Manchester United eased to a 3-0 victory over Partizan Belgrade to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League with two games to spare.
Goals from Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford did the damage against the overmatched Serbians, who failed to register a shot on target at Old Trafford.
The win ensured United's progress to the Europa League round of 32 with games against Astana and AZ Alkmaar still to play.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can now experiment and rest key players in those fixtures - a boost with the energy-sapping 6,000-mile return trip to freezing Kazakhstan looming large later this month.
Greenwood finally opened the scoring after 22 minutes after United had squandered a host of guilt-edged chances.
The 18-year-old, who became the club's youngest ever goalscorer in Europe with his winner against Astana in September, doubled his tally for this season's competition when he showed excellent composure in the middle of the Partizan penalty area before sweeping it home for 1-0.
Anthony Martial made it two in the 33rd minute after receiving the ball on the edge of the box, turning two Belgrade defenders, and slotting it past Vladimir Stojkovic.
Marcus Rashford ensured United made a fine start to the second half by thumping home their third goal in front of the Stretford End in the 49th minute.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reaction
Manchester United 3-0 FK Partizan Opta stats
- Manchester United haven’t lost any of their last 15 games in the Europa League (W11 D4); the longest active unbeaten run of any current team in the competition.
- FK Partizan have lost eight of their 10 away games against English opponents in European competition (W1 D1), including each of the last four in a row.
- Manchester United are unbeaten in their last six games at Old Trafford across all competitions (W3 D3); their longest such run under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
- This was Manchester United’s sixth consecutive clean sheet in the group stages of the Europa League, having last conceded against Fenerbahçe back in November 2016.
- Anthony Martial has scored five goals in his last seven starts for Manchester United in all competitions, as many as he had in his previous 17 starts for the club.
- Marcus Rashford has scored five goals in seven appearances at Old Trafford this season, one more than he managed in 23 home appearances across all competitions last season (four).
- Aged 18 years and 37 days, Mason Greenwood became the youngest player to score and assist in a European game for Manchester United.
- FK Partizan failed to record a shot on target in a Europa League game for the first time since December 2008 against Sevilla.
Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLifeFC
Related football links