Manchester United will have a mountain to climb in their last-16 Champions League return leg after they were humbled 2-0 by Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford.
Impressive PSG took a major step towards the quarter-finals courtesy of second- half goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe.
Pogba’s dismissal for a second yellow card in the 89th minute makes the task even harder.
It was United’s first defeat under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since he took over from the sacked Jose Mourinho in December and in many ways it was a reality check after 10 wins in 11 games domestically for the Norwegian.
Pogba’s Second Yellow [Red Card]. Should he have been sent-off?? pic.twitter.com/bGMbHZjPqi
— Football_Revised (@FRevised) February 12, 2019
Meanwhile, teenager Nicolo Zaniolo became the youngest Italian to score two goals in a Champions League match in Roma’s 2-1 defeat of visitors Porto in their first-leg encounter.
Full-time on the night, half-time in the tie.
Nicolo Zaniolo’s brace gives us the narrow advantage; Adrian Lopez with the goal for the visitors. #ASRoma #UCL #RomaPorto pic.twitter.com/cZ00XK4Mcc
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) February 12, 2019
The 19-year-old Zaniolo has emerged as one of Serie A’s most promising talents this season, since his transfer from Inter Milan in the off-season, and struck in the 70th and 76th minutes.
Porto substitute Adrian Lopez secured an away goal in the 79th to give the Portuguese something to take back to the Estadio do Dragao.
United made a highly aggressive start to the game at Old Trafford against a PSG side without injured star attacking duo Neymar and Edinson Cavani with Marcus Rashford and Pogba both testing 41-year-old keeper Gianluigi Buffon with near- post shots.
Thomas Tuchel’s side gradually gained the ascendancy and Mbappe should have hit the target when he was slipped through by Julian Draxler in the 28th minute but fired wide.
United had to play the second half without attackers Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial, who suffered injuries, and their night got worse in the 53rd when Kimpembe ghosted in unattended at the back post to volley home a corner from Angel Di Maria.
Former United winger Di Maria, booed from the outset by sections of the crowd, collected a fine pass from Marquinhos and set up Mbappe for the second goal with a fine cross from the left that was expertly turned in by 20-year-old France World Cup winner.
A disappointing night for United got worse when midfielder Pogba sent off for a second booking after a foul on Dani Alves.