Man Utd discover four potential Europa League last-16 opponents after FCSB win

They may be struggling in the Premier League but in the Europa League, Manchester United have no such concerns.

United maintained their unbeaten run in the competition – and made it three wins in a row for the first time this season – to reach the last 16, without the need for a play-off. Second-half goals from Diogo Dalot and man-of-the-match Kobbie Mainoo ensured it was a comfortable night for Ruben Amorim and his players, allowing them to focus on their domestic form until they resume their European campaign in March.

They are likely to meet stronger opposition than FCSB when they return to European action, with AZ Alkmaar, Midtjylland, Real Sociedad or Galatasaray awaiting them in the last 16 phase. But at the moment, momentum is everything for United, so another win – whatever the strength of the opponents - will do wonders for the confidence of Amorim's players.

With United 12th in the Premier League, the Europa League and the FA Cup represent their best hope of securing European football next season, which is why both competitions have assumed such significance for Amorim's side. And with the winners of the Europa League automatically qualifying for the Champions League, there is a huge incentive for Amorim and his players to go all the way and lift the trophy in Bilbao on May 21.

Amorim promised to rotate and was true to his word, making five changes from the side that eked out a 1-0 win at Fulham on Sunday. Young midfielder Toby Collyer was handed a rare start, along with Tyrell Malacia, Altay Bayındır, Mainoo and Christian Eriksen.

They began confidently, passing the ball around with fluency, but came under pressure after eight minutes, when Malacia was shown a yellow card for a clumsy late lunge on Florin Tanase.The hosts came close to scoring from the resulting free-kick, a fine delivery from Risto Radunovic met by Mihai Popesu, who stretched to connect with ball, sending it a yard wide.

United conjured their first chance in the 14th minute, Lisandro Martinez floating a ball over the top of the defence to Mainoo, who could not make the right connection on his shot.

Moments later Eriksen sent an angled shot straight at goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu, then Mainoo missed a sitter, sending the ball over the bar, after Rasmus Hojlund's fine cutback into his path. Martinez then proceeded to waste a free-kick just outside of the FCSB penalty area, sending the ball high and wide, then chipped another ball in for Hojlund, whose glancing header went straight into the arms of Tarnovanu.

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Image: Vasile Mihai-Antonio/Getty Images) Vasile Mihai-Antonio/Getty Images)

Despite controlling possession, United were toothless in front of goal, an issue to which Amorim alluded on the eve of the game, admitting his side needed more of a cutting edge and greater pace in the final third. Amorim made two changes at the break, Alejandro Garnacho for Malacia and Amad for Collyer, the former almost making an immediate impact with a shot that clipped a post, with Bruno Fernandes striking the bar minutes later as United upped the tempo.

The breakthrough came on the hour, Eriksen stooping to head the ball to Mainoo, whose clever movement afforded him the room to steer a cross along the six-yard box, where Dalot was waiting at the far post to score. Mainoo made it 2-0 in the 68th minute, funnelling the ball out wide to Garnacho, who returned the favour, the England international applying an assured side-footed finish to seal the victory.

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