Anthony Martial scored the only goal of the match as Manchester United recorded a 1-0 win over Partizan Belgrade in Thursday's Europa League contest in Serbia.
A first-half penalty from Martial proved the difference between the two teams as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side recorded their first away victory in any competition since March.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live coverage of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Europa League clash between Partizan Belgrade and Manchester United from Belgrade. Both teams have collected four points from their two Group L fixtures thus far - can United pick up a huge three points in Serbia? Stay tuned for live minute-by-minute coverage of the action!
TEAMS!
PARTIZAN: Stojkovic; Urosevic, Pavlovic, Ostojic, Miletic; Tosic, Natcho, Zdjelar, Soumah; Asano, Sadiq
MAN UNITED: Romero; Maguire, Rojo, Jones; Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Garner, Williams; Lingard, Martial, Mata
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made seven changes from the team that started against Liverpool at the weekend with Harry Maguire, Marcos Rojo, Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka the only players to keep their spots. Highly-rated midfielder James Garner makes the XI, as does fellow youngster Brandon Williams. There is also a rate start for Phil Jones in what looks to be a back three.
Partizan have a former United player in their ranks in Zoran Tosic, and the 32-year-old features in a wide position for the home side tonight. On-loan Roma forward Umar Sadiq also starts in the final third alongside Japan international Takuma Asano. It looks to be a 4-4-2 formation for the Serbian giants, although we will confirm whether that is the case shortly after kickoff in Belgrade.
United have four points to show from their two matches having followed a 1-0 home win over Astana with a goalless draw away to AZ earlier this month. The Red Devils are far from at their strongest tonight but a number of players will be looking to impress here.
KICKOFF: United kick things off in this Europa League tie...
... the home side look to be in a 4-4-2 as expected, while United are in a back three with Maguire at the heart of the defence. Garner is the deepest of the midfielders with McTominay and Mata seemingly given licence to break forward. Let's hope for a good game!
It has been a lively start to events with both teams flying into challenges. As expected, Jones is at the heart of the action as he dives into a tackle with Soumah. Never change Phil!
The lively Sadiq breaks the United defence and looks to meet a through pass from Natcho, but Romero does well to leave his goal and make the clearance. No real chances to discuss in the first six minutes but the tempo is very high, which bodes well.
Just a reminder that both of these sides have collected four points from their two matches thus far. To be honest, a draw would not be the worst result in the world for either. United just need to settle down here as they are yet to really put together a meaningful spell of possession.
United again attempt to pick their way through the middle of the park but the space is not just there. Maguire then concedes a free kick by bringing Sadiq to the ground with a slide tackle.
United are set up in quite a strange formation with a back three and then Garner just in front. Williams and Wan-Bissaka are wide, and there is then everyone else in a central area. Nothing much from the away side in terms of a threat, though, with Partizan having the better moments in the final third thus far. Still goalless with 12 minutes on the clock.
It must be said that there is a brilliant atmosphere inside the stadium and no signs of any trouble thus far, which is excellent to see. United have just had a decent exchange down the left involving Williams and McTominay, but Pavlovic makes a good challenge.
Not an awful lot to report in the last few minutes with Partizan finding it quite easy to prevent United from picking their way through. Lingard and Mata have been quiet thus far here.
CHANCE! Huge chance for United to take the lead as Mata picks out the head of McTominay from a terrific free kick, but the midfielder somehow heads wide from close range!
Just a few signs that United are getting to grips with this match, and Martial is looking very lively in the final third of the field. Nothing much from the home side at the moment.
Wan-Bissaka delivers a smart cross into the home side's box after smart work from Garner and then Mata, but Pavlovic is on hand to clear for a throw deep in the home side's half.
Partizan are more than happy to sit in at the moment while United attempt to pick their way through. All United in terms of possession, but we are still goalless in Belgrade.
SHOT! McTominay misses the Partizan goal with a strike from distance. The Scot is the player breaking forward from midfield, with the likes of Mata and Lingard very quiet.
United's last Europa League match away to AZ was a bit of a stinker but this is a much better match in terms of entertainment. Still no goals with 25 minutes on the clock, though.
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining in Belgrade and we are still goalless. The home side have had a few chances to cause some problems in the last couple of minutes but their choice of pass in the final third has been poor - a lack of quality thus far here.
Asano and Sadiq as a front two are certainly capable of causing United problems in this match, but Romero has not had a save to make in the first 29 minutes of this match.
Williams breaks down the left for the away side before looking to slide a pass into Martial, but Tosic is back to make a smart challenge. McTominay is then blocked inside the box after attempting to break into a shooting position. Still all square in Belgrade.
Partizan's best moments are coming when they manage to turn the ball over, which has happened too often from United's point of view. The free-kick count is also rising with Maguire making a number of late challenges - the latest coming against the lively Sadiq.
Partizan's choice of pass in the final third has been really disappointing tonight. The same can also be said for United, but the visitors have not actually had that many chances to find a dangerous pass in an advanced position. Still goalless in this Europa League tie.
Much, much better from the home side at the moment as they force another corner with Jones having to come across to challenge Tosic. The resulting set piece is delivered into a dangerous position, but McTominay makes to make contact under immense pressure.
SHOT! Tosic misses the United goal with a strike from distance.
OFF THE POST! So close for United! Lingard picks up the ball in a dangerous position before attempting to find the bottom corner, only for his effort to come off the bottom of the post!
Martial has struggled to make his mark in the opening 40 minutes of this match, with McTominay perhaps the pick of the United players. Mata has also been incredibly quiet, which has been the case for a number of his games this term. Still goalless in Belgrade.
OFF THE POST! Partizan hit the post this time through Sadiq, who attempted to pick out the far corner with a brilliant effort from distance. Finally things happening at both ends here!
It is a shame that the half-time break is coming as this match has really started to liven up in the last couple of minutes. Sadiq's effort really was terrific, so lucky. Asano has just had an attempt of his own, missing the post from a dangerous area.
PENALTY! United have a penalty as Williams is brought to the ground by Miletic!
GOAL! PARTIZAN 0-1 MAN UNITED (MARTIAL, PEN)
GOAL! Martial finds the bottom corner with a super penalty to send United ahead here!
Huge, huge moment for United to make the breakthrough in this match.
HALF TIME: PARTIZAN 0-1 MAN UNITED
United enter the half-time interval with a 1-0 lead courtesy of a penalty from Martial, who picked out the bottom corner after Williams had been fouled inside the box. Partizan have had plenty of positive moments, but the home side are ahead at the break.
STATISTICS! United had 63% possession in the first period - hitting the target with one of their four attempts. Partizan, meanwhile, managed five attempts in the opening 45 minutes but they were all off target. No yellow cards to report in the opening half of action.
BENCH WATCH! James, Greenwood, Pereira and Rashford are among those on the United bench tonight, and it would be a surprise if Lingard and Martial finished the match due to their injury issues in recent weeks. As for Partizan, head coach Milosevic has options in the shape of Brezancic, Scekic and Stevanovic. Will there be any changes at the break?
KICKOFF: Partizan resume the action on home soil...
... no changes to report at the interval, which is not too much of a surprise. However, you suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second half develops here.
YELLOW CARD! Jones (Man United) is booked for bringing Sadiq to the ground, and the home side have a free kick in a very, very dangerous position outside the penalty box...
SHOT! ... Natcho misses the post with a low strike.
Romero does well to palm away a cross from Soumah with the home side very much on the front foot in the early stages of the second period. United are under a lot of pressure here.
It is all Partizan in the early stages of the second period with Seydouba Soumah causing a number of problems - the attacker wanted a penalty a moment ago after going down under a challenge from Jones but the referee was not interested. Still 1-0 to the visitors.
Mata attempts to find Martial with a dangerous cross from a wide area, but the Frenchman just cannot reach the ball. Plenty happening at both ends of the field here.
Sadiq's pace and power continues to cause United all sorts of problems in this match, and you do get the feeling that if Partizan are to score then the forward will be at the heart of it. The next goal in this match - if there indeed is one - will be absolutely huge.
SAVE! Super save from Romero to keep out a strike from Soumah after the number 20 had worked his way into a shooting position. Partizan are all over United here.
United threaten with a corner from the right - Mata delivering into a dangerous area, but Maguire is penalised for a foul on Miletic. The home fans remain in fine voice here.
Soumah and Sadiq are the two players causing United all sorts of problems at the moment, with the likes of Maguire and Rojo backing off the pair when they have the ball.
Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining, and Partizan continue to cause problems in the final third of the field. We are just starting to enter the stage of the match where both managers will be considering alterations, particularly Solskjaer.
MAN UNITED SUBS! Double change for the visitors as James and Rashford enter the field in place of Wan-Bissaka and Martial, whose goal is still the difference.
You do get the feeling that there is at least one more goal in this game, and United now have two absolute flyers on the counter-attack with James and Rashford on the field.
Rashford and Lingard link up in a dangerous position before Mata attempts to find James, but Natcho is back to make the challenge. Good work from Rashford there.
The home fans remain in fine voice here as they continue to drive their team forward. Not too much to report in terms of opportunities at the moment, though.
YELLOW CARD! Miletic (Partizan) is booked for dissent after claiming a spot kick.
Little over 20 minutes of the second period remaining, and this would be a huge three points for United if they managed to hold on. It would actually be United's first away win in any competition since March, which would be very welcome for Solskjaer's team.
Jones is playing right-back now following a change of formation, and the Englishman has just conceded a corner after blocking a cross from the lively Tosic.
Still no movement on the home side's bench, which is a surprise at this stage of the contest. That said, Partizan are still knocking on the door with those players on the field.
CLOSE! Sadiq just misses the United goal with another brilliant strike from distance!
PARTIZAN SUB! Stevanovic replaces Tosic for the home side here.
Little under 15 minutes of the second period remaining, and it will be very interesting to see what Solskjaer has in mind for his final substitution of the night - if he makes it.
United are preparing to make their third and final change of the match with Pereira receiving his final introductions. Little over 10 minutes of the second half to play here.
MAN UNITED SUB! Pereira replaces Garner for the away side here.
SAVE! Brilliant save from Romero to keep out a close-range header from Asano, who had met a corner from the left. Excellent goalkeeping from the Argentine there.
PARTIZAN SUB! L Pavlovic replaces Soumah for the home side.
You do get the feeling that there is another goal, or at least something big will happen, in the final stages of this match. Partizan are the team on the front foot for the moment.
McTominay delivers a dangerous cross towards Rashford, but the forward just cannot make contact and Partizan will come again with 87 minutes on the clock here.
CLOSE! Natcho just misses the crossbar with a strike from outside the box!
Partizan have done more than enough in the second period to deserve a leveller, but United are still ahead as we approach the final exchanges. It will be very interesting to see just how much added time is signalled, there have not actually been many stoppages here.
YELLOW CARD! Zdjelar (Partizan) is booked for a foul on James, who was racing clear.
Maguire does really well to clear a low cross after Rojo had failed to make the block. Partizan deliver another corner but once again the visitors manage to deal with it.
We are into the second of three additional minutes at the end of the match.
Partizan continue to deliver dangerous crosses into the United box, but Maguire and Jones both do well to make clearances. Time is running out for the home side here.
PARTIZAN SUB! Asano is replaced by Ivanovic for the home side.
FULL TIME: PARTIZAN 0-1 MAN UNITED
FULL TIME: PARTIZAN 0-1 MAN UNITED
So there we have it. The referee blows his final whistle with United overcoming Partizan courtesy of a first-half penalty from Martial. The visitors had to ride their luck at times, but it is a massive three points for Solskjaer's team as they move to the top of Group L.
That is just about it from me tonight, but I shall leave you with the match report from the contest in Belgrade. Be sure to join us again very soon. Until next time!
