Manchester United eased into the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday as Edinson Cavani helped secure a 2-0 win on the night to tie up a 4-0 aggregate victory.
United entered the second leg of their quarter-final 2-0 up thanks to away goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes in Spain last time out, leaving Granada with an uphill battle in Manchester.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have made a habit of starting games badly before finishing strongly this season, so the United boss will have been heartened to see the Red Devils take the lead inside the first six minutes.
Cavani settled any potential nerves with a hooked volley off a clever Paul Pogba header, with the time and space given to the Uruguayan ensuring he could pick his spot in the bottom corner – even if it came off his shin.
Granada rallied and had a few presentable chances through the likes of Yangel Herrera, German Sanchez and Jorge Molina, but the Spanish side lacked the quality to truly trouble a United defence lacking suspended duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw.
With United boasting a three-goal advantage, they could afford to take off the likes of Pogba – who risked a second yellow card – and Cavani as they eased into the last four of the competition, with a late own goal from Jesus Vallejo wrapping up the game.
United will play AS Roma in the semi-finals and should they progress, the Red Devils face the prospect of an all-English final against Arsenal if the Gunners see off Unai Emery’s Villarreal in their tie.
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