Brilliant Bilbao add to United home woe

Manchester United’s miserable European home form continued as they were completely outplayed by Athletic Bilbao in their Europa League last-16 first-leg tie last night.

The Red Devils have now managed just one win in five games at Old Trafford in the Champions League and Europa League this season, including two defeats on the trot after the Basque outfit overturned Wayne Rooney’s first-half strike and then withstood a late United rally that brought the England forward his second goal, from the penalty spot.

Fernando Llorente capped an outstanding performance with the equaliser before Oscar de Marcos put the visitors ahead and Rafael’s woeful defending allowed Iker Muniain to grab a third.

However, a combination of Rooney’s goals and a defiant display from keeper David de Gea ensured United are not out of the tie yet.

Even so, it would take a quite remarkable change in fortunes for United to turn this tie on its head in Bilbao next week.

A defiant Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has insisted his side can overturn last night’s defeat in the second leg.

“We were well beaten, I have to say they were the better team,” Ferguson conceded. “I thought our defending wasn’t very good tonight and that kept us on the back foot all the time. Our attacking play was very good at times and it was an open, entertaining match. But Bilbao were the better side.

“We can still win the game. No question. We showed we can make chances against them, but obviously we have to defend better.

“I need to really look and see how we can maybe bring Rio Ferdinand in without disrupting the league programme.”

Ferguson criticised referee Florian Meyer’s decision to award Athletic a free-kick in the build-up to their third goal, apparently because Patrice Evra passed the ball after his boot had come off.

“The third goal, I don’t know how you describe it. The referee’s stopped play...the issue that Patrice didn’t have a boot on, they say you’re not allowed to do that. But he only passed it about two feet.”

MAN UTD: De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Smalling (Carrick 55), Evans, Evra, Park (Anderson 61), Jones, Giggs (Nani 75), Young, Rooney, Hernandez.

ATHLETIC BILBAO: Iraizoz, Iraola, Javi Martinez, San Jose, Aurtenetxe, Iturraspe, De Marcos, Ander Herrera (Inigo Perez 84), Susaeta, Llorente (Toquero 81), Muniain.

Ref: Florian Meyer (Germany).