A second Manchester United draw was held 1–1 with Switzerland’s Young Boys in Group F of the Champions League in a poor quality football match at Old Trafford on Wednesday, 8 December. United had already finished first in the group and secured a place in the Round of 16, while the Young Boys were eliminated on foot.
With little on the way, United’s interim manager Ralf Rangnick has made 11 changes to the team that beat Crystal Palace on Sunday, and few would have been impressed if it were a chance to lay claim to the few remaining players in recent formations. Rangnick’s preference for high-pressure football was evident in the win over Palace, but this, perhaps understandable given the unknown selection, was a weak performance.
However, United were careless and made several openings for David Wagner’s Swiss team, who equalized three minutes before the break. United’s Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek, who was one of the influencers, weakened the ball to the edge of his own box, and was caught by Fabian Rieder.
United struggled to find the flow after the break, and the Young Boys lost no chance of winning the game, especially when Quentin Maceiras was found in the penalty area but missed the goal. Rangnick, who started young Amad Diallo and Anthony Elanga, presented four academy products after the break, including Charlie Savage, the 18-year-old son of former Leicester City and Wales midfielder Robbie. Second place in the group will not be decided until Thursday after the match between Atalanta and Villarreal was postponed due to heavy snow in Bergamo, Italy.
