When Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United a year ago he almost certainly didn't expect to end up here, the star attraction in a Europa League fixture in Moldova in a matchbox stadium, dwarfed by crumbling Soviet-era flats.
Ronaldo's dream return has turned into a nightmare but it's one he couldn't escape. His ego would have been dented by the absence of Champions League interest and bruised by Erik ten Hag's decision to drop him.
But for injury to Marcus Rashford, Ronaldo might not have even been starting in the Zimbru Stadium. The locals were delighted he was. His name received the loudest cheer of all before kick-off by the 8,800-strong crowd.
