Manchester United 2-1 Brentford: Carrick’s men hold off the Bees to boost Champions League Push | OneFootball

Manchester United secured a 2–1 victory over Brentford to stamp their authority on third place in the Premier League and qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Šeško secured all three points, despite Brentford pulling one back late through Mathias Jensen.

As it happened

Manchester United began on the front foot, dominating possession throughout the opening ten minutes and setting the early tempo.

The hosts carved out a couple of promising opportunities during that spell, with efforts from Amad Diallo, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire, who were denied by resolute defending as the opposition held firm under early pressure.

United’s persistence in front of goal paid off when Casemiro opened the scoring, rising highest to head home from close range after a well-delivered corner into the right side of the six-yard box.

Brentford offered little in response, managing just two attempts on goal, neither of which troubled Senne Lemmens.

The Bees soon had another opportunity through Keane Lewis-Potter, but his shot was well blocked.

Diallo came close to doubling United’s advantage, but his header from the center of the box was well saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, with the offside flag subsequently raised.

The visitors carved out two further chances ten minutes before half-time, both falling to Igor Thiago, but he was unable to convert on either occasion.

Brentford continued to apply pressure and came close to pulling a goal back, with Mikkel Damsgaard seeing his effort well blocked by Lemmens.

United thought they had doubled their lead through Amad, whose effort came back off the post and into the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Shortly after the hosts scored a second goal through Šeško as Bruno Fernandes registered another assist. He is now just two assists away from overtaking Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne for the most Premier League assists.

Despite United being 2-0 up at the break, Brentford had the most possession in the last five minutes of the half.

United created the first chance of the second half through Maguire, whose header from the centre of the goal was saved by Kelleher.

There was little to separate the two sides in terms of possession, with United slightly edging the statistic.

Brentford came close to getting themselves on the scoresheet through Dango Ouattara, but his effort was headed away by Maguire. Ouattara was also booked for a high boot in the aftermath.

Casemiro came close to adding a third for United, but his effort drifted narrowly wide of the post.

Brentford’s pressure finally told three minutes before full-time, as Jensen found space in the box from a corner and turned the ball home to pull one back for his side.

Shortly after, Lemmens denied Damsgaard a chance to equalise as the Bee’s continued to press forward.

United held on to secure their first Monday Night Football win since 2023, maintaining their lead despite late pressure.

The Red Devils host Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, before facing Sunderland, Forest and Brighton in their race to secure Champions League football.