Jose Mourinho was finally given something to smile about as a tempestuous trip to the United States ended with a 2-1 victory over former club Real Madrid thanks to first-half strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera in the International Champions Cup football tournament.
Seeing his side establish a two goal lead in the first half was encouraging, as was holding Real at bay after Karim Benezema’s goal just before the interval gave the Spanish side hope of mounting a comeback.
United was ahead after 18 minutes. Ander Herrera fed Matteo Darmian and teed up Sanchez who clinically swept the ball home. It was a Mourinho’s side’s first real opportunity - and it was taken superbly.
So too was the second goal which arrived on 27 minutes.
Bale curled wide soon after but just before the interval, Benzema tapped in an excellent Theo Hernandez cross to give the vast amounts of Madrid fans something to cheer.
Bale was withdrawn for the second half as Lopetegui shuffled his pack and one of the substitutes, Martin Odegaard should have levelled on 56 minutes when he blazed over the bar from eight yards.
Barcelona stunned
AS Roma scored three goals in the second half to beat Barcelona 4-2 after trailing initially at Arlington.
Rafinha scoring in the sixth minute for Barcelona. The Italian side equalised in the 35th minute when Stephen El Sharaarawy got a perfect pass from Justin Kluivert in the penalty area and converted.
Barcelona began the second half with a 49th minute goal from Malcom.
Alessandro Florensi equalised in the 78th minute and Bryan Cristante made it 3-2 in the 83rd minute.
Diego Perotti sealed the match for Roma by scoring a penalty in the 86th minute.
The results: International Champions Cup :
Manchester United 2 (Sanchez 18, Herrera 27) bt Real Madrid 1 (Benzema 45+3); Roma 4 (El Shaaraawy 35, Florenzi 78, Cristante 83, Perotti 86-pen ) bt Barcelona 2 (Rafinha 6, Malcom 49) .
