Manchester United 2-0 Benfica: Mile Svilar own goal and Daley Blind penalty put Jose Mourinho's side on brink of qualification for knockout stage

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Romelu Lukaku woke up on Tuesday morning to learn he had been labelled 'untouchable' by his manager Jose Mourinho. By the time he went to bed he had learned that the same manager does not currently trust him to take a penalty kick.

Such a mismash of messages probably sums up life at Mourinho's United at the moment.

In terms of results, there should be few complaints. United are second in the Premier League, as good as in the knock-out stages of the Champions League and now unbeaten at Old Trafford in 38 games. 

Daley Blind smashed a penalty down the middle to double Manchester United's lead after Marcus Rashford was fouled

Romelu Lukaku appeared keen to take the penalty but, seemingly on the instructions of Jose Mourinho, Blind took it instead

Blind celebrated his goal with Scott McTominay (right) and striker Lukaku (left), who had wanted to take the spot kick 

Nemanja Matic struck a clean long range effort which hit the post before bouncing in off the goalkeeper to open the scoring

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCHZONE 

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7.5; Darmian 6, Bailly 7, Smalling 6, Blind 6; Matic 7, McTominay 6.5; Mata 6 (Herrera 68, 6.5), Lingard 6 (Mkhitaryan 46, 6), Martial 7 (Rashford 75, 6); Lukaku 7

Subs not used: Romero, Lindelof, Young, Shaw

Manager: Jose Mourinho 6

Benfica (4-3-3): Svilar 7; Douglas 6, Jardel 6, Ruben Dias 6, Grimaldo 7 (Eliseu 64, 6); Pizzi 5.5 (Jonas 79), Fejsa 7, Samaris 6.5; Salvio 6, Jimenez 6.5 (Seferovic 74, 6), Goncalves 7

Subs not used: Cesar, Lopez, Cervi, Zivkovic

Manager: Rui Vitoria 6

MOM: De Gea

Ref: G Mazeika (Ltu) 6 

ELSEWHERE IN THE GROUP...

CSKA Moscow clawed back into contention with a 2-1 win at Basle.

Basle seemed set to advance from Group A alongside United with two games to spare when they led at half-time through Luca Zuffi's clever shot.

The game changed when Dzagoev came on for the second half and sparked the visitors' attack.

Dzagoev lifted a deft shot over Basle goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik in the 65th minute before Pontus Wernbloom fired home from outside the box to secure the three points.

Mile Svilar scored an own goal after Nemanja Matic's shot deflected onto the goalkeeper from the post. For more of our brilliant MATCHZONE, click here

 

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But on the edges of Mourinho's world, there would appear to be some issues.

At the weekend the United manager's problems seemed to be with the crowd after what was actually a very good victory over Tottenham. In his programme notes on Tuesday night, he underlined his point that he wants more backing.

And now, on the back of a routine if unspectacular win over Benfica, another hare is running, one that won't stop until Lukaku scores again.

Currently the Belgian hasn't done so for a month. That's hardly a crisis for a player who began the first season at his new club as though he would never stop scoring but the words – and the now the actions – of his manager have ensured that Lukaku will head in to Sunday's league game at Chelsea under the spotlight.

With United winning by a single goal with just over ten minutes to go on Tuesday night, they were awarded a penalty after substitute Marcus Rashford's slalom in to the penalty area ended with him on the seat of his pants. 

Matic celebrated with his team-mates after his intervention from long range helped put the hosts in control of the game

Young Benfica stopper Mile Svilar couldn't believe his misfortune after inadvertently scoring an own goal in the first half

Manchester United were awarded a penalty after the ball ran onto the hand of Douglas following Anthony Martial's run 

The Frenchman stepped up having scored his two spot kicks this season but his effort was saved by Mile Svilar in goal

Anthony Martial had already seen one penalty saved by Benfica goalkeeper Mile Svilar in the first half and was no longer on the field anyway. So it seemed as though Lukaku was ready step up and take the responsibility until first Ander Herrera and then, on the instruction of his manager, Daley Blind intervened.

Blind eventually drove the penalty down the middle and in doing so sealed the game but the whole episode was odd, especially when you consider that the left back had never previously taken a penalty for his current club.

As United celebrated the goal, Mourinho looked upset on the touchline, shouting and making ' talking' gestures with his right hand. At full-time he made to stride purposefully on to the field but then altered course and headed straight for the tunnel.

History tells us that Mourinho often creates diversions and side shows like this when something under the surface is bothering him. At this stage, nobody knows what it is.

After Tuesday night's game he conducted an interview with TV that was strange even by his standards. He confirmed that he wanted Blind to take the penalty and suggested that he was happy another Champions League win had 'made more money for the club'.

Martial reacted in anguish as his shot to the goalkeeper's right was well saved around the post early on in the game

Svilar redeemed himself with the penalty save after making a mistake which cost his team in the home fixture against United

Mourinho watches on as Manchester United looked to find a way through the Benfica defence in the first half at Old Trafford

Jesse Lingard closes down a Benfica clearance as United look to put pressure on the visiting Portuguese side on Tuesday

In the TV studio, meanwhile, former United midfielder Paul Scholes claimed it was Mourinho's fault that Lukaku was now under such pressure to score. Mourinho, for his part, had said already that 'specialists' in the media could continue to comment on 'my work'.

So as Mourinho's time at Old Trafford begins to follow the pattern of his time at other clubs, most notably Chelsea and Real Madrid, followers of the club will hope only that his team have the wherewithall to not be distracted from what lies before them.

Despite all the noise, opportunity knocks for United.

They will this weekend face a Chelsea team no doubt rocked by Tuesday night's mauling in Rome and have an opportunity not only to atone for the 4-0 defeat in west London that so upset Mourinho last winter but also knock the London team out of the title race for good and maybe even ease their manager Antonio Conte towards a premature exit.

Here a much-changed United team were recognisable in terms of their relatively modest football but also their resolve. Both are features of Mourinho's time at the club.

Martial caused havoc down the left with his raw pace and power giving the Benfica defence all kinds of problems

A flare was set off in the crowd as smoke spread through the stand and the supporters were in full voice 

Lukaku shows off his aerial prowess as he leaps high to win a headed duel and recycle possession for his side during the game

The mist descended on Old Trafford as conditions became tricky for both sets of players and visibility was impaired 

There was a first Champions League start for young Scott McTominay and he did well enough alongside Nemanja Matic at the base of the United midfield. Elsewhere, Martial was a danger down the left but at times it was Benfica who played the football.

Young keeper Svilar saved Martial's penalty comfortably in the 14th minute and looked to have atoned for the moment in the game in Lisbon two weeks ago when he carried Rashford's free-kick in to his own net for the decisive goal.

However just before half-time, Matic – who is actually a friend of the young goalkeeper - struck a low shot against the post and the ball rebounded to strike Svilar on the back and roll over the line. So even on a night when he played well, the 18-year-old ended with an own goal against his name.

Benfica tried to rally in the second half and the big moment came with 25 minutes left when Eric Bailly presented the ball straight to Raul Jiminez and the striker bundled it against David de Gea's right-hand post.

Had they drawn level at that point, nobody could have begrudged the Portuguese team. As it was, United subsequently kept them at arm's length and saw out the game.

United's aggregate score in the Champions League this season is currently 10-1. It's an impressive stat and one that, for reasons only Mourinho will understand, will get hardly a mention between now and the weekend. 

Douglas offered a constant threat with his dribbling ability and United struggled to contain the technically-gifted player 

Lukaku was largely unable to get on the end of the limited number of opportunities created by Jose Mourinho's side

Mourinho said he was content with the win but still seemed to have a problem with some of his critics after the final whistle