United advanced to the last 16 after goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Casemiro in the first half, with the Brazilian delivering the cross for Anthony Martial’s clinical first-time finish 10 minutes later.

After dealing with various types of mayhem in recent weeks, United manager Erik ten Hag must have wished for a more uncomplicated night as his team recorded their biggest win of the season.

Ten Hag was able to incorporate several essential parts of his United puzzle, with Mason Mount returning to the starting XI and fellow summer addition Sofyan Amrabat earning his maiden start – albeit at left-back.

There were also numerous examples of controlled possession, which many supporters have been upset Ten Hag has yet to execute.

The gameplan clearly called for creating an overload on the United right with lofted cross-field deliveries from the left, which both Amrabat and Mount were able to execute.

Amrabat, a Moroccan international, stood out as an inverted left-back. The Fiorentina loanee’s early shot was bad, but he was otherwise brilliant, displaying excellent passing range, plenty of energy, and the ability to spot danger when it arrived.

Full-back colleague Diogo Dalot opened the scoring after latching onto Facundo Pellistri’s ball and pulling a low cross back for Garnacho to finish, then Mount’s excellent corner found Casemiro six minutes later to double the hosts’ lead and virtually conclude the game.

Martial scored his first goal of the season from an acute angle in his first outing at Old Trafford since Ten Hag was booed for bringing him on in place of Rasmus Hojlund against Brighton.