The reunion with PSG on Wednesday in the Champions League comes at the right time for Edinson Cavani.
Entering the break, the Uruguayan scored twice and gave an assist to offer Manchester United an unexpected but precious victory in Southampton (3-2) on Sunday for the 10th day of the Premier League.
El Matador could not have better prepared the reception of his former club Paris SG on Tuesday in a decisive match for Group H of the Champions League.
With 16 points, the Red Devils glue back a little at the top of the table with their 7th place, while Southampton, who was virtually on the Premier League podium when they led 2-0, must be content with 5th place (17 points) .
With a sick Anthony Martial and a clumsy Mason Greenwood, whom he replaced at the break, Cavani marked the spirits in the race for the holder status at the forefront of the Mancunian attack.
While his team was led 2-0, without being really unworthy, he reversed the match by first finding Bruno Fernandes strangely alone in the heart of the opposing penalty area for the reduction of the score (2-1, 59th).
After having uncrossed a little too much a header (68th), he equalized at 2-2 by resuming six meters from goals and a furious plunging header a missed shot from Bruno Fernandes (2-2, 74th).
This point already seemed a lesser evil for Manchester, but “Edi” went for the victory by resuming with his fetish gesture, a deflection of the head at the near post, a cross from Marcus Rashford, to offer three points which are a relief for Solskjaer and his troops returning from afar (90 + 2).
United on a positive dynamic
United had however created the majority of clear chances in the first half but could have paid dearly for its lack of realism.
From the 7th minute, Mason Greenwood had missed the frame after having dribbled the keeper and when the goal was reasonably open in front of him.
Fernandes then saw his attempt, slightly deflected, graze the post (16th), before missing a huge opportunity a few meters from the goal, on a shot from Greenwood repelled by Alex McCarthy who made a beautiful double parry (30th).
Opposite, the South of England team did not let their chances slip away thanks to the delicious paw of James Ward-Prowse.
The international midfielder first sent a tight and precise corner to the near post for a deflection of the head of Jan Bednarek who deceived a slightly passive David De Gea (1-0, 23rd).
Ten minutes later, the devilish set-piece shooter sent a 23-meter free kick into De Gea's skylight who could only push the ball into the inside of the small net (2-0, 33rd ).
But it was in the end United who managed to maintain their positive momentum of four consecutive victories since the international break.
Enough to shake Paris which would need to not come back empty-handed from Old Trafford if it wants to preserve its chances of qualifying for the knockout stages.
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