Manchester United secured a come-from-behind 2-1 win against Atletico Madrid in their third pre-season friendly of the summer at the Strawberry Arena in Sweden on Saturday.
Both of United’s goals came in the second half with Shea Lacey impressing, both down the middle and on the flank.
Michael Carrick opted to drop Joshua Zirkzee, who was the hero against Rosenborg, in favour of starting Bryan Mbeumo as the striker.
The Cameroonian faded into obscurity after a strong start under the new head coach last season, and question marks were raised about where he would play next season.
Bryan Mbeumo back in form
On the right, United have both Amad and Lacey, while up top, Carrick has Benjamin Sesko while Joshua Zirkzee remains at the club. There are plans to bring in a backup striker as well.
However, the 26-year-old responded to his critics in the best way possible by grabbing a brace against the Champions League semi-finalists.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Total shots | 3 |
| Shots on target | 2 |
| Shots blocked | 0 |
| Touches | 32 |
| Unsuccessful touches | 6 |
| Dribbles (successful) | 0 (0) |
| Was fouled | 2 |
| Possession lost | 12 |
| Total carrying distance | 37.5 m |
| Carries | 5 |
| Total progression | 14.9 m |
| Key passes | 1 |
| Crosses (accurate) | 2 (1) |
| Accurate passes | 12/16 (75%) |
| Passes in opposition half (accurate) | 9/12 (75%) |
| Passes in own half (accurate) | 3/4 (75%) |
| Defensive contributions | 1 |
| Tackles (won) | 1 (1) |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Clearances | 0 |
| Blocked shots | 0 |
| Ground duels (won) | 5 (3) |
| Fouls committed | 1 |
| Dribbled past | 0 |
match stats via sofascore
His first was from the penalty spot, with the former Brentford ace coolly slotting in while sending the keeper the wrong way.
His second was a scrappy finish, but the instinct he showed inside the box will have pleased Carrick.
Bryan Mbeumo can pose a danger from multiple positions
He had three shots in total in the game, and he completed one key pass. One of his crosses found a teammate, and he won two fouls in dangerous areas. His set-piece deliveries were dangerous as well.
The Cameroon international worked hard off the ball as well, winning all his tackles and coming out on top in three out of the five ground duels he contested in (all stats via sofascore).
The versatility of Bryan Mbeumo will be an asset for the 20-time English league champions next season, especially in a jam-packed calendar where United will play in a lot more games.
Carrick will be hoping the forward can improve even more in the games to come and can rediscover his connection with Amad.
Feature image Michael Campanella via Getty Images
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