Posted by Manchester United blew Leeds aside with a stunning second-half display, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a hat-trick on the opening day. At a packed Old Trafford, the Portugal midfielder opened the score on the half-hour mark, but Luke Ayling’s tremendous strike brought Leeds level early in the second half.
Mason Greenwood restored the hosts’ advantage with a precise finish less than two minutes later, before referee Paul Tierney ruled Fernandes’ low shot had over the line after a goalline technology review. With a thundering finish from Victor Lindelof’s ball, the 26-year-old completed his hat-trick, before Fred added United’s fourth goal in 14 minutes from Paul Pogba’s cross – the Frenchman’s fourth assist of the afternoon.
It was Fernandes’ first hat-trick since arriving at Old Trafford in January 2020, and just the Red Devils’ second since Robin van Persie’s title-winning strike against Aston Villa in 2013.
For Pogba, the game was also a personal accomplishment. As he enters the final year of his contract, the France midfielder’s future has been hotly debated. But his four assists included a superb pass for Greenwood’s goal, and he exited the field 15 minutes from time to a rousing ovation as £74 million new-boy Jadon Sancho made his debut.
Source: BBC Sport