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So the teams are in. Interestingly, Jonny Evans is not in the squad, as he’s expected to seal a move to West Brom imminently.
Despite reports that Fellaini would come into the side, the Belgian international remains on the bench, though there are two changes to the team that drew with Newcastle at the weekend – Herrera and Carrick replace Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger in the starting XI.
And here is the Brugge team, which sees five changes to the side that were beaten 3-1 at Old Trafford in the first leg.
Needless to say, still no David De Gea in the Man United squad.
United will be hoping Memphis Depay can repeat the magic he showed against Brugge last week.
We’re underway…
“I think this is what’s been wrong with United all season… Everything is so slow.”
RTÉ’s Ronnie Whelan is not impressed with what he sees in the opening stages of this game.
Chance for Brugge early on as De Sutter connects with a deep cross.
Fortunately for United however, Luke Shaw is well positioned to block his opponent’s attempt.
Rooney has slipped on more than one occasion already.
The England international is looking a little isolated up front in these early stages.
Herrera has already been booked for a late tackle on Vasquez.
United are looking a little nervy in these opening stages as Boligni briefly was through on goal, but his touch took the ball too far wide.
BRUGGE 0-1 MAN UNITED (ROONEY 19)
Brugge must hate the sight of Memphis Depay by now.
The Dutch winger does extremely well to evade a few would-be tacklers before playing through Rooney, who slots the ball home with the simplest of finishes.
That’s surely the tie all over then.
Brugge need to score three times now to simply force extra-time.
Here’s a look at the opening goal.
https://vine.co/v/ejjmi51MQ7e
Good link-up play again, as Rooney feeds Depay with a clever lofted pass.
The Dutchman is correctly adjudged just offside, but himself and Rooney seem to be beginning to form a good understanding.
Decent play down the left with Vazquez at the heart of it.
However, the cross can’t find De Sutter and United eventually clear their lines.
An unfortunate incident causes the crowd to cheer loudly.
A steward who attempts to stop a pitch invader falls awkwardly as he does so.
Depay swings a dangerous corner in, but the defender gets there just ahead of Herrera.
Brugge could start to really fall apart if United get another goal.
A cross is floated across the United area, but it’s just too high for Claudemir to properly connect with a header.
Whatever about their defensive inadequacies, Brugge continue to look lively in attack.
Good work by Shaw, before Depay’s shot deflects comfortably into the goalkeeper’s arms.
It’s been an entertaining first 40 minutes.
Not for the first time, a Brugge attacker gets in behind the United defence.
De Sutter’s powerful shot has to be parried away by Romero.
Shortly thereafter, the same player connects with a corner but his attempt goes just wide.
As I type, Diaby is through on goal but fails to take it round the goalkeeper and United are off the hook again.
Brugge are a bit unlucky to be behind given how this game has panned out so far.
It was pretty selfish play from Diaby for that last chance.
The pass to Mbombo was on, but the player went for the glory himself and made a mess of the chance.
HALF-TIME: BRUGGE 0-1 MAN UNITED
So half-time and United lead 1-0. It’s been a far from vintage performance from the Red Devils.
Van Gaal’s men have looked a little vulnerable at the back at times, and are probably fortunate to be leading, with Brugge missing some decent opportunities.
On the plus side though, Wayne Rooney took his goal well, following excellent play by Depay, who appears to be continuing on from where he left off against the Belgians last week.
The lads in the RTÉ studio are less than impressed with United tonight.
Liam Brady says the play is “too slow,” while John Giles singles out Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera as “poor”.
“The best midfield player tonight has been Vazquez,” adds the Arsenal legend, while Dunphy calls United’s defence “a shambles”.
Schweinsteiger is set to come on for Januzaj in the second half.
But Dunphy reckons it’ll “stay the same” and he’ll “slow the game down”.
The second half is underway…
Herrera is now in the number 10 role instead of Januzaj.
Rooney thinks he should have had a penalty.
Replays reveal Duarte missed the ball, but he also made minimal contact with the United striker, who went down all too easily.
BRUGGE 0-2 MAN UNITED (ROONEY 49)
Rooney doubles United’s advantage.
Brugge concede possession in a dangerous area, with Herrera then crossing for Rooney, who makes no mistake with his finish.
Here’s the goal that has effectively ensured Man United’s passage into this year’s group stages.
https://vine.co/v/ejj6lgPjn1A
Man United break again, but Mata slightly overhits a pass to the onrushing Depay.
Club Brugge are looking fairly demoralised now.
BRUGGE 0-3 MAN UNITED (ROONEY 57)
Juan Mata plays a beautiful through ball to Rooney, who coolly finishes again for the hat-trick.
As I type, Mata again plays through Rooney, but this time, the goalkeeper makes a good save to deny him a fourth.
Here’s a look at the hat-trick goal.
https://vine.co/v/ejjHEmH2u0h
Mata, who has played well, is replaced by Ashley Young.
BRUGGE 0-4 MAN UNITED (HERRERA 64)
It’s a lovely ball through from Schweinsteiger and Herrera — who has caught the eye in his more advanced second-half role — shows good composure to finish well past the goalkeeper.
It’s his last act of the match, as he’s replaced by Hernandez.
Out of nowhere, De Sutter hits a powerful shot off the underside of the bar.
Brugge have more or less fallen apart in this second half, but they do have a few talented players who continue to give their all.
This fourth goal is worth watching a couple of times purely for Schweinsteiger’s masterful pass.
https://vine.co/v/ejjpvvjDxw3
George Hamilton is in good form tonight.
The ball falls to Vormer on the edge of the box, but his attempt is well off target.
Unsurprisingly, the intensity of this game has dipped considerably of late.
Vormer gets booked for clattering into Depay.
Just over 10 minutes remain.
BT Sport pundits Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand in the sky box.
MISSED PENALTY!
Substitute Hernandez slips as he takes it and slots it wide.
Young’s cross can’t find Hernandez.
The game is well and truly over, but his cameo appearance is unlikely to do the Mexican international’s confidence any good.
That penalty came about after Duarte was harshly adjudged to have handled Rooney’s cross.
Meanwhile, the stadium announcer has just advised Man United fans to leave early or risk missing the train.
Dierckx limps off injured for Brugge.
The hosts will have to finish the match with 10 men, as they’ve made all three substitutions.
Great work by Ashley Young, whose pinpoint cross finds Hernandez, but the Mexican international slots over with the goal at his mercy.
It really hasn’t been the striker’s night.
FULL-TIME: BRUGGE 0-4 MAN UNITED (AGG: 1-7)
So that’s that. Man United win comfortably in the end.
Despite struggling to convince in the first half, United had more urgency in their play after the break.
Schweinsteiger’s introduction and Herrera’s move to number 10 improved things for the visitors, while Wayne Rooney was more clinical than he has been of late, looking as if he could be returning to something like his best form, claiming a well-taken hat-trick.
The Red Devils took advantage of a tiring Brugge side, who effectively threw in the towel after the second goal.
However, on the less positive side for United, Hernandez had a disappointing cameo, missing two golden chances, while the defence looked shaky at times in the first half.
Right, that’s all from me, but we’ll have more reaction to follow.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
