Viktoria Plzen vs Manchester United Report

Scorers: Vydra 48’; Hojlund 62’, 88’

Rasmus Højlund’s late heroics ensured Manchester United’s first away European win in 20 months, as they edged past Viktoria Plzeň in freezing Czech conditions to maintain their unbeaten start in the UEFA Europa League (UEL).

First Half: United Struggle to Capitalise

The backdrop at the Doosan Arena was a lively atmosphere, as the home side sought their first win against English opposition while United aimed to snap a European away winless streak dating back 20 months.

Ruben Amorim’s men dominated possession early on, with over 70% in the first half, but struggled to turn that control into clear-cut opportunities.

Joshua Zirkzee offered moments of promise, using his physicality to trouble the Plzeň defence, though his delivery lacked the precision to unlock the hosts.

On the counter, Amad Diallo and Marcus Rashford showcased their pace but failed to find the final product.

The first real attempt on goal came after the half-hour mark, as Bruno Fernandes carried the ball from deep and unleashed a powerful effort that required a solid save from Martin Jedlička. Despite dominating possession, United went into the break frustrated, with the game goalless.

Second Half: Drama Unfolds

Amorim would have been demanding a better second-half start, but disaster struck for United just three minutes after the restart.

A calamitous mistake by André Onana, who passed the ball directly to Pavel Šulc under no pressure, allowed the Czech international to set up Matěj Vydra for a composed finish. It was Vydra’s first goal in six appearances against United, capitalising on their defensive lapse.

Clearly unhappy, Amorim responded swiftly, introducing three substitutes before the hour mark, including Rasmus Højlund, who would prove pivotal.

The Danish forward immediately posed a threat, breaking through on goal only to see his effort saved by Jedlička. Persistence paid off, however, as Højlund equalised on 62 minutes, pouncing on a deflected shot from Amad to poke home.

Late Heroics

The game became increasingly open in the closing stages, with United pushing for a winner while Plzeň sought to exploit gaps on the counter. Both sides created nervy moments, but it was United’s composure in the final third that proved decisive.

In the 88th minute, Bruno Fernandes caught the Plzeň defence off guard with a quickly taken free-kick, finding Højlund, who displayed excellent control and composure to fire home the winner.

The late strike sealed United’s first away win in Europe since March 2022, bringing a seven-match road winless streak to an end.

United’s Resurgence

The victory not only extended United’s unbeaten start in the UEL to six matches – a feat they last achieved in the 2013/14 campaign – but also provided a much-needed morale boost ahead of the Manchester derby.

Ruben Amorim will hope this performance marks a turning point in his reign as he seeks to establish consistency both domestically and in Europe.

What’s Next?

• Manchester United: The Red Devils now prepare for a high-stakes Manchester derby at Old Trafford, hoping to carry momentum from their European win.
• Viktoria Plzeň: Despite their spirited performance, the Czech side must regroup and focus on their domestic campaign while seeking an improved showing in their remaining UEL fixtures.

United’s resilience and late-game composure signal a step in the right direction under Amorim, even as defensive vulnerabilities remain a concern moving forward.

For more info on this game’s outcome, you may also visit:
Viktoria Plzeň vs Man Utd | UEFA Europa League 2024/25