Manchester United are back in the fight for a place in the Champions League with their first league win in six weeks – but they can’t get past their nouveau riche competitor Newcastle United.
Manchester won 1-0 (1-0) against FC Brentford on Wednesday evening and thus climbed back to fourth place, which means qualification for the premier class at the end of the season.
Equal on points ahead of the Red Devils, Newcastle (both 53 points) are still in third place and at the same time won 5-1 (2-1) at relegation candidates West Ham United.
Tottenham Hotspur (50) slipped to fifth place and have already played a game more than Newcastle and Manchester. At the top, Arsenal (72) and champions Manchester City (64) are far behind.
Marcus Rashford scores, Marcel Sabitzer prepares
Marcus Rashford (27th) gave ManUnited a deserved lead. Marcel Sabitzer, on loan from Bayern Munich, cleverly prepared the goal with a header. On the Brentford side, new international Kevin Schade came on after 62 minutes and then caused a real danger in Manchester’s penalty area.
Callum Wilson (6th/46th), former Hoffenheimer Joelinton (13th/90th) and ex-Dortmunder Alexander Isak (82nd) scored for Newcastle.
The traditional club was taken over in 2021 by a consortium led by the Saudi state fund and is playing at the top this season. The first Champions League participation in 20 years beckons.