Awful Manchester United fall to late goal in Basel

A pathetic second-half performance condemned Manchester United to defeat as Michael Lang’s last-minute goal capped an excellent effort from Basel. They now lie second in the group on the same points as CSKA Moscow - against whom United need to avoid a six-goal defeat to be certain of finishing top.

United played well in the first half without over-extending themselves, creating a variety of presentable chances which were missed by Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini. Then, after the break, Basel looked to attack, and grew in confidence as United grew in sloppiness, dominating proceedings and missing a few chances of their own.

Jose Mourinho made three quick changes in an effort to alter the flow of things, but removed two of his better players – Martial and Paul Pogba – in the process, and Basel remained in the ascendancy. And with just injury time and change to go, Raoul Petretta crossed low and Lang slid home to send a raucous home crowd into rapture.

United’s full-back weakness. United have two wingers as first-choice full-backs, which does not say much for Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind. And both were poor tonight, Darmian especially; he is nowhere near good enough to be picked in front of Axel Tuanzebe.

Michael Lang (Basel) Basel's main attacking outlet throughout the 90 minutes, and in the final of them, made yet another excellent run to calmly slot home the winner.

Basel: Vaclik 7, Akanji 6, Suchy 6, Balanta 6, Lang 7, Serey Die 7, Zuffi 6, Petretta 6, Steffen 6, Elyounoussi 6, Oberlin 5. Subs: Fransson 6.

Manchester United: Romero 6, Darmian 4, Smalling 6, Rojo 7, Blind 5, Herrera 4, Pogba 6, Fellaini 6, Lingard 5, Lukaku 5, Martial 6. Subs: Rashford 6, Matic 6, Ibrahimovic 6.

12’ - Lovely ball from Pogba, slipping Lukaku in, and he holds off his man brilliantly, but then takes a touch too many and ends up bashing a finish to the side of Vaclik when he was close enough to block; a Peter Beardsley lift was what was really in order. United maintain the pressure though, and a cross from the left picks out Fellaini, who heads down ... and Akanji does superbly to hook off the line, facing his own goal!

67’ - Miserable from United, Darmian picking out an attacker with room to clear properly; the cross, flicked on by Smalling, puts Blind under pressure, and he gets caught under the ball as Lang shoves him, setting up a chance ... but Lang can only head against the bar!

72’ - Petretta glides a low pass in for Oberlin, in loads of space! He takes a touch and has a swing ... the contact isn't the best, but the ball looks goalbound ... only for Rojo to slide in brilliantly and block! United are tottering here.

89’ - GOAL! Basel 1-0 Manchester United (Lang) No more than Basel deserve! Steffen moves the ball inside, Zuffi finds Petretta, and his low, measured cross finds Lang at the back post as Bkind sleeps, and he slides home!

In 14 matches, no English side has kept a clean sheet away to Basel.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the first man to play for seven different clubs in the Champions League.