Manchester United moved to the brink of the last 16 of the Champions League after Jose Mourinho's side maintained their 100 per cent record in Europe.

An own goal from Benfica's teenage keeper Mile Svilar and a late penalty strike from defender Daley Blind gave United a comfortable victory at Old Trafford.

United clinched victory with a 78th-minute penalty after sub Marcus Rashford was brought down in the area, but it was the ensuing confusion over the spot-kick that was the talk of Old Trafford.

Romelu Lukaku, without a goal in six games, positioned himself to take it, a decision that seemed to infuriate Mourinho, with Ander Herrera and Daley Blind ushering the forward away.

Blind sealed the win from the spot (
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John Peters)
United's 100 per cent record continues (
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Michael Steele)

Blind eventually took the penalty, burying his shot into the middle of the net, the goal prompting Mourinho to make a talking gesture with his hands, as if to emphasise his dismay at the confusion over who was responsible for taking the spot-kick.

United overcame an early penalty miss from Anthony Martial to take the lead with a fortuitous 45th-minute opener.

Martial stepped up to take a first-half penalty... (
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Michael Regan)
...but saw his spot kick saved (
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Michael Steele)

Benfica keeper Svilar, 18, was the culprit in his side's 1-0 defeat to United a fortnight ago in Lisbon, carrying the ballover the line from a Marcus Rashford free-kick for the decisive goal.

On this occasion, however, he was not to blame, but was luckless as Nemanja Matic's fierce shot from 25 yards out cannoned off Svilar's left-hand post and off his back, nestling in the net.

Matic fires in for the opener (
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Michael Regan)

United travel to Mourinho's former club Chelsea on Sunday, where they could find themselves eight points adrift of Pep Guardiola's City, who host Arsenal in the earlier kick-off, before they play.

Recap the action as it happened at Old Trafford below.

An equaliser for CSKA

CSKA have levelled in Switzerland thanks to Dzagoev, but a draw - combined with a United win - will still mean the Red Devils book their last-16 place tonight.

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Michael Regan)

United through as things stand

As things stand, Manchester United are heading into the last-16 with two games to spare.

That’s because CSKA Moscow need to beat Basel and they’re 1-0 down at the moment.

Should these two pan out as they are so far, United will be through.

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John Peters)

Mkhitaryan on for Lingard

Off we go again.

And Manchester United have made a substitution, with Mkhitaryan coming on for Lingard.

The England international took a knock in the first half.

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Manchester United)

The opener in pictures

Here’s the moment that Manchester United broke the deadlock just before the break....

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Michael Regan)

HALF-TIME: Man United 1-0 Benfica

The life of a goalkeeper, hey?

After saving a penalty earlier in the game to gain some sort of redemption for his howler last time out between the two sides, Mile Svilar’s not had the best of luck here.

A Matic long-range shot has come off the post, hit him and gone in.

So unlucky for the talented teenager.

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Image:
Michael Regan)

Couple of minutes before the break

Can United find an opener before the teams head to the dressing room?

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Matthew Peters)

Martial's penalty miss in pictures

Here’s the moment that Anthony Martial fluffed his lines from the penalty spot.

The Frenchman could do with making the most of this opportunity, but his penalty miss and a poor free-kick means he hasn’t got off the the best start.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Anthony Martial of Manchester United misses a penalty opportunity during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Manchester United and SL Benfica at Old Trafford on October 31, 2017 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (
Image:
Michael Regan)

PENALTY SAVED!

Redemption for Benfica goalkeeper Svilar, who has put his howler in the reverse fixture behind him.

He saved Martial’s meek spot kick to keep the scores level at 0-0.

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Michael Regan)

Mourinho: Herrera needs a break

Jose Mourinho has been talking about McTominay’s inclusion.

“We have only three midfielder players right now, so it’s time for Herrera to have a break.

“We are playing him because we believe his contribution can be positive.

“The important thing is to qualify, we need points, the squad we have got tonight will try to do that.”

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Michael Steele)

Half an hour until kick-off

We’ll be up and running in 30 minutes, so get in your Gazprom and settle down for what will be a big night for these two youngsters below.

Scott McTominay is making his first start in the Champions League, while Benfica’s teenage goalkeeper Mile Svilar starts just two weeks after his gaffe which cost his side a point...

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Manchester United)

Tonight's teams

We have our teams.

And Scott McTominay does indeed start in the middle of the park.

No place for Marcus Rashford though, as the birthday boy begins his post-teen days on the subs bench.

Manchester United: De Gea, Darmian, Bailly, Smalling, Blind, Matic, McTominay, Mata, Lingard, Martial, Lukaku

Benfica: Svilar, Douglas, Dias, Jardel, Grimaldo, Fejsa, Augusto, Pizzi, Salvio, Gonçalves, Raúl

McTominay to start?

There are rumours that Scott McTominay could start for Manchester United in midfield tonight.

That would be the youngster’s first Champions League start and would come after the 20-year-old signed a new deal two weeks ago which keeps him at the club until 2021.

Mourinho had this to say at the time: “I am delighted Scott has signed a new contract, he is one of our young players that has gone from strength to strength. He made his Premier League debut at the end of last season and made his Champions League debut this season. I had no hesitation in promoting Scott to the first-team squad last month as we have total belief in him.”

The importance of Eric Bailly

Since joining Manchester United in 2016, Eric Bailly has managed to establish himself as a fundamental member of the team.

Little was known of the £30million centre-back who joined from Villarreal, but anytime he’s absent now it comes a huge blow to the Red Devils.

In his first season under Mourinho, Bailly was able to help guide United to League Cup and Europa League glory.

This term, the 23-year-old has struck up a brilliant partnership with Phil Jones and has been crucial to the side’s excellent start.

Read more here.

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Action Images via Reuters)

Greetings...

Howdy folks and welcome to MirrorFootball’s live coverage of Manchester United’s Champions League clash against Benfica.

The Red Devils go into the group A match boasting a one hundred per cent record in this season’s competition and could end the evening having booked a place in the last-16.

Should United win and CSKA Moscow fail to beat Basel or if United draw and CSKA lose, then Jose Mourinho’s men will qualify for the knockout stages with two games to spare.

And the Portuguese wants to do it in style.

“Our aim is to qualify and finish top. A draw is not bad, but we want to win to get to the last 16,” Mourinho said.

But he will be without Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo this evening as that particular quintet all continue their recoveries from various injuries.

Benfica are yet to pick up a point, but Mourinho is weary of the threat they possess.

“Yes, they are in a difficult position and now they can really only expect to get enough points to go into the Europa League. So they are going to try to get at least a point from our match.

“But since we played in Lisbon they have won in both matches. I think they are more confident, they are more Benfica than two weeks ago, so I expect a difficult match.”

See how it pans out here.

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Man Utd via Getty Images)