Manchester United finished second in Group H after an uninspiring defeat in Valencia. The hosts ended their run of losing four of their past six Champions League home games, as goals from Carlos Soler and a Phil Jones own goal was enough to gift top stop to Juventus.
With qualification already secured, Jose Mourinho made eight changes to the Manchester United side which beat Fulham 4-0 at the weekend. The clubs met for the eighth time in the Champions League - with the English club never having lost.
This record was quickly in jeopardy as United conceded in the opening fifteen minutes. Calos Soler ended the hosts’ barron spell in the competition, where they have failed to score in six of their past eight games in the Champions League. He put his side ahead after poor defending from Manchester United. Phil Jones could only manage to head a cross back into the danger zone, with Soler gratefully controlling the ball with his right foot and then drilling it home from his other from the edge of the penalty area. The ball went via Eric Bailly’s legs en route past Sergio Romero in the Manchester United goal, a good finish however far too easy.
United were looking to win all three of their away games in the group stages for the first time since 2010-11, and they should have been level through Paul Pogba. The Frenchman has been directly involved in 60% of Manchester United's away goals in the Champions League this season, with two goals and one assist in their five goals, however he inexplicably missed from close range after 35 minutes. Romelu Lukaku did well to flick on an inviting cross, with the ball falling to Pogba at Valencia’s far post. Only needing the simplest of touches, Pogba managed to poke his effort behind and out for a goal kick. Perhaps, the £90m signing thought that he was offside, however the assistant’s flag stayed down.
Jose Mourinho clearly wasted his breath with his half time team talk. Valencia doubled their lead two minutes after the restart thanks to a comical own goal from Manchester United's Phil Jones. There was confusion between Jones and his goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, as a clear lack of communication led to the own goal. Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi was played in, with Phil Jones shielding the ball, however he could clearly feel the pressure and pace threatening behind him. Jones decided to play the ball back to his goalkeeper, however hadn't realised that Romero had left his six yard box and was at the edge of the penalty area. The 26-year-old inadvertently slid and diverted the ball past his goalkeeper and in the the empty goal.
Manchester United nearly staged a late comeback with substitute Marcus Rashford reducing the deficit with five minutes to play. It came form Lingard keeping the ball in play and rolling it back for Ashley Young. Young did well to find Rashford with a cross, who leapt high and powered a header into the bottom corner.
It was too little too late, as Manchester United missed out on the chance to finish in top spot. Juventus top Group H, whereas Manchester United go through as runners-up.