Cunha scores twice and sees red as United come back to beat Roma

Jesús Gil Manzano refereed in front of 73,747. Michael Carrick's Manchester United lined up four-two-three-one, with Lammens in goal behind Diogo Dalot, Heaven, Maguire and Yoro, Mainoo and Baleba in front of them, and Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes and Diallo behind Mbeumo. Gian Piero Gasperini picked a three-four-two-one for Roma: Vásquez behind Mario Hermoso, Balerdi and Mancini, then Wesley, de Roon, Cristante and Rensch, with Rodrigo Mora and Soulé supporting Malen.

Roma were ahead in the 11th minute, Soulé finishing from Rodrigo Mora's assist, and Malen doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th. Lulli replaced Rensch in the 21st minute and was booked in the 35th. Bruno Fernandes and Soulé had been booked in the 20th, and Malen joined them in the 42nd. The half ended 0-2.

The second half began with a Roma change, Pisilli for Rodrigo Mora in the 46th minute. United's first change came in the 51st, Tielemans for Baleba, and Carrick told Amazon Prime that Tielemans "was fantastic and showed everything he is as a personality". In the 58th minute Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot. He told Amazon Prime: "First one didn't go the way I wanted, I did something wrong but I got a second chance."

The last quarter of an hour turned the night over. Carrick made a double change in the 75th minute, Lacey for Diallo and Martínez for Heaven, who had been booked in the 70th. Gasperini answered with Ghilardi for Mancini in the 75th, Ndicka for Mario Hermoso in the 76th and Castro for Malen in the 78th, the minute Maguire was booked. Matheus Cunha equalised in the 83rd minute and put United in front in the 86th, Lacey supplying the pass. Cunha was booked in the 87th, Mount replaced Bruno Fernandes and de Ligt replaced Maguire in the 88th, and Cunha's second yellow card at 90+1 left United to finish a man short.

Across the whole match the numbers sat with United. They had 15 shots to seven, six on target to four, and 2.72 expected goals against 1.53. Close to goal the difference was stark: United had 30 touches in the Roma box, Roma eight in theirs. Roma made 25 clearances to United's 15, a back three spending the evening sweeping the same doorstep, and United won 69 duels to 45 and 18 in the air to 12. Possession, 52 per cent to 48, was close to even. The territory was not.

Context made the comeback louder. Before this game the form guide listed defeats by Chelsea, Bournemouth, Como and Atlético Madrid and a draw with Leeds United. Roma arrived with wins over Udinese, Cagliari, Slovan Bratislava and Genoa and a 3-3 draw with Napoli. Carrick would not look past the next fixture, telling Uefa: "I don't have a crystal ball to know what happens next." He added that "we've got a really important game here against Aston Villa". One win does not settle anything. It does change the next conversation.

Three meetings are listed here, and United won two of them. The International Champions Cup meeting in July 2014 ended 3-2 to United, and they won the Europa League meeting on 29 April 2021 6-2 at home. Roma won the meeting on 6 May 2021, 3-2 as the home side.

In the table as it stood at 22:13 on the night, with this match included, Manchester United were 17th on six points from four games, the same total as every club from 11th-placed Como down to Galatasaray in 18th. Roma were 19th on four points. Liverpool, Real Madrid and Arsenal were among the clubs who had played three games at that point.