Bruno Fernandes scored an opening-day hat-trick while Paul Pogba proved why he’s one of the best midfielders by supplying four assists as Manchester United swept Leeds aside in a 5-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday, August 14.
On a day when £75m new signing Jordan Sancho made his debut and new signing Raphael Varane was revealed to the fans in the stadium, United players knew they just had to turn up – and they did in style.
Portugal midfielder, Fernandes opened the scoring on the half-hour after receiving a wonderful pass from Paul Pogba.
Just two minutes into the second half, Luke Ayling’s thunderous strike after enjoying space 30 yards away from goal, drew Leeds level.
Two minutes later, Mason Greenwood who started as the main striker, restored Manchester United’s lead after another superb pass from Paul Pogba, before Fernandes’ low shot was ruled to have crossed the line by referee Paul Tierney after a check of goal line technology – following another pass from Paul Pogba.
3-1… This was surely turning into the Pogba-Fernandes show.
Fernandez quickly completed his hat-trick with a thumping finish after a nice pass from Victor Lindelof, before Fred added United’s fifth goal in 14 minutes from Paul Pogba’s cross.
This was Pogba’s fourth assist of the afternoon, and if he keeps up with such performances, a new bumper contract won’t be far off.
Leeds’ manager, Marcelo Bielsa was fuming on the sidelines but there was nothing he could do about it. His side were prepared for the match but United, ready for an assault on the premier league title and coaches by Ole Solskjaer were just too good for them.
It was Fernandes’ first hat-trick since he moved to Old Trafford in January 2020 and only the second by a Red Devils player since Robin van Persie’s title-winning effort against Aston Villa in 2013.
Fernandes now follows Anthony Martial as the only Manchester United player to score a Premier League hat-trick since Van Persie – and the first to do it in front of fans.
Fernandes’ last hat-trick was for Sporting Lisbon in an 8-1 hammering of Belenenses in front of just over 5,000 in May 2019.