Manchester United made a winning start to our 2023-24 Premier League campaign, beating Wolves 1-0 at Old Trafford thanks to Raphael Varane’s second-half header.
Erik ten Hag’s side were pushed all the way at home but could have gone ahead after just 10 minutes played, with Marcus Rashford’s strike denied by Jose Sa. Wolves had their chances, with Matheus Cunha presented with the visitors’ best opening of the game shortly after the restart. Pedro Neto’s low cross eventually found the unmarked Portuguese playmaker at the back post, but he could only steer his strike onto the woodwork and wide.
The Reds soon made Gary O’Neil’s side pay, as Aaron Wan-Bissaka picked out Varane inside the penalty area, who nodded home the game’s only goal to secure our opening-day success. After a 0-0 result in the first half, United hit the front with 15 minutes left to play when Bruno Hernandez’s delicious chip found the advancing Wan-Bissaka inside the area. The no.29 clipped an equally impressive ball to the back post, leaving fellow defender Varane with the easiest of tasks to nod United ahead.
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United then had the heroics of goalkeeper Andre Onana to thank on two occasions as Wolves gathered up a late head of steam. Substitute Fabio Silva was twice denied by the Cameroon custodian, with the second of his saves particularly impressive, after the ball fortuitously landed at Silva’s feet inside the six-yard area. Onana, however, stood tall to deny him.
The visitors’ claims for a late penalty were waved away deep into stoppage time after Onana collided with substitute Kalajdzic inside the area, with the ball coming off Dawson behind them. VAR opted not to award a spot-kick, with the match referee booking O’Neil for his protests, as the Reds held out to begin 2023-24 with a triumph.