Manchester United started their Europa League campaign with a shocking 1-0 defeated against Feyenoord in Group A at De Kuip on Thursday.

Feyenoord created the first real opportunity of the match in the 20th minute after slowly taking control of the encounter when Terence Kongolo whipped in the cross with Steven Berghuis looked set to meet it but United defender Marcos Rojo was on hand to block the cross.

The Red Devils came close to opening their account shortly after when Matteo Darmian directed his cross towards Anthony Martial but he skewed a presentable chance wide from 15 yards.

Feyenoord centre-half Eric Botteghin was shutting out the danger of Marcus Rashford with some meaty challenges and the England man struggled to have an impact.

The Dutch side were on the attack as Kongolo beat Darmian before sending the ball to Jens Toornstra, but his effort was blazed over the bar.

Jose Mourinho’s side had a chance to take the lead on the stroke of half-time when Rashford knocked a high ball down for Juan Mata, but the Spaniard failed to get to the ball in time.

Paul Pogba cut a frustrated figure in midfield and he showed his irritation with some snatched long shots just after half-time that Jones watched sail behind for goal kicks.

Feyenoord had a great opportunity to break the deadlock when Karim El Ahmadi swept an effort wide of David De Gea’s post in the 56th minute with as both teams lacking the quality in the final third.

Mourinho made three changes, bringing on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ashley Young, and Memphis Depay – it had little impact on the game, although Ibrahimovic flicked a Young set-piece wide from close range on 76 minutes.

However, a minute later the home side countered with devastating effect to take the lead and despite looking offside Nicolai Jorgensen broke down the right and directed his cross towards Vilhena, who slid the ball home from 12 yards to make it 1-0.

Mourinho threw Chris Smalling up front to join Ibrahimovic in the closing stages in a desperate effort to selvage a late draw.

But it was not to be for United as Feyenoord held on for a 1-0 victory over the Manchester giants in their opening Europa League match of the 2016-17 season.