When Manchester United click as they did here for large stretches, their attack is organised chaos and their defence compact, as evidenced by their four clean sheets this season. The latter statistic was on its way to a fifth until a hapless Christian Eriksen went from scoring hero to culprit with a hesitation that allowed Sam Lammers to equalise in the 68th minute.

In the hunt for victory, Erik ten Hag replaced the recovered Marcus Rashford with Rasmus Højlund, Mason Mount with Joshua Zirkee and Kobbie Mainoo with Eriksen. But this final throw of the dice failed despite a stoppage-time injury that saw Harry Maguire head home, so United’s Europa League challenge begins with a point.

After a rousing sing-along to Country Roads blared through the PA in the heavy rain, United continued the good work on the ball from Saturday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace, characterised by a possession-heavy style that Ten Hag’s opponents would argue is beyond his reach. But it was repeated here, as André Onana, Lisandro Martínez, Maguire, Manuel Ugarte and Noussair Mazraoui slotted the ball between them, close to goal and into midfield.

There was also some pampering from Ugarte who, on his debut, took the ball from Youri Regeer on halfway in the sort of move he was bought for, as did Mazraoui when Anass Salah-Eddine dived in along the left end line. The challenge led to a corner that Michel Vlap fired in from the left. The ball bounced towards the far touchline, Diogo Dalot was robbed by Bart Van Rooij and he fed a pass to Sam Lammers. Twente’s number 10, in space, spooned the ball wide of the left post.

Zirkzee, back in the stands as United’s No.9, looks more like the agile thinking of a playmaker, as illustrated by a no-look backheel that confused Twente’s defence and left Marcus Rashford in his wake. The latter’s cross was blocked, but another crisp United attack followed.

Then a scrimmage in the Twente penalty area, with Diogo Dalot, Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes and an attempt by Christian Eriksen that was blocked, allowing Lars Unnerstall to collect. The keeper then had to clear an unintentional shot by Mees Hilgers when Martínez headed the ball across the penalty area to Zirkzee and the central defender, clumsily, intervened.

Rashford, the beneficiary of Alejandro Garnacho’s relegation to the bench, was a powerhouse, as evidenced by another gallop down the left and a direct pass to Zirkzee; then a cheeky nutmeg from Ricky van Wolfswinkel that drew oohs from the Red Devils faithful. He was also part of a three-man press with Zirkzee and Fernandes when Unnerstall looked to start at the back and was also the first to congratulate Eriksen on the opening goal, a bullet of a finish that flew into the bottom left corner.

The chance came from a reverse ball from the ever-clever Fernandes to Dalot who, scrambling into the penalty area, saw Eriksen take over and finish superbly. The 45 minutes ended with two Twente corners, but half of it was United’s.

Could Ten Hag’s men continue? When Mitchell Van Bergen threatened down the left, Fernandes led the charge to ensure the No.7 was taken down, a rosy omen that United were determined not to let fade. As was Rashford’s footwork that confused two Twente defenders and sent him through on goal before Joseph Oosting’s side recovered.

It felt like a cruise for United. They had to stay alert, but as Mazraoui’s slick control and fluid surge forward showed, they were a class (or more) above their opponent. The Moroccan’s jaunt led to a corner, and Maguire was berated for driving the ball straight into Unnerstall’s gloves.

Then, as he is fond of doing, Martínez ran into Sem Steijn, was booked, and the same player’s free kick was a laser that Onana dived to his left to clear. Two corners followed, which were defended, and United soon ran in through Rashford as they looked for a second to ease the nerve-racking final half hour. Eriksen, with a corner, tried to create the ball, but Twente stood firm.

Joy for the Dutch then. Rooij skated 40 metres forward, evaded Maguire, Ugarte tackled and Eriksen received but he hesitated and Lammers outmaneuvered the Dane, ran into the United penalty area and beat Onana on the right. The Twente fans celebrated and although Zirkzee, Mainoo, Garnacho, who came on for Diallo, Dalot and Højlund, all posed a threat, United ended with a second consecutive draw.