Bruno Fernandes becomes joint highest assist maker in Europa League history

Bruno Fernandes has not produced his most flowing season to date but has continued to add goals and assists in spite of his up and down form and with that, became the joint highest assist maker in Europa League history last night.

The Portuguese international has faced his fair share of criticism in this campaign and was especially under the microscope in early October after receiving two red cards on the bounce versus Tottenham Hotspur and FC Porto.

It took him to last week to get off the mark but he has risen to the occasion in the last month or so.

Statman Dave highlights that “Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in 5 goals in his last 5 games across all competitions — scoring 3 and assisting 2.”

In fact, it was his peach of a cross that allowed Amad to peel away at the back post and loop the ball over the PAOK keeper.

Despite being far from his vintage best, including last night, Fernandes continues to produce for his team as he “now has 9 direct goal involvements across all competitions this season. The only Manchester United player with more is Alejandro Garnacho”, who is on 10.

He has also found home comforts as of late, after his nightmare appearance against Tottenham at the end of September.

He provided an assist versus Brentford, two goals versus Leicester, a penalty against Chelsea and the assist last night against PAOK.

With home matches to come against Leicester City in the league, FK Bodø/Glimt and Everton in the next few weeks, he will be eyeing up more opportunities to add to his statistics.

Most impressively of all, he has now become the joint leading assist maker in Europa League history alongside Bořek Dočkal with 16 assists. He will certainly aim to build a sizeable lead in this ranking over the course of the season, as his side will have serious ambitions to kick on and win the competition.

What’s more, “since his European debut for Sporting in September 2017, the Portugal international has recorded more assists in major European competition than any other player, 26 in total.”

While he may still be looking to get into third or fourth gear this season, the Portuguese magician continues to highlight why he is so revered around the red side of Manchester.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images