Manchester United finished the 2020-21 Premier League season without losing an away match as they beat Wolves 2-1 at Molineux on the last day.
With one eye on following week’s Europa League final against Villarreal and with the second spot in the table secure, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rested most of his key players against a Wolves side playing under mentor Nuno Espirito Santo for the last time.
Anthony Elanga played his first Premier League start with the first goal, however, Nelson Semedo evened out for the home side to provide a leveler for Wolves. Juan Mata who may be playing his last game for the club scored the second for United just before half-time through a penalty kick.
Ending our #PL campaign with ππ£π€π©πππ§ away win! β3οΈβ£#MUFC | #WOLMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 23, 2021
It proved enough for the Red Devils, who additionally gave a senior debut to Hannibal Mejbri as a late substitute.
Elanga’s control and shooting had allowed him to have two early freedoms, however, he committed no error with his third, planting a firm header past Rui Patricio from an accurate left-foot cross from Daniel James.
Wolves, who lost the enthusiastic Adama Traore to a clear hamstring issue, leveled out six minutes before the break in the wake of misusing the United player’s mistakes. Nemanja Matic’s slip permitted Leander Dendoncker to play in Fabio Silva, who cut the ball back for Semedo to score the goal.
Brandon Williams had a wonderful opportunity to re-establish United’s lead yet Patricio saved well from a close range. In any case, the guests got their second goal before the stretch, Mata sending Patricio the wrong way from the penalty spot after a VAR check showed Romain Saiss had gotten the lower leg of Donny van de Beek.
Elanga and Amad Diallo made some promising moves late on yet Patricio was close by to hold the score tight.
What’s the significance here? Manchester United complete 2020-21 season unbeaten on away games:
Man United are only the fourth team ever to go a whole English Premier League season without losing an away match, after Preston North End (1888-89), Arsenal (2001-02) and Arsenal once more (2003-04).
Manchester United didnβt lose a single Premier League away game in 2020/2021. Itβs just the fourth time a team has gone unbeaten away in English top-flight history:
π Man Utd β2020/2021
π Preston β 1888/1889
π Arsenal β 2001/2002
π Arsenal β 2003/2004Outstanding. πππ pic.twitter.com/6DaEHP0BFp
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 23, 2021
They end the season second, their most top-level since 2017-18, albeit the 12-points gap toward champions Manchester City shows their need to reinforce their squad for next season. Wolves end the mission in the thirteenth spot, with 45 points.
Elanga makes his debut worth remembering:
Elanga is the nineteenth teenager to score in the Premier League for United, a count bettered exclusively by Arsenal (20).
Elanga scored the first goal for United through a sublime header to score his first goal in only the second senior appearance for United
19 – Anthony Elanga is the 19th different teenager to score a Premier League goal for Manchester United – only Arsenal (20) have had more teenagers find the net for them in the competition's history. Kicks.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 23, 2021
The 19-year-old may not be included against Villarreal, however, he has taken critical steps into the first-group picture in quite a short time and could demonstrate a solid choice for Solskjaer in 2021-22.
Bailly a worry ahead of the Europa League finals:
With Harry Maguire probably not going to be fit, it is normal Bailly will partner Victor Lindelof against Villarreal one week from now.
Notwithstanding, the Ivorian’s performances were a long way from being consistent here and he required Axel Taunzebe to save his blushes against Wolves.
What’s next?
While Wolves currently look forward to another season with a new manager in control, United has three days to plan for the Europa League finals in Gdansk.
