Last laugh: Di Maria's dominant display proves mediocre United stay was a blip

Angel Di Maria's reception upon his return to Old Trafford wasn't exactly unexpected.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger was showered with a chorus of boos roughly three years after last playing for Manchester United. On Tuesday, the tricky Argentine got the final say.

Di Maria assisted on both goals in a 2-0 victory that hands Thomas Tuchel's tattered squad a huge advantage in the Champions League last-16 tie, and for the ridiculed former Red Devil, it was an exercise in atonement.

First, it was a pinpoint left-footed corner-kick that found Presnel Kimpembe.

Then, Di Maria further exorcised his demons at the Theatre of Dreams with a robust run and incisive ball across the face of goal that met a surging Kylian Mbappe. Blessed with searing pace and deceitful dribbling ability, Di Maria marauded down the left flank with ease. Right-back Ashley Young could do little aside from shoulder-checking the winger into a fence enclosing Di Maria's misanthropes minutes before the interval.

Di Maria's £60-million move to United was, at the time, the highest fee paid by an English side. Massive expectations were only made worse by inheriting the No. 7 kit that George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo sported before, and despite winning the club's Player of the Month award for September, matters went downhill in a hurry.

After starring in a 4-3-3 formation at Real Madrid and capturing Man of the Match honors in the Champions League final versus rival Atletico, the Argentinian international was slotted into Louis van Gaal's preferred diamond midfield. The diamond doesn't allow for a natural winger, and Di Maria's failure to adapt set the table for an unceremonious departure. It was an at-times unmanageable spell for a club desperate to return order following Sir Alex Ferguson's celebrated tenure. That process is now only marginally nearer to completion, with the club's long-term managerial situation still very much up in the air.

Di Maria is back to his best under Tuchel, and after injuries to Edinson Cavani, Neymar, and Thomas Meunier supposedly crushed PSG's continental hopes, the once-ridiculed Red Devil is a buoyant force set to end United's European hopes.

Marquinhos was fantastic as a false No. 6 on Tuesday, Marco Verratti was irrepressible, and Dani Alves, who somehow managed to be a thorn in United's side without resorting to familiar theatrics, was dependable. But it was Di Maria who surely left the greatest imprint on Manchester United supporters who showed up ready to hound him at Old Trafford.

When he was taken off in the 81st minute, the jeers from the United faithful lacked the vigor and sudsy projectiles of those that greeted the slick winger not long before. Now barely audible above the fervent song of PSG's traveling support, the muted derision meant Di Maria had gotten the last laugh.

Have a beer, mate. You earned it.