Manchester United ran riot against Roma after claiming an impressive 6-2 victory at Old Trafford in their Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday evening.

The Red Devils got off to a flying start as Bruno Fernandes gave them the breakthrough goal in the ninth minute when Edinson Cavani played an inch-perfect first-time pass in behind for the Portuguese attacker, who chipped the ball over the Roma goalkeeper.

The Italian side were then handed a penalty in the 13th minute when Paul Pogba was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. Lorenzo Pellegrini stepped up to convert the spot kick with power and precision.

Roma then took the lead after 34 minutes of play when Pellegrini squared the ball to Eden Dzeko, who has the simple task of tapping home his sixth Old Trafford goal from close range.

Man Utd pushed forward in the closing stages of the first half as they tried level matters but were unable to find the back of the net as the game went to the half time break.

United came out guns blazing in the second half and level matters two minutes in after Pogba played Cavani through on goal before curling his effort past the Bruno Peres to make it 2-2.

The home side had a huge chance to take the lead in the 53rd minute after Luke Shaw drilled a low ball into the box to find Cavani, who ballooned his shot over the crossbar from close range.

United eventually took the lead in the 64th minute through Cavani, who tapped in the rebound after Wan-Bissaka’s shot was poorly parried by Mirante into the six-yard box.

The home side were then awarded a penalty of their own in the 71st minute when Chris Smalling fouled Cavani in the area. Fernandes stayed calm to slot the ball home from the spot kick.

United continued to press forward in search of more goals and grabbed their fifth goal of the game four minutes later when Pogba latched on to a Fernandes cross to header the ball home.

Mason Greenwood put the game beyond Roma in the 86th minute when he fired the ball past the Peres to make it 6-2 in the tie.

Solskjaer’s men dominated proceedings in the closing stages of the game and managed to hold on to their lead until the final whistle to take a four goal advantage into the second leg.

Man United ran riot against Roma in their Europa League semi-final first leg