PARIS: Cristiano Ronaldo scored on his first Manchester United appearance since his refusal to come on as a substitute last week in a 3-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League on Thursday.
The victory, with goals from Diogo Dalot and Marcus Rashford adding to Ronaldo’s strike, guaranteed the Red Devils a place in the next round, where they will join Barcelona who were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage 24 hours earlier.
United manager Erik ten Hag left the Portugal forward out of the United squad for Saturday’s draw at Chelsea and he was only allowed to return to first team training this week.
Ronaldo started up front with 18-year-old Argentinian winger Alejandro Garnacho, who was making his maiden senior start.
Right-back Dalot opened the scoring just before the break before Rashford doubled the lead with 25 minutes to play.
Ronaldo claimed his 701st club career goal and made sure of the three points with nine minutes left.
Ronaldo scores on United return in Sheriff stroll
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Ronaldo scores on United return in Sheriff stroll
Palace to face Bosnians Zrinjski in Conference League play-offs
- Palace missed out on a top-eight finish in the league phase
- Their opponents finished the league phase in 23rd place with a record of two victories
PARIS: Crystal Palace will face Bosnian side Zrinjski for a spot in the UEFA Conference League last 16 after the sides were drawn together on Friday.
Palace missed out on a top-eight finish in the league phase, which would have guaranteed them direct progression to the round of 16, but were on the seeded half of the draw for the knock-out round playoffs.
As a result, the Eagles will play the second leg at their Selhurst Park home.
Their opponents finished the league phase in 23rd place with a record of two victories, one draw and three defeats.
Should Oliver Glasner’s FA Cup winners progress, they will face either Bundesliga outfit Mainz or Cyprus’ AEK Larnaca in the next round in March.
Two-time Conference League runners-up Fiorentina will face Jagiellonia of Poland, while Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar drew Noah of Armenia.
Lech Poznan will take on Finland’s KuPS Kuopio and Swiss side Lausanne meet Czechs Sigma Olomouc in some of the other choice play-off fixtures.
The 1st legs take place on Feb. 19 and the 2nd will be played on Feb. 26.
Friday’s knock-out round play-off draw in full:
Zrinjski (BIH) v Crystal Palace (ENG)
KuPS Kuopio (FIN) v Lech Poznan (POL)
Shkendija (MKD) v Samsunspor (TUR)
Sigma Olomouc (CZE) v Lausanne (SUI)
Noah (ARM) v AZ Alkmaar (NED)
Jagiellonia (POL) v Fiorentina (ITA)
Drita (KOS) v Celje (SVN)
Omonoia (CYP) v Rijeka (CRO)
