérez

Ayoze Pérez is speaking to Spanish TV channel Movistar. “Our second half performance wasn’t good enough,” he says.

"United's second goal is a fine goal and had a major psychological effect on us." 

Asked whether he thinks Betis can turn this tie around, Pérez says: "With our fans behind us at our stadium, anything's possible."

Peeep peeep peeep! Manchester United completely blew Real Betis away in the second half, and might well have scored more than four.

After being embarrassed at the weekend, it's exactly what United needed.

There were more than a few jitters for the hosts after Ayoze Pérez's first-half leveller, but once Antony put Erik ten Hag's men back in front, there was only one team in it.

Pellistri has been so, so lively since he came on. Fernandes releases the 21-year-old into space to run at a back-pedalling defence and into the box. His low shot is firmly struck enough, but Bravo does very well to parry! 

Fernandes swings the corner in to the near post, where Martínez is first to it. He gets a firm boot on the ball, but can only turn it high into the stands.

Four minutes of time added on.

It's now just a question of whether Betis can avoid conceding a fifth. They've completely disintegrated.

Now Casemiro shoots first time from the edge of the box, but curls the ball well off target.

There appears to be some trouble in the Betis end, I regret to tell you. The police have moved in.

Well, if Pellistri's first touch had been better there, the youngster may well have been in for a fifth. Betis look completely gone, and when the ball breaks to Fernandes just inside the visitors' half, he angles a through ball into Pellistri's path. His control is very heavy, though, and he succeeds only in clattering Luiz Felipe in his attempts to bring the ball back under his spell.

Willian José is on for Juanmi.

United also shuffle their pack, replacing Antony and Fred with Facundo Pellistri and Scott McTominay.

Again United are close to a fourth! Carvalho slips just inside the Betis half, allowing Weghorst to dispossess him and charge forwards. He slips it right to Antony, who has peeled off into yards of space and is in on Bravo. He carries it into the box and shoots, but the keeper gets enough on the ball to divert it off target!

Betis are preparing to bring Willian José on.

Blimey. Weghorst really should make it four, but gets his finish all wrong. Fred feeds a pass into the Betis box towards Antony at the back post, but Luiz Felipe gets a boot to it. He turns it straight to Weghorst, who has time to pick his spot from the penalty spot - but completely fluffs his kick! Bravo grabs hold.

Antony tries to score a very similar goal to the one he already has, but doesn't connect properly with it this time. His effort trundles past Bravo's right-hand post.

Given how jittery Old Trafford had become at the end of the first half, it's really quite striking how placid this second half has been for United.

Sancho lays the ball off for Casemiro to strike from long range, and the midfielder wallops the ball high, high over the bar.

Guardado plays a loose back pass, and Fernandes thinks he can get there before Bravo. He can't, and catches the goalkeeper with his boot. Pezzella has a bit of a go at Fernandes, who is booked for his challenge.

Sancho carries the ball into the Betis box, before twisting and turning in front of a three defenders. He can't work himself a yard to shoot, so lays it off to Fred at the top of the area. The Brazilian sends a low strike at goal, but it's weakly hit and is easy for Bravo.

Both teams make changes. Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia replace Rashford and Shaw for United. For Betis, Borja Iglesias and Andrés Guardado are on for Ayoze and Rodríguez.

That's very nearly four for United, and it's fabulous build-up play. Antony plays a give and go with Fernandes on the edge of the Betis box, and when he collects the return he's in on Bravo. He has men in red shirts to his left, but tries to dink it over the Chilean and in - and his dink flies over!

Betis make two changes, which Pellegrini was preparing before that third United goal.

Sergio Canales and Aitor Ruibal are on, and Joaquín and Luiz Henrique make way.

Having retaken the lead, United have their tails up once more. Fernandes pings a low ball across goal, which Betis have to hack behind for a corner.

Weghorst is the first player to go into Daniel Siebert's book, after upending Pezzella.

Casemiro is the only man in a United shirt who's one yellow card away from a ban, remember.

Old Trafford is audibly restless. Any hint of a stray pass from the home side is met with loud sighs.

Right away, United get Wan-Bissaka into a dangerous position in the Betis box. Fernandes slips the full-back in on the right, and, without looking, he cuts it back towards the penalty spot. He's obviously expecting someone to be arriving at pace to hit his pass, but nobody is. Betis get it away.

No changes for Betis, I should add.

Peeep! We're back underway at Old Trafford.

Wan-Bissaka is indeed on for Dalot at right-back.

United to make half-time change

It looks like Ten Hag is preparing to replace Diogo Dalot with Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Big fan of this stat from the ever creative Richard Jolly.

UEL half-time scores

It's half time in all four of today's later last-16 kick-offs. So far, Old Trafford has seen all the goals.

Rashford behind only Haaland and Mbappé

Marcus Rashford's goal tonight takes his overall tally this term to 26. Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé aside, that's more than anyone else in Europe's major leagues.

Ayoze Pérez celebrates his equalising goal for Betis.

(Photo: DARREN STAPLES / AFP)

Betis' corner comes to nought, and that's half time.

For the first 30 minutes or so, Manchester United looked a good bet to go in for the break with a couple of goals in the for column, but it's been a different game since Ayoze Pérez's equaliser just after the half-hour mark. Betis began to look much more confident, and United began to look more than a little jittery.

One minute of time added on at Old Trafford.

Joaquín leads a break, slipping it wide to Sabaly on the right. The full-back wins a corner for the visitors, and United kinda need half time now. They've lost their way in the last quarter of an hour or so.

Blimey, De Gea almost gifts Betis a second there. His pass out from the back is straight to Juanmi, who plays it to Ayoze. He scampers into the box and looks to square, and his ball is deflected onto the post and away. What a let-off for United.

Betis have looked a lot more comfortable in the minutes since their leveller. United do now create an opening, but the flag is up. Weghorst slips it into the area to Rashford, who gets there before Bravo to cut it back to Antony. With the goal gaping, the Brazilian's shot is blocked, but Rashford was offside anyway.

Before Betis equalised, United were looking pretty likely to score a second. Now, it's the visitors who are creating the threatening attacking situations.

Los Verdiblancos win a free-kick on the left, which Joaquín will swing in. Swing it in he does, but United head it clear.

The Betis fans are making a lorra lorra noise.

Immediately, Casemiro gives away a dangerous free-kick and Betis have an opportunity to create a quickfire second.

It's played short, and United scramble it behind for a corner. 

The corner is also played short, the visitors working it back to Carvalho. He lifts a high pass from the left over to Ayoze at the back of the United box, but is driven too wide and United deal with it.

The hosts look dangerous pretty much every time they mount an attack. Antony is again the provider, tearing forward and feeding it left to Rashford, who has peeled off into space to shoot. Bravo palms away his low effort, and Betis get it behind for a corner.

From the corner, Casemiro tries to find Bravo's top corner with a shot on the turn, but sends his strike well off target.

Antony flashes a low cross into the Betis area, and from about three yards out Weghorst steers the ball over the bar. The flag is up, though: he was clearly offside. Either way, not the best piece of finishing you'll ever see.

Rashford whips a right-wing cross over to the back of the Betis box, where Antony is waiting in a yard or two of space. Rashford's ball is hit quite hard and is bouncing, and Antony can't quite bring it under his spell. Had his first touch been on point, he would have had a good shooting opportunity, but you can't be too critical of the Brazilian for not managing to control it.

Said corner finally falls to Rodríguez on the edge of the box. He pokes a right-footed effort towards goal, and when it rebounds off Weghorst, there are some timid appeals for a penalty. Replays show it clearly touched the Dutchman's shoulder, though. 

We haven't seen much in attack from Betis for a few minutes, but now Joaquín leads a break before slipping it left to Luiz Henrique. He carries it into the box, but is crowded out by a sizeable delegation of United defenders, and Betis have to content themselves with a corner.

United feed it left to Rashford, who is in space to take on a back-pedallin Sabaly. Rashford tries to beat the full-back with what I believe is known in the business as an 'elastica', but his execution suggests he needs to give it a little bit more work before he can rival Ronaldinho in that particular discipline. Betis clear.

The way things are going, you definitely get the feeling that United won't be restricted to just the one goal tonight. Rodríguez plays a careless, short backpass towards Bravo, and suddenly Rashford looks to be in on the goalkeeper. He can't quite get there before Bravo, however, and the visitors survive.

So close to a second for United! Shaw plays a one-two with Rashford on the left, before pinging the return pass into the six-yard box. Weghorst gets there just before Pezzella, but turns his finish just, just past the near post!

Again United work it out to the right, to Dalot. The Portuguese tries to cross, but scuffs the ball straight at the first man. Betis immediately look to break, but succeed only in giving it right back to the hosts.

Both teams are giving it away in their own half not infrequently, it must be said.

Back come United. It's fed forward to Antony, who puts his head down and sets off towards the Betis penalty area. Once inside the 18-yard box, he tries to cut inside and shoot, but Abner does very well to hold the Brazilian off.

Forward come Betis, Joaquín cutting in from the right. He touches it inside to Luiz Henrique, who tries to turn into shooting space but is muscled off it by Fred and Casemiro.

Right away, United create a presentable enough chance to double their lead.

Receiving the ball in the right-hand channel, Casemiro clips in an outside-of-the-boot cross towards the penalty spot, where Weghorst meets the delivery with a flying header. Bravo is quickly across to save, though.

Weghorst has the ball in the back of the net, but the flag was up against Fred before then.

Fernandes finds the Brazilian with a neat, angled first-time pass, allowing him to ping a cross into the middle. Weghorst is there to chest it home, but it won't count.

Here come Betis with their first moment of attacking danger. Joaquín lifts a pass over the top for Ayoze Pérez to chase into the Manchester United box, but the flag is up against the former Leicester man.

The travelling Betis fans are also giving it plenty of welly, by the way.

Mindful that their players might be a little down, what with being cuffed 7-0 and all, the home fans are making a lot of noise. The decibels rise that bit further when Dalot surges down the right to earn an early corner, but Shaw's delivery is dealt with.

Peeeep! Daniel Siebert gets us up and running at Old Trafford.

Out come the teams!

The teams are out in Manchester, where the rain is lashing down.

Europa League anthem done, handshakes done... just the coin toss to go, and we'll be ready to get underway.

Almost time to go at Old Trafford!

The teams are about to make their way out at Old Trafford! Five minutes or so until kick-off. A reminder of the teams:

Manchester United: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martínez, Shaw, Casemiro, Fred, Antony, Weghorst, Fernandes, Rashford.

Real Betis: Bravo, Sabaly, Pezzella, Luiz Felipe, Abner, Rodríguez, Carvalho, Luiz Henrique, Joaquín, Juanmi, Pérez.

Betis seek record European run

As stats specialists Opta note, Betis can make a little bit of history at Old Trafford today: they're currently seven games unbeaten in Europe, and have never managed eight on the spin without defeat.

Early Europa League results are in

Tonight’s early last-16 kick-offs have just finished, and Bayer Leverkusen and Roma are now firmly in the driving seat in their clashes with Ferencváros and Real Sociedad, respectively.

Elsewhere, it remains finely poised in the ties between the two Unions, and between Sporting CP and Arsenal.

Who is on a yellow card at Old Trafford?

We have a few players - chiefly in green and white - who are one booking away from incurring a one-match ban this evening. They are:

Manchester United: Casemiro.

Real Betis: Claudio Bravo, Germán Pezzella, Luiz Felipe and Aitor Ruibal.

The Betis players go through their warm-up routine ahead of kick-off in Manchester.

(Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford warms up at Old Trafford.

(Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble)

EUROPA LEAGUE

Who is the referee for the Europa League game between Manchester United and Real Betis at Old Trafford?

Germany's Daniel Siebert will be the match referee in Manchester.

AS USA's Joe Brennan has more on the 38-year-old.

Iglesias tells Guardian of admiration for Rashford

Let me also direct you towards Spanish football expert Sid Lowe's Guardian interview with Borja Iglesias, who comes across as a thoroughly top chap.

Iglesias, who starts on the bench tonight, reveals he'll be after Marcus Rashford's shirt at Old Trafford.

"Obviously I admire him for the player he is, but also because of who he is: off the pitch he is an example, committed to social issues, bringing visibility, unafraid to express himself," Iglesias told Lowe. "It’s not a pose, and people see that."

EUROPA LEAGUE

Manchester United vs Betis: Times, how to watch on TV, stream online | Europa League

If you're wondering where you can watch the game online or on TV, let me point you in the direction of my colleague Fidel Rubio's guide on how to tune in.

Betis' 22/23 UEL stats

And this is the at-a-glance stats round-up of Betis’ Europa League campaign. Canales has been their top-rated player, according to SofaScore, but they’ll have to do without him at Old Trafford - at least initially. 

Betis' road to the round of 16

While United’s second-placed finish in Group E forced them to go through the knockout round playoffs, Betis secured automatic qualification for the last 16 by topping Group C in impressive fashion. 

Los Verdiblancos dropped just two points on their way to winning the group ahead of José Mourinho’s Roma.

United's 22/23 UEL stats

And our friends at SofaScore have also put together this useful stats graphic on United's Europa League campaign so far.

Marcus Rashford is the Red Devils' leading marksman in the competition - and is joint-top of the overall scoring charts, alongside Feyenoord's Santiago Giménez, Braga's Vitinha and Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder.

United's road to the round of 16

Here, courtesy of our colleagues at SofaScore, is an at-a-glance look at Manchester United's road to the round of 16.

Since losing at home to Real Sociedad on matchday one, it's three home wins in three for United.

United up against Spanish opposition yet again

This evening’s game, by the way, is Manchester United’s 60th against Spanish opposition - and their fifth in the Europa League this season.

United and Real Sociedad traded 1-0 wins in the group stage, before Ten Hag’s men edged Barcelona out 4-3 on aggregate in the knockout round playoffs.

The Red Devils, it’s worth noting, have been knocked out of Europe by a LaLiga side in each of the last five seasons.

Pellegrini “not very sad” about United’s Liverpool drubbing

In his pre-match press conference yesterday, Manuel Pellegrini admitted that, given his City past, he “was not very sad” to see United concede seven at the weekend.

“It was unbelievable,” Pellegrini told reporters. “I was watching the first 45 minutes, because after that we had to play against Real Madrid so we couldn’t see when Liverpool scored the other six goals. 

“But of course I understood immediately what would happen in Manchester United. Given the rivalry between Liverpool and United and the amount of goals, it would not be easy for them. 

“But, well, I’m a Manchester City fan also, so I was not very sad about what happened.”

(Photo: REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo)

United unchanged, no Canales for Betis

Well, well, well. Ten Hag has made no changes to the United side that began their weekend walloping by Liverpool. A you-arsed-it-up-royally-now-put-it-right message to his players, one supposes.

As for Betis, Pellegrini makes four changes to the team that drew with Real Madrid. Abner, Luiz Henrique, Joaquín and Juanmi all come into the visitors’ XI, with Juan Miranda, Aitor Ruibal, Rodri and Borja Iglesias making way.

In the end, Sergio Canales has to content himself with a spot on the bench.

Real Betis team news

And so too has Betis'. Pellegrini has gone with: Bravo, Sabaly, Pezzella, Luiz Felipe, Abner, Rodríguez, Carvalho, Luiz Henrique, Joaquín, Juanmi, Pérez.

Manchester United team news

The Manchester United team is in! It is: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martínez, Shaw, Casemiro, Fred, Antony, Weghorst, Fernandes, Rashford.

Canales poised to return for Betis

Although Betis will be without Fekir, they are expected to welcome another key man, Sergio Canales, back into their team.

Canales has missed the Andalusians’ last two games with an injury picked up in February’s win over Real Valladolid, but has been pushing to make it back for tonight.

(Photo: CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)

Teams faced off in recent friendly

As I mentioned earlier, this is Manchester United and Real Betis’ first ever competitive meeting. The teams did go head to head in a friendly in December, though, Betis beating 1-0 United in Seville.

Given that the match took place while the World Cup was going on, it obviously involved quite a number of second-string players.

Nabil Fekir, who is anything but second-string, got the goal for the hosts. However, the Frenchman won’t be involved tonight, or again this season. 

He had been in sparkling form this season, but was ruled out long-term at the end of February after suffering an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament.

Amid rainy conditions in Manchester, a vendor sells United and Real Betis half-and-half scarves outside Old Trafford ahead of kick-off.

(Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble)

Belting out the Betis anthem

The weather doesn't look too handy in Manchester, does it? But the Betis fans clearly could not give two hoots, as they prepare for their first visit to the Theatre of Dreams.

Betis arrive in Manchester after Madrid stalemate

While United saw an 11-game unbeaten run come to an end in their defeat to Liverpool at the weekend, Copa del Rey holders Betis extended their recent streak without defeat to four.

Betis held European champions Real Madrid to an entertaining goalless draw at the Estadio Benito Villamarín - a result that left Los Verdiblancos fifth in LaLiga, three points off the top four.

Betis haven't qualified for the Champions League since 2005, but, led by former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, they're absolutely in contention this year.

(Photo: TONI RODRIGUEZ/Diario AS)

Anfield annihilation a "big lesson" for United - Ten Hag

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Ten Hag said his team needed to “re-set” after their historic thrashing at Anfield, describing the experience as a “big lesson” for his side.

“We have to set conclusions, and that’s what we did,” the Dutchman said. “We’ve seen that game and set the right conclusions, and from there we have to re-set and bounce back.”

He added: “The players have reflected well. We also know that during a season, setbacks will always be there. It was a huge setback, clearly. We had a run, I think 23 games with one loss, and that was the second. 

"But, of course, with the way [we lost], there were a lot of lessons in it. That can help us for the future - that’s the positive out of it. The negative is that we were really below average, especially mentally. We want to be a big team, we want to win trophies, so then you have to act differently. 

“After Sunday, we got a big lesson. We take that, but now we have to move on, we have to look forward. That is the way we treated it. Now all the energy, all the focus has to be on the next game.”

(Photo: LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP)

United bid to bounce back from Anfield trouncing

Now, you might - I repeat, might - have heard that Manchester United head into this clash on the back of a really rather humongous spanking.

The stats around Sunday’s 7-0 walloping at Anfield are quite something. It was the joint-heaviest defeat in United’s history, the first time they’d lost by such a scoreline since 1931, and the Red Devils’ biggest ever beating by Liverpool.

Speaking post-match on Merseyside, United boss Erik ten Hag labelled his team’s performance “unacceptable” and “unprofessional”.

(Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)

Manchester United vs Real Betis: welcome!

Hello! Manchester United and Real Betis meet in European competition for the very first time tonight, in the first leg of a Europa League tie which, I must say, I am really rather looking forward to.

Kick-off at Old Trafford is at 8pm local time (3pm ET), so we should have some team news in about an hour or so.