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Edinson Cavani set Manchester United on course for a comfortable victory against Granada as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s side reached the Europa League semi-finals for the second successive season.<\/p>\nEdinson Cavani set Manchester United on course for a comfortable victory against Granada as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s side reached the Europa League semi-finals for the second successive season.<\/p>\n
Marcus Rashford\u2019s fine goal and a late Bruno Fernandes penalty in Spain last week put the Red Devils in control of the quarter-final tie heading into Thursday\u2019s reverse fixture at an empty Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
United extinguished any hope of a remarkable Granada turnaround when veteran Cavani volleyed home in the sixth minute, with Jesus Vallejo\u2019s late own goal wrapping up a 2-0 win on the night, 4-0 on aggregate.<\/p>\n
The reward is a mouth-watering semi-final clash against Roma and a reunion with Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan \u2013 starters when United won the Europa League in 2017.<\/p>\n
That was the Old Trafford giants\u2019 last trophy and they never looked in danger of being denied a fifth semi-final in two seasons after Cavani volleyed home a smart flick on by Paul Pogba.<\/p>\n
The France midfielder captained the side in the absence of Harry Maguire \u2013 one of three suspended players \u2013 and was withdrawn at the end of a first half in which Granada called for him to receive a second booking.<\/p>\n
United continued in the ascendancy after the break and ex-Wolves defender Vallejo turned into his own goal under pressure from substitute Juan Mata at the death as Granada\u2019s remarkable first continental campaign came to an end.<\/p>\n
Coach Diego Martinez had spoken on the eve of the game about his belief that the Andalusians could seal a historic Old Trafford triumph, but the \u201cperfect game\u201d required was soon beyond them.<\/p>\n
Alex Telles, in for the suspended Luke Shaw, sent over a cross from the left that Pogba smartly headed back towards the penalty spot area, where Cavani expertly steered a left-footed volley into the far corner.<\/p>\n
The classy sixth-minute strike all but ended Granada\u2019s faint hopes of progress, yet it did not dent their competitive endeavor.<\/p>\n
Yangel Herrera, on loan from Manchester City, headed wide as the LaLiga side looked to hit back immediately, before turning their attention to getting Pogba sent off.<\/p>\n
The stand-in skipper showed impressive skill and strength to hold off the visitors when driving forwards, only to inadvertently catch German in the face and earn a 17th-minute booking.<\/p>\n
Within minutes former Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado joined him in referee Istvan Kovacs\u2019 notebook as he screamed for Pogba to be handed a second yellow card for a challenge on Herrera.<\/p>\n
Pogba got away with that clumsy tackle, both in terms of staying on the field and seeing Herrera head the resulting free-kick wide, but still spoke to the referee during a break in play about the initial yellow card decision.<\/p>\n
Fernandes flashed a stunning volley just over from a delightful clipped Nemanja Matic pass as half-time approached.<\/p>\n
The Portuguese mishit his next attempt well wide and other half-chances came to nothing before the break, with Donny Van De Beek replacing the booked Pogba when the teams returned.<\/p>\n
Mason Greenwood headed straight at Rui Silva after Jorge Molina was denied by David De Gea at the other end, with United still on top as Cavani glanced a header wide before Van De Beek struck just off target.<\/p>\n
Cavani was withdrawn in the 60th minute with half an eye on Sunday\u2019s clash with Burnley \u2013 perhaps adding to a sense of complacency that De Gea snapped his team-mates out of after German was allowed to fire wide.<\/p>\n
United\u2019s changes took the sting out of the game as Solskjaer\u2019s side trundled along in second gear, with De Gea stopping Victor Diaz\u2019s stinging effort and a close-range Herrera attempt.<\/p>\n
But this was as comfortable as a European quarter-final could be and Vallejo turned Telles\u2019 cross into his own net as Mata challenged in the 90th minute.<\/p>\n