MANCHESTER, UK: Joshua Zirkzee made himself a Manchester United hero on his debut with a late winner to beat Fulham 1-0 in the opening match of the Premier League season on Friday.
Zirkzee, lacking match fitness after his £36.5m ($47 million) move from Bologna last month, came on only for the final half hour.
The Dutch international saved the Red Devils from a frustrating evening at Old Trafford when he poked in Alejandro Garnacho’s cross on 87 minutes.
United boss Erik ten Hag survived at the end of last season, despite finishing eighth in the Premier League, thanks to winning the FA Cup.
Whether that shock victory over rivals and English champions Manchester City in May could be a springboard remains to be seen after a performance that was eerily reminiscent of many last season.
Ten Hag said on the eve of the game that his side were “not ready” for the new campaign with key players missing through injury or a lack of match fitness, and it showed.
Bruno Fernandes started in a center-forward role in the absence of Rasmus Hojlund, while Zirkzee was on the bench after returning to pre-season late following Euro 2024.
Noussair Mazraoui was thrown straight into the starting line-up at left-back after joining from Bayern Munich this week.
But there was no place in the squad for Jadon Sancho even though the winger and Ten Hag appeared to have settled their differences.
Fulham won at Old Trafford last season for the first time in 20 years in February during a torrid campaign for United.
Little seemed to have changed in the opening 20 minutes as the visitors started confidently and Andre Onana did well to prevent Kenny Tete’s dipping effort finding the top corner.
But Fulham were nearly masters of their own downfall.
Casemiro pounced on Bernd Leno’s sloppy pass and teed up Fernandes, who could only fire straight at Fulham’s German goalkeeper.
Casemiro’s struggles played a large part in United’s problems last season, but the Brazilian started the new campaign more like his old self.
An incisive through ball from the former Real Madrid midfielder created another brilliant chance for Fernandes, who again could not beat Leno from close range.
United’s lack of a predatory striker continued to haunt them after the break as Leno spread himself brilliantly to this time deny Mason Mount a rare goal since his move from Chelsea just over a year ago.
Ten Hag turned to Garnacho and Zirkzee from the bench in the search of a winner.
In doing so United left themselves open and Fulham could have secured another famous three points at the Theatre of Dreams.
Andreas Pereira’s poor pass cost Alex Iwobi the chance to run clean through on goal.
Moments later Lisandro Martinez produced a goal-saving clearance from Pereira’s dangerous low cross.
Instead it was the home side that snatched all three points.
Garnacho’s ball from the right was not the best, but Zirkzee managed to get a toe on it to divert it beyond Leno into the far corner.
United should have had a second in stoppage time when Garnacho somehow skewed wide with an open goal to aim at from Marcus Rashford’s unselfish pass.
But United held on to give Ten Hag the winning start he badly needed.
Zirkzee an instant hero as Man Utd beat Fulham in Premier League opener
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Zirkzee an instant hero as Man Utd beat Fulham in Premier League opener
- The Dutch international saved the Red Devils from a frustrating evening
Bayern demolishes Wolfsburg 8-1 to go 11 points clear in Bundesliga
- Bayern hasn’t lost a Bundesliga game since March and remains the only unbeaten team in any of Europe’s five biggest leagues
Michael Olize scored twice as Bayern Munich started the new year by routing Wolfsburg 8-1 with six second-half goals to move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Olize, Harry Kane and Luis Díaz picked apart the Wolfsburg defense on Sunday in a display of dominance which leaves Bayern firmly on course to defend the title in only the 16th game of the 34-game season.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany was pleased his players didn’t let up.
“It’s these moments where it’s five, six, 7-1, and they keep running, they keep pressing and keep trying to score goals,” he told broadcaster DAZN. “I have to say, I like that.”
In freezing temperatures for Bayern’s first game since the winter break, Olize got a brace and Kane and Díaz one apiece, along with goals for substitutes Raphael Guerreiro and Leon Goretzka, and two Wolfsburg own-goals.
Bayern only had two nervous moments all game. The first was Dzenan Pejcinovic’s goal for Wolfsburg in the 13th, which leveled the score at 1-1 after right back Konrad Laimer missed an interception.
The other was a brief injury scare for Kane, who needed treatment after being caught on the ankle by defender Moritz Jenz midway through the first half but was soon back in action.
It was Bayern’s biggest margin of victory in a Bundesliga game since Kompany took over ahead of the 2024-25 season. His team has scored a remarkable 63 goals in 16 league games this season, nearly four per game, and conceded only 12.
Bayern hasn’t lost a Bundesliga game since March and remains the only unbeaten team in any of Europe’s five biggest leagues. Wolfsburg is 14th, three points above the relegation zone, as a troubled season hits a new low.
Bayern’s closest rivals all had difficulties this weekend as second-place Borussia Dortmund drew 3-3 with Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen lost 4-1 to Stuttgart and Leipzig’s game was postponed due to snow.
Wolfsburg’s American midfielder Kevin Paredes entered in the 77th minute, his first match this season after recovering from foot surgery in August.
Also Sunday, United States full back Joe Scally scored his first goal since 2023 as Borussia Moenchengladbach beat Augsburg 4-0. Gladbach moved up two places to 10th after winning at home for only the second time this season.
