A goal by Marcus Rashford inspired Manchester United to a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo in their Europa League semi-final first-leg at the Estadio de Balaidos on Monday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

Paul Pogba returned to the starting line-up after his hamstring injury and slotted into the central midfield role. Eric Bailly returned to the heart of the United defence, while Chris Smalling was on the bench, following more than a month out with a knee problem.

Meanwhile, Eduardo Berizzo has heavily rotated his side in the three top-flight matches. Although they suffered defeat in each of those games, they felt fresh and confident in front of their own fans.

The Red Devils got off to a good start and had their first chance of the match when Marcus Rashford attempted to curl a shot towards the far corner, but his effort was blocked by two Celta defenders.

Celta should’ve taken the lead in the 11th minute when an unmarked Daniel Wass latched on to a delivery from Nemanja Radoja before angling his header at goal, but his effort missed the target.

Sergio Alvarez came to his side’s rescue in the 20th minute as he produced a fine save to keep out Rashford’s sublime effort at goal, to push it behind for a corner.

United had a chance to take the lead after 35 minutes as Pogba slid a pass through to Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who attempted to roll his effort across the goalkeeper and into the far corner, but Alvarez was on hand to deny the midfielder.

Alvarez came to his side’s rescue again four minutes later when he produced another save to deny Jesse Lingard’s first-time shot.

The match went into the half-time interval with the scoreline locked at 0-0.

The home side came out a better side in the second-half as Wass chipped a delivery into the box to Iago Aspas, who attempted to flick his header into the far corner, but his effort bounced across the face of goal and away from danger.

Pione Sisto nearly handed Celta the lead in the 59th minute when he tried his luck from the edge of the area, however his strike took a deflection off of Silva, forcing Sergio Romero to backpedal and push it over the crossbar.

United eventually broke the deadlock in the 67th minute when Rashford guided his side-footed free kick over the wall and past Alvarez to find the top corner.

Celta responded well two minutes later and nearly drew level as Gustavo Cabral tried his luck from 25 yards out, but Romero happily watched on as his effort flew over the target.

Lingard nearly doubled United’s lead after 75 minutes after his half-volleyed strike at goal was guided narrowly wide of the target.

With four minutes left to play, Pogba spotted Alvarez off his line and out of position. He tried to sneak a shot inside the near post, only for the ball to drop outside the upright.

United held on to their one-goal lead against Celta Vigo until the final whistle to take an away goal into their second-leg at Old Trafford next week Thursday.

Image: Uefa website