On matchday 3 of the 2021-2022 UEFA Youth League Group F, Manchester United win 4-2 at the Leigh Sports Village in Leigh.
After a few efforts coming off Shoretire and Garnacho for the English side, which were blocked by Sassi, and a chance for Atalanta with Lozza, the Nerazzurri found the breakthrough on 20 minutes through captain Panada. However, the lead only lasted a few minutes, as Manchester reacted to it and turned the game around within 3 minutes thanks to Iqbal e Hugill. The hosts added a third through Garnacho, who scored a great goal at the half-hour mark. The Nerazzurri almost pulled one back through Oliveri, who tested Vitek in the 37th minute, then Giovane fired over. In the final minutes, Renault’s header (on 44) and Sidibe’s volley (46′) were saved by the hosts’ goalkeeper.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Hugill and Renault had two chances, but Sassi and Vitek managed to smother both efforts. In the 63rd minute, Forson, who had just come on, turned Fernandez’s assist from the left into the net to make it 4-1. De Nipoti tried to pull one back on 75 minutes but his left-foot finish went just over the top corner and Fisic was denied by the goalkeeper in the 85th minute. In stoppage time, De Nipoti scored a stunner (left-foot shot into the top corner) that sealed the 4-2 scoreline.
MANCHESTER UNITED 4-2 ATALANTA
Scorers: Panada 20 (A), Iqbal 22 (MU), Hugill 24 (MU), Garnacho 30 (MU), Forson 63 (MU), De Nipoti 93 (A).
Manchester United: Vitek, Jurado, Mengi, Hardley, Fernandez, Iqbal (Svidersky 62), Shoretire (Gore 76), Hansen-Aaroen, Mather (Forson 62), Hugill, Garnacho (Hoogewerf 72).
Unused bench: Hanbury, Bennett, Oyedele.
Coach: Neil Wood.
Atalanta: Sassi, Guerini (Del Lungo 72), Berto, Ceresoli, Oliveri, Giovane, Panada (Bernasconi 72), Renault (Fisic 62), Sidibe, Omar (Zuccon 72), Lozza (De Nipoti 62).
Unused bench: Bertini, Regonesi.
Coach: Massimo Brambilla.
Referee: Filip Glova (SVK).
Assistants: Daniel Polacek (SVK) and Patrik Kmec (SVK)
Fourth official: Anthony Backhouse (ENG).
