Manchester clubs suffer without fit major marksmen in Champions League

After the United medics worryingly treated Shaw, eventually carrying him off on a stretcher, the referee added eight minutes onto the first period, and PSV used their extended time wisely, quickly equalising.

Mexican Moreno, initially dejected by the effects of his tackle on Shaw, pushed aside his emotions to header home the Lightbulbs’ leveller from a Maxime Lestienne corner, ending the first-half all square.

PSV must get credit for swiftly replacing Memphis this summer with Belgian wideman Lestienne, as the wicked winger provided another assist for the winning header from Luciano Narsingh before the hour mark.

Rooney’s absence proved to be more hurtful as the game reached its concluding moments, with Marouane Fellaini being introduced for Martial and failed to make any impact, as United suffered a miserable return to Europe, making them 7/4 to win Group B.

Meanwhile, back in the blue half of Manchester, City struggled without their main marksman Aguero from the start, relying on a Giorgio Chiellini own-goal to open proceedings before deadly duo Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata struck to capture three points in this Group D match-up.

Both sides have witnessed contrasting domestic seasons so far, with City storming to the summit of England’s top-flight, while this victory was the Old Lady’s first since winning the Italian Super Cup at the beginning of last month.

That proved irrelevant though as five straight previous victories for City was halted, raising even more questions over their European ambitions on another stuttering showing in the competition.

Into the final few minutes of the defeat, Pellegrini desperately launched a clearly injured Aguero on as well as Kevin De Bruyne and Nicolas Otamendi, but none could make an impact so late on, leaving both Manchester clubs to ponder over poor European exploits.