Adama Traore keeps Lisandro Martinez promise but Manchester United star has last laugh

Manchester United match-winner Lisandro Martinez resumed an old rivalry with Adama Traore at Craven Cottage

Before his match-winning goal for Manchester United against Fulham, Lisandro Martinez found himself at odds with opposing attacker Adama Traore once again.

Ruben Amorim's side were made to wait for the breakthrough, though reached that point eventually. With 12 minutes to go Martinez unleashed an attempt, and with the help of a deflection off Sasa Lukic, Bernd Leno was unable to keep the shot out.

As a result, Player of the Match Martinez was celebrated as the hero with United climbing up to 12th in the Premier League standings. However, the Argentine may have foreseen a much different role in tonight's battle prior to kick-off.

That would come down to the events that transpired on the opening day of the 2024/25 campaign at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture against Fulham.

Still then Erik ten Hag's Man United, another 1-0 triumph got the season off on the correct foot. Aside from the goal, the key flashpoint came down to Martinez and Traore striving to get the better of one another.

The 5'9" frame of the defender had managed to shrug his opponent off the ball in the first half as part of an overall impressive display. Post-match, he smugly said: "I sent him back to the gym.

"I learned from the first one where he killed me, I killed him back. He is difficult to play against and I learned from the first situation."

The Fulham attacker evidently saw the interview, he posted a story to Instagram with the words: "Don't worry [winky face] we will meet again," also tagging Martinez's own account.

Tonight, being their first meeting since, certainly lived up to the hype.

Traore was first introduced as a first-half substitute for Harry Wilson, playing on the same flank as United's No.6. The second-half began with Martinez throwing himself into a tackle on his foe.

Tensions then flared with the ball out of play as the pair argued, having to be separated by their teammates. Moments later, the Argentine would net the game's only goal.

Traore got one more shove on his opponent before the full-time whistle was up, sending the resulting header over Andre Onana's crossbar, but could not damage United's hopes of victory.