Nemanja Matic makes debuts as Manchester United complete victory over Sampdoria in Dublin

Manchester United made it six pre-season wins out of seven in Dublin, goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juan Mata enough to beat a disappointing Sampdoria.

United started the game well, their midfield three of Nemanja Matic, Andreas Pereira and Paul Pogba controlling the game in midfield and Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian driving forward on the wings.

And on nine minutes they took the lead, in usual and unusual style.

First, Daley Blind had David de Gea scrambling to save a backpass and then, once the wall had blocked the resultant free-kick, Mkhitaryan and Valencia broke, the former found Darmian, and Mkhitaryan headed home his cross at the back post.

After half-time, Sampdoria improved, helped by United's replacement of their entire midfield, and they equalised on 63 minutes, Denis Praet punching home an excellent finish following good work by Karol Linetty.

But Anthony Martial, who had been on for three minutes at that point, spent the remainder of the game terrorising the Italian back-four, and with nine minutes remaining he set up Mata to dispatch a clever finish past Christian Puggioni.

United’s formation. United looked good playing a 3-5-2, but mainly because the players in the middle of midfield controlled the game. They would still be there in a 4-3-3, a formation which afford United an extra attacker.

Anthony Martial has earned a starting spot. Martial has been superb in pre-season and he was again tonight. He is easily united’s best left-sided attacker, and a player no right-back will fancy facing. There is no room for him in a 3-5-2; he is good enough to force Jose Mourinho to use a 4-3-3.

Paul Pogba as Bryan Robson. Even assuming Romelu Lukaku scores roughly the same number of goals managed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season, United still have plenty more to find. The way that Pogba continually burst into the box suggested one way they might do that, though he will need to improve his finishing.

Lindelof’s rough start. Victor Lindelof has yet to settle into United’s defence, and made two more errors that almost cost his team a goal. It would be surprising if he started the league season in the first XI.

Second season syndrome. Like Mourinho, Henrikh Mkhitaryan has form for excelling in his second season at a club, and he is currently in fine fettle. He is running with purpose, passing beautifully, and arriving into scoring positions; United need that, because they do not have another player like him.

To Skopje, Macedonia, and the Super Cup game against Real Madrid next Tuesday. That ought to be far more competitive than the recent friendly, won by United on penalties following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.