Manchester United vs Burnley Match Review and Player Ratings – 3-2 Premier League 2025/26

Manchester United vs Burnley Match Review: It was a roller-coaster contest at Old Trafford as Manchester United emerged 3-2 victors against Burnley. United led through a Josh Cullen own goal but Burnley responded through Lyle Foster, but just two minutes later, Mbeumo regained the lead. Anthony equalised, much to the frustration of the home crowd. Bruno Fernandes rescued victory in the final seconds when he rifled home a 97th-minute penalty. Manchester United Manager Rubin Amorim spent the majority of the game motionless and sat on his chair in a game that ended with more questions, than answers.

Result: Manchester United 3-2 Burnley, Premier League at Old Trafford.

Goalscorers:

• Manchester United: Own goal (Josh Cullen) 27′, Bryan Mbeumo 56′, Bruno Fernandes (pen) 95′
• Burnley: Lyle Foster 55′, Jaidon Anthony 66′

Manchester United vs Burnley Match Review and Tactical Review

The match began with both sides pressing high. Burnley’s press forced United to give the ball away in midfield and disband their build-up. Twenty-seven minutes gone, the deadlock was finally broken with a Joe Cullen own goal. The goal meant United could breathe a little easier.

With territorial advantage yet again firmly established as the half wore on, United still wasted many opportunities (Amad Diallo the chief culprit). The away side drew level in the second half through Lyle Foster. Making a quick getaway, he coolly finished off a move to cancel United’s advantage.

In response, United were able to turn the tables immediately: Bryan Mbeumo, whose arrival over the summer had promised great things for the club, drifted into space and put the ball beyond the Goalkeeper with a precise shot inside the area. The Old Trafford crowd were on the edge again when in the 67th minute, Jaidon Anthony latched onto an error in United’s back line to score from close range.

Just when it looked like two points might be dropped, a decisive moment occurred. VAR was asked to intervene in Burnley’s area as Amad Diallo was fouled in the area. The referee eventually pointed to the spot and Bruno Fernandes, with coolness and determination alike, made no mistake to convert a 97th-minute penalty and ensure his side came out 3–2 winners in this unforgettable victory.

The stadium erupted into cheers, it was a sweep out of the doldrums. Still, United’s recent fortunes look unstable due to defensive frailty and missed chances, while the last-gasp penalty gives under-fire manager Ruben Amorim hope in his first win before the international break.

Manchester United Tactics

United set up in a a 3-4-3, Bayındır behind a back three of Yoro, de Ligt and Shaw. The formation gave United a little more defensive stability, yet Burnley still had the occasional run to the edge of the area and had some chances.

In the wide areas – Diogo Dalot on the left and Amad Diallo wide right. The wing-backs gave width and pressed high, hoping to force Burnley’s defenders out of their central areas. The midfield was anchored by Casemiro and Bruno went up field at times as a central attacker.

In attack, Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount flanked Cunha. Fernandes was United’s guiding hand, moving play along and setting the tempo of United’s assault.

Without the ball, United turned to a 5-4-1 with Dalot and Amad covering the wide, defensive spaces. United’s late winner from the penalty spot led more than a few observers to wonder how much this result owed to strategy and how much instead depended on Fernandes’ ice-cold nerves.

Burnley Tactics

Burnley set up in a 4-3-3 formation, Josh Cullen captained the side from his deep-lying midfield position, balancing possession and recycling it, while Lesley Ugochukwu and Hannibal Mejbri worked as box-to-box midfielders. Their pressing was very good, particularly in the early stages which forced United to take more risks in progressing attacks. Because of this, Burnley were able to win the second balls high up the pitch.

Up front, Jacob Bruun Larsen and Jaidon Anthony backed up Lyle Foster as the central striker, with both wingers given permission to venture through inside-channels when United’s full-backs went too high. This structure produced Burnley’s finest moments. The two Burnley goals were clinically taken through their opponents lapses in concentration.

Without the ball, Burnley switched to a 4-5-1 formation, with Larsen and Anthony backtracking low to form a midfield line of five. This made them tough to break down for long periods, but left Foster increasingly isolated up front as the match went on. Their defensiveness waned down in the closing stages and United were able to keep pushing them backwards, winning an injury-time penalty that decided the outcome.

Manchester United Ratings

Altay Bayındır – 6/10: Looked nervous at times, especially under Burnley’s press. Distribution was mixed, though he made a couple of important stops.

Leny Yoro – 6/10: Some promising defensive moments but also caught out positionally. Withdrawn late on for fresh legs.

Matthijs de Ligt – 6/10: Physical in duels and dealt with Foster sporadically, but struggled against pace in behind.

Luke Shaw – 6/10: United’s most reliable defender on the day, calm under pressure and strong when stepping out of the back three.

Amad Diallo – 6/10: Lively as a wing-back, carried the ball forward well, and drew fouls in dangerous areas, could have scored three goals on the day.

Casemiro – 5/10: Broke up play but looked off the pace, especially when Burnley countered. Replaced in the second half.

Bruno Fernandes – 7/10: Captain’s performance. Tried to drive the team on, created chances, and showed ice-cold composure with the 97th-minute winning penalty.

Diogo Dalot – 7/10: Worked hard down the left flank which led to a well worked assist.

Bryan Mbeumo – 8/10: Showed his class with a sharp finish for the United goal. Direct and a constant outlet in transitions.

Mason Mount – 5/10: Struggled to impose himself and was replaced at half-time. Still looks short of rhythm.

Matheus Cunha – 5/10: Started up front but looked isolated. Taken off in the first half with an injury concern.

Joshua Zirkzee – 6/10: Held the ball up better than Cunha and linked play nicely after coming on.

Kobbie Mainoo – 6/10: Injected energy and ball progression after the break. Helped tilt momentum back in United’s favour.

Benjamin Šeško – 6/10: Offered physical presence but had limited touches. Pressed with intensity late on.

Noussair Mazraoui – 6/10: Introduced to shore things up defensively, did his job without fuss.

Burnley Player Ratings

Martin Dúbravka – 6/10: Made a couple of routine saves and commanded his area fairly well, but could do little about United’s goals.

Kyle Walker – 6/10: His experience showed, strong in one-on-one duels and tried to push forward when possible.

Hjalmar Ekdal – 6/10: Competed bravely at the back, though exposed at times by United’s pace. Subbed late on.

Maxime Estève – 6/10: Showed composure on the ball but struggled when isolated against Mbeumo.

Quinten Hartman – 5/10: Worked hard on the left but was frequently pinned back and unable to support attacks.

Josh Cullen – 6/10: Kept Burnley ticking in midfield with tidy passing, but unfortunate to score the opening own goal.

Lesley Ugochukwu – 6/10: Battled hard in midfield but faded in intensity before being replaced.

Jacob Bruun Larsen – 6/10: Tried to stretch United’s defence with his runs, but influence diminished as the game went on.

Hannibal Mejbri – 6/10: Energetic display, pressed relentlessly, and disrupted United’s rhythm before being taken off.

Jaidon Anthony – 7/10: Burnley’s best attacking threat. Took his goal well and caused problems drifting inside.

Loum Tchaouna – 6/10: Added pace from the bench but couldn’t replicate Anthony’s impact.

Josh Laurent – 6/10: Brought steel into midfield late on, broke up a few moves but limited with the ball.

Oliver Sonne – 6/10: Came on to add fresh legs down the flank, largely occupied with defensive duties.

Joe Worrall – 6/10: Introduced to tighten the back line, but United’s late pressure proved too much.

Man of the Match

Mbeumo put in a top performance for United. In a display filled with energy and intelligence, he was rewarded with a well taken goal. Burnley’s defenders responded to his smart running and direct dribbling by standing off him at every chance. In addition to this goal, Mbeumo worked tirelessly with his pressing and quick exchanges of passes with team-mates to provide United with a point of attack other than mere power upfront. More influential than any other member of either side in those last 90 minutes, Mbeumo gave Manchester United balance, making them look more threatening in attack.

Conclusion

Manchester United’s morale-boosting 3-2 victory at Burnley underscored their ability to recover when all hope seemed lost and yet still left them open to criticism for their defensive failings.

However, lapses at the back and an injury to Matheus Cunha remain concerns that must be addressed quickly. Amorim is immensely under-pressure and activity on transfer deadline would very much steady the ship, as much as inject enthusiasm into the squad.

Burnley, meanwhile, will be buoyed to respond twice to falling behind, though the lack of quality stared to appear as the game went into the last quarter.

After the International break, United have the Manchester derby at the Etihad. Whilst Burnley will welcome champions Liverpool to Turf Moor.

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