Image source, Reuters

As good a half as you could ever expect to see in the Europa League in February. Excellent stuff.

Another good move from Saint-Etienne sees Jorginho skip past Anthony Martial, Eric Bailly miskicks in the middle and Kevin Monnet-Paquet skies the shot from 20 yards. 

Image source, AP

Romain Hamouma again gets clear of Eric Bailly, who looks as rusty as Soundgarden's cage tonight, but the shot is wild.

Hamouma looks about 80% of the model forward. It's the lacking 20% which means that Saint-Etienne are behind though, as Jordan Veretout fires wide from long range. 

Image source, Reuters

One of the most attractive ties on offer tonight is in Spain, where Villarreal, sixth in La Liga, host a Roma side who are doing all they can to chase runaway leaders Juventus in the Serie A title race.

It's the Italian side who lead; Emerson Palmieri has got the goal.

Two quick goals in Bilbao to tell you about. Cypriot champions - and league leaders - Apoel took the lead through Georgios Efrem, but Mikel Balenziaga equalised within two minutes for Athletic Bilbao, and it's 1-1. 

Colin Reardon: St. Etienne can play some football! With Utd's central defenders looking a bit fragile this is no pushover!

Peter Hogger: United should win this game and surely will. They need a good lead for the away game.

Jack: With all due respect, all this criticism of Mourinho is nonsense. He is paid to manage the football club, get results and increase revenue. If that has to be done with foreign players, so be it. Maybe our 'homegrown' players just aren't good enough?  

Danger again! Romain Hamouma is not the fully polished article but he's a real threat, a Premier League sort of forward if ever I saw one. He bursts down the left and cuts it back into the six-yard box but Kevin Monnet-Paquet can't get a telling shot off and it's easily cleared. 

There's no real danger of Anthony Martial leaving Manchester United is there? Surely not. They've bet the farm on him coming good. And as Callum says, he can breeze past a player with ease.

Manchester United remain in control of possession but it's on the counter where the visitors look like prospering. Romain Hamouma takes a great touch to bring down a cross but Eric Bailly makes a superb block...

Dave Wood: Zlatan's been trying that free kick all season. About time one went in.

Callum Anderson: It's dazzling runs like that which make keeping Martial a no-brainer. Easily Man Utd's most exciting player.

AADZ: A Carrick type player sitting just ahead of the back four would be very handy right now. Herrera shld just sit in front of the cb's.

Saint-Etienne are no mugs and are having a right go, both full-backs are well up the pitch. Right-back Kevin Malcuit almost gets clear at the end of a lengthy spell of possession but he can't keep it in play. 

Schalke may be struggling in mid-table in the Bundesliga, but they are flourishing in Greece tonight. They lead 1-0 at PAOK; Guido Burgstaller tapping into a loose ball after Naldo's header from a free-kick is saved.

Anderlecht now lead Zenit St-Petersburg 2-0; it's a second goal for Frank Acheampong.

Connor Price: This game has 1-1 written all over it.

Shuvam Sinha: I'm a United fan, but that was a penalty. Blind clearly intended to trip Jorginho.

Image source, AFP

And now a golden chance at the other end! Good game developing here. Anthony Martial skins two players down the left, he weaves into the area and hits a low shot which Stephane Ruffier kicks out, straight to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but he can't sort his feet out and ends up dinking it over.

At the other end Henri Saivet shoots wide from 20 yards. Shots-a-plenty. 

Excellent break. Paul Pogba inadvertently finds his brother and away the men in green come. On-loan Aston Villa man Jordan Veretout plays it down the line, Romain Hamouma plays it to on-loan Newcastle man Henri Saivet - and he toes it just wide...

A quick free-kick catches Eric Bailly out and Romain Hamouma is a toenail away from bringing it under control. He would have been in on goal...

Still something in this game for Saint-Etienne, United look jittery at the back. The visitors patiently work an opening on the left but Florentin Pogba's cross is poor. 

Image source, AFP

He should score! No flag as Paul Pogba dinks a pass over the top, Juan Mata is onside and volleys straight at Stephane Ruffier, who gets up well to save the follow-up too.

Excellent goalkeeping. 

Jason Moore: Ibrahimovic finally scores a free kick for United..... sort of

Rodney Marshall: According to France Football, that's Zlatan's 15th goal against St Etienne.

Phil Broadhurst: How can you give that goal to Ibrahimovic if Aguero didn't get accredited with the one against Bournemouth?

Paul Pogba is running this game now from a deep midfield position, pinging balls forwards with ease. Marouane Fellaini chases another one and forces a corner. 

Image source, Rex Features

Conor McMeekin: There is no way that's a free kick, and what is that boy doing in that wall...

Thomas Hollern:, external Zlatan conned the ref there, no contact and he gets a free kick, mis-hits it and it's 1-0 

That goal may have punctured the early buoyancy shown by Saint-Etienne, they've had a quiet few minutes.

But hang on! A huge penalty appeal at the Stretford End as Jorginho goes down in a tangle with Daley Blind, referee Pavel Kralovec says no...