Erik ten Hag's first game in charge of Manchester United at Old Trafford ended in a draw as a hard-working Rayo Vallecano battled from a goal down to draw 1-1.
On an afternoon when most of the attention was focused on Cristiano Ronaldo, making his first appearance since asking to leave the club only to be hooked at the interval, youngster Amad broke the deadlock early in the second half before the La Liga side levelled through Alvaro Garcia.
But whose stock rose and whose plummeted as Ten Hag looks to shape his strongest XI ahead of the Premier League's big kick off next week?
WINNERS
Raphael Varane
Captain for the day, the 29-year-old former Real Madrid star was solid against game opponents and alongside an unfamiliar partner in new signing Lisandro Martinez. If the France international can stay fit he will certainly offer more than last season's injury-interrupted debut campaign in red.
This was just his second appearance in pre-season, leading to suggestions he was behind Victor Lindelof and even Eric Bailly in the pecking order.
His class is obvious, even if doubts persist around his durability. Should he perform at near 100% for a sustained period of time that will equally help out under fire captain Harry Maguire alongside him and the overworked David de Gea behind.
The kids
Some of the youngsters made strong cases for future inclusion with assured performances.
Alejandro Garnacho looked dangerous on the left and James Garner produced a delightful piece of skill to leave Alvaro Garcia with twisted blood down the right about half an hour in while keeping the ball moving alongside Van de Beek.
Then there was Amad, on for Ronaldo at the interval and displaying some fine instinct to pounce from close range to capitalise on Diego Lopez’s sloppy goalkeeping and open the scoring two minutes after entering the fray.
None will be expected to feature prominently this season but they are clearly good enough to step in when required. The big question is whether the club decides their development is best served as regulars on loan or by training with the senior players every day and stepping in on occasion.
Donny van de Beek
Things could hardly have gotten much worse for the central midfielder than being loaned out to Everton last season, where he did not exactly set the world alight as Frank Lampard’s team scraped towards survival.
But given a clean slate under a manager he worked with previously at Ajax may rejuvenate him and there was sufficient evidence this afternoon to believe he can be a prominent feature going forward.
He looked smooth, kept the tempo ticking over and was seldom caught out of position on the defensive end.
LOSERS
Ethan Laird
It was a tricky afternoon for Ethan Laird at right back. Although Rayo’s equaliser emanated from a move down the opposite flank, the youngster will be disappointed to have allowed Alvaro Garcia sufficient space at the back post to tap in after Tom Heaton had made an initial save from Isaac Palazon Camacho.
He was also caught out inside 15 seconds when a through ball set Garcia free to shoot at Heaton and despite redeeming himself with a couple of solid blocks later on the
Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho
Simply by not being involved on a weekend where Ten Hag made it clear that he wanted to give the entire squad a chance to audition for a spot. Both absences were as a result of illnesses but at a time when every player has been given a solid run out.
At his sharpest Shaw is among the Premier League ’s best full backs but Tyrell Malacia did exceptionally well in Saturday’s defeat against Atletico Madrid in Oslo, while Alex Telles was solid for the most part this afternoon.
Even if he recovers in time, the England international cannot be sure of a starting role against Brighton and Hove Albion next weekend. Sancho, meanwhile, performed only in fits and starts during his debut campaign. With plenty of competition for the two wide attacking spots he has a lot of work to do to win over some doubters.
