The Premier League opener between Manchester United and Leicester City failed to live up to the high-flying opener of last season. But the Friday night lights didn’t fail to elicit fantastic banter — from clubs outside of England.
The Red Devils scored a 2-1 win over the Foxes in the Premier League opener, a match far less entertaining than the madness that transpired in the 4-3 thriller between Arsenal and Leicester a year ago. Of course, that was to be expected with Jose Mourinho involved.
ESPN named Manchester United the luckiest team of the previous season. So no one was surprised when the Red Devils were given a penalty kick for a hand ball in the first minutes of the Premier League opener.
It didn’t take long for Serie A club and social media darling AS Roma to chime in at the inevitability of the way the season began.
Looks like the Premier League is back then https://t.co/h9iKRiiYMG
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) August 10, 2018
To which the Bundesliga’s Bayer Leverkusen responded with a chuckle.
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) August 10, 2018
Of course, United homers were quick to point out a result from more than 10 years ago to show the Red Devils’ supposed superiority over Roma. But that was in 2007. In 2018 Roma is the better club, at least if you base it on Champions League performance. Leverkusen? Not so much.
— يونايتد فخر الانجليز .. (@manu99551) August 10, 2018
Eventually, Paul Pogba fended off Alexis Sanchez for the right to take the early penalty. He then proceeded to take about half of the Premier League season to that point in the run up to the ball before burying his shot in the top-right corner. Kasper Schmeichel guessed right but still didn’t come close to the perfectly placed PK.
First goal of the season: An absolutely peachy penalty from Mr. Paul Pogba. pic.twitter.com/9oSQNZHq19
: @NBCSportsSoccer— The18 (@the18com) August 10, 2018
It was the third straight season in which Leicester City conceded the first goal of the Premier League campaign.
Much of the rest of the match played out with Mourinho’s side conceding plenty of possession with the intent of hitting Leicester on the counter. The tactic worked and in the 83rd minute United found a bit of insurance through left back Luke Shaw with this interesting finish.
#LigaPremierTD ¡Golazo! @LukeShaw23 marca su primer gol como profesional y de qué manera lo hizo #MUFC 2-0 #LCFC pic.twitter.com/byH7csRA4j
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) August 10, 2018
Jamie Vardy tried to bring some life to the party with a goal in the 92nd minute to make it 2-1. Although Schmeichel did get his head to a corner kick in the 95th minute, it was glanced nowhere near the goal and the Red Devils took all three points.
#LigaPremierTD ¡Apareció! @vardy7 descuenta en el marcador pero ya es muy tarde para @LCFC pic.twitter.com/W1t6Sc5Cqt
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) August 10, 2018
Ultimately, World Cup winner Pogba was the man who had the most say on the outcome of the match, including this delightful nutmeg.
Paul #Pogba at his best.
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) August 10, 2018
Somehow, that nutmeg didn’t merit a penalty kick.
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