Manchester United failed to win again on Sunday afternoon away at Bournemouth. Rúben Amorim's side is in poor form, but still managed to rescue a point deep into stoppage time. On Thursday, they face the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao.
After dropping points against Nottingham Forest (1-0), Manchester City (0-0), Newcastle United (4-1), and Wolverhampton Wanderers (0-1), Manchester United were desperate to finally secure a win and put an end to a frustrating run of poor results.
However, despite creating several chances on Sunday, they had to settle for yet another disappointing outcome, drawing 1-1 away at Bournemouth, in a match that once again exposed their ongoing struggles in both attack and defense.
From the opening whistle, Manchester United looked eager to take control, pressing high and creating opportunities, particularly through Alejandro Garnacho, who was by far their most threatening player in the first half. Garnacho seemed determined to make an impact, and he came close on multiple occasions. His first effort narrowly missed the target, skimming past the post, and shortly after, he forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into a superb save from close range. The Argentine winger was lively, finding pockets of space, but lacked the final bit of luck or precision to open the scoring. Another attempt saw him fire just wide again, much to the frustration of the travelling United supporters.
While United were wasteful, Bournemouth were ruthless when given their chance. The home side, with Justin Kluivert, Milos Kerkez, and Dean Huijsen in the starting lineup, were content to soak up pressure and hit on the counter. Their approach paid off in the 25th minute when they took the lead through a well-worked move. Evanilson displayed excellent awareness and creativity, flicking a low cross backward with his heel directly into the path of Antoine Semenyo, who calmly slotted the ball past André Onana to make it 1-0. It was a clinical finish, and Bournemouth’s efficiency in front of goal contrasted sharply with United's profligacy.
United responded by pushing forward in search of an equalizer, but time and again, their efforts were either blocked by Bournemouth's disciplined defense or saved by Kepa, who was in fine form. There was a moment of controversy towards the end of the first half when Tyler Adams caught Garnacho with a reckless tackle on his foot. Tempers flared, but referee Peter Bankes showed only a yellow card, a decision that was met with loud protests from United players and fans alike.
The second half began with United dominating possession but struggling to create clear chances. Bournemouth, down to ten men after a second flashpoint, found themselves under increasing pressure. Early in the half, Evanilson, who had earlier assisted the goal, was sent off after a dangerous two-footed challenge on Noussair Mazraoui. VAR reviewed the incident, and there was no doubt about the decision – a straight red card, leaving Bournemouth to play the remainder of the game with a man down.
With the numerical advantage, United launched wave after wave of attacks. Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, and Rasmus Højlund all had opportunities, but Bournemouth defended resolutely, determined to hold on to their lead. The introduction of Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay in the final stages gave United additional energy, but luck seemed to be against them.
The breakthrough finally came deep into stoppage time. In the sixth minute of added time, a scramble in the box saw the ball fall kindly to Rasmus Højlund, who kept his composure and fired home from close range to make it 1-1. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the United players, but the relief was short-lived, as the draw still left them well below expectations.
With this result, Manchester United now sit in 14th place in the Premier League table, far from the European spots and facing growing pressure from fans and media. Their form has been inconsistent, and their inability to convert chances into goals has cost them dearly. They still have tough fixtures ahead, including matches against Brentford, West Ham United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa, all of which will be crucial if they are to salvage anything from this disappointing campaign.
Attention now turns to the Europa League, where they face Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final this Thursday. It is perhaps their last realistic chance of ending the season with silverware and securing a place in European competition next year. For now, though, the mood around Old Trafford remains tense, with questions being asked about the direction of the team under Rúben Amorim, and whether they can turn things around before the season comes to a close.
