Man Utd got their Premier League campaign up and running with a 5-2 win against Ipswich at Old Trafford, with Bruno Fernandes scoring another hat-trick.
Bruno Fernandes was in superb form as Manchester United beat Ipswich at Old Trafford
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In the week Bruno Fernandes made it a hat-trick of personal accolades for 2025/26, he got his new season up and running with a treble on the pitch as Manchester United blew Ipswich away with a devastating second-half display.
Fernandes saved the best for last when stocking his trophy cabinet from last season, with the PFA gong he received on Tuesday night particularly pleasing as it's voted for by his fellow players.
These Ipswich players certainly won't forget their encounter with United's talismanic captain anytime soon. This game ended with a storm raging through Old Trafford, on and off the pitch.
United had looked in some trouble when conceding from another cross in the first half and they briefly looked on the ropes, with Ipswich creating chances and Michael Carrick's side again looking a little toothless.
But as is so often the way, up stepped Fernandes. There was a stroke of fortune to his equaliser, but they turned on the style after the break. United were under pressure when they went behind, having fallen to a tame defeat at Hull last weekend, and they needed someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Fernandes coolly converted a penalty after a Jacob Greaves own goal had given United the lead, then calmly finished when the ball broke to him in the penalty box for his third United hat-trick. His 2025/26 was defined by assists, and he rounded off a memorable afternoon with a superb pass for Bryan Mbeumo to make it a five-star showing.
For once, Fernandes hadn't been the centre of attention when the game began. There was a big cheer when Marcus Rashford's name was read out before kick-off and there was an early rendition of his song, which would have helped to ease any nerves there may have been from a player who hadn't featured at Old Trafford since December 2024.
The relationship between Rashford and United supporters had become fractious at that point but time away has allowed for a fresh start. Player and club have called a truce this summer and the Old Trafford faithful are clearly buying into that as well.
Rashford certainly made a bright start. He was positive and direct and saw an early shot deflected harmlessly into the gloves of Kjell Scherpen, before a bold run set up a chance that Matheus Cunha blazed over. Rashford was involved again when Diogo Dalot cut inside and drew a superb save from Scherpen.
Wearing the No. 9 but playing on his favoured left wing, Rashford was heavily involved and offers more of a cutting edge than the promising Patrick Dorgu. He did brilliantly to volley a Dalot ball in back across goal in the second half, only for Mbeumo to hit the bar from a couple of yards out.
Dalot picked out Rashford again a few moments later and this time the volley was struck towards goal, only for Scherpen to produce a magnificent save.
But for all Rashford's threat, it was Fernandes who ran the show again. The best player of 2025/26 looks in the mood to repeat the feat this time around.
How his team needed him after Leif Davis had given Ipswich the lead. United were vulnerable from crosses at Hull, and this time Abdul Fatawu skinned Luke Shaw before picking out an unmarked Davis to score. When the left-back nearly made it two when in space from another ball in, concern was spreading around Old Trafford.
It probably summed up their first-half performance that the equaliser came from Dalot taking too long over a throw-in, with the decision reversed as the clock ran down. From the Ipswich throw, Marcelino Nunez slipped in possession and United broke ruthlessly. Cunha fed Fernandes and his left-footed finish was unerring.
Luck was certainly on United's side. They went ahead when Harry Maguire won a duel on the edge of the box, but his shot was going wide until it deflected in off Jacob Greaves. Had Maguire scored the goal, it would have been ruled out for handball, but because it was an own goal, VAR didn't get involved.
Ipswich were understandably furious with the decision and they were all at sea within seconds of the restart, when Cunha darted clear and was brought down by a desperate lunge from the hapless Greaves. Fernandes made no mistake from the spot.
He had his hat-trick when Mbeumo's shot was deflected into his path and from kick-off tried his luck from halfway when Ipswich lost possession, only for the shot to sail a yard over Scherpen's goal.
He wasn't done, however, and his excellent pass for Mbeumo saw the forward lob the onrushing Scherpen to complete the rout as the rain teemed down. A mistake in possession by Lisandro Martinez allowed Chuba Akpom to score a second for Ipswich in injury time.
After a false start last week, United are up and running and if Fernandes can maintain this form, they will feel anything is possible this season.