Forever young: Ryan runs rings around Germans in 5-0 thrashing as strong team performance sees United condemn Leverkusen to first home defeat in eight months.
Manchester United had the chance to secure qualification from Group A in the Champions League if they could claim victory away in Germany last night. Although they beat Bayer Leverkusen relatively comfortably 4-2 at home back in September, this tie looked to be trickier as Leverkusen held an impressive home record and had not been beaten at the BayArena since March. United had their own unbeaten run to maintain as victory would give them their 11th consecutive game in which they have picked up points.
With injuries still ruling out key players such as Robin Van Persie, Michael Carrick and Nemanja Vidic, David Moyes had the opportunity to gift other players the chance to take centre stage. Notably Shinji Kagawa earned a start in his preferred position behind the striker as he sat in the hole behind Wayne Rooney. Antonio Valencia and Nani provided the width for the away side with 21 year old Phil Jones returning from injury to play in the middle alongside veteran Ryan Giggs, two days before the Welshman turns 40.
The first real chance of the match came just after the quarter-hour mark as Giggs saw a gap in the defence and fed in Nani. Nani then brought it inside and tried to curl it into the far corner but it was just too high. Spahic then went close for Leverkusen with a headed effort off a corner that also went over the bar. The game soon became more of a spectacle as Evans put in a fantastic challenge to deny Kiessling after he had evaded Jones in the box. United then countered quickly and scored a brilliant team goal. Kagawa won the ball off Reinartz deep in United's half and carried the ball forward before squaring well to Giggs on his left. Giggs then spread the play out to Rooney on the left who took it into the box and lofted a wonderful ball to the far post that was tapped in by Valencia to end a fantastic move and give United the lead.
United began to look confident and their midfield play showcased a fluidity that has often been lacking for them this season. Less than ten minutes after they had scored the opener they went on to double their lead as Rooney once again provided the assist. This time it came from a free-kick as his ball in from the left was headed in for an own goal by Spahic after pressure in the air from Smalling. It was yet another example of the improvement Rooney has made from set-piece situations this season.
Not content with a simple two-goal lead United continued to press until half time as they dominated possession and caused countless problems, particularly down the right with crosses from Valencia and Smalling. Unluckily for the home side, after the break United maintained their dominance in all aspects of the game and nearly scored a third in the 58th minute through Nani. Spahic gifted the winger possession with a poor pass out of defence, Nani then played a lovely one-two with Rooney and hit a diagonal shot from the edge of the box that went agonisingly wide of the far post.
It was then a post at the other end that saved United from conceding as a corner in from the right caused chaos in the box when a Spahic header rebounded off Giggs and struck De Gea's left-hand upright. It then came back out for Spahic whose shot was well saved by the legs of De Gea. It was a rare chance for the home side and United soon regained their composure and created chances of their own. Rooney nutmegged Rolfes with ease to make space for a shot from range that just dipped past Leno's right post.
Rooney then turned creator again for United when they got a third on 65 minutes. A Giggs corner from the right found Evra in the box who did well to head down for Rooney. United's number 10 shot first time but it was saved by Leno. Evans picked up the rebound and carefully slotted in to put clear daylight between United and Leverkusen.
Moyes then made a change in the 70th minute as Buttner replaced Evra but this didn't mean United sat back and their persistence rewarded them with a goal seven minutes later as another unlikely goalscorer put them 4-0 up. A Valencia cross was poorly cleared by Spahic to Jones who quickly passed to Kagawa on the edge of the area. Kagawa then displayed exactly why his best position is behind the striker as he turned and lofted a delicious short pass to Rooney in the box. Rooney then chipped the ball over the advancing keeper to claim his fourth assist of the night and gift Smalling the chance to tap in for United's fourth. It was another magnificent move from the away side who looked like they might score whenever they attacked.
United's manager then took the chance to make more changes in the final ten minutes as Rooney and Valencia departed the field for Anderson and Young respectively. Anderson had the chance to make an immediate impact and add United's fifth but scuffed a shot wide after a brilliant run with the ball from the edge of his own area and a one-two with Nani gifted him the opportunity in the Leverkusen box.
There was still time for United to get the fifth though and they did in the 90th minute thanks to sheer genius from Ryan Giggs. Kagawa did well to get the ball to Anderson on the half way line who then squared it to Giggs in space in the centre-circle just inside the Leverkusen half. The Welsh wonder then hit a sublime first-time ball over the Leverkusen defence to Nani on the left who let it bounce, chested it down and past the on-rushing Leverkusen goalkeeper and flicked it into the open net with a finish that was equally as brilliant as the assist.
Leverkusen could have claimed a consolation at the death had it not been for De Gea who, much like his teammates, was in top form and saved well from the 10-yard shot from Derdiyok to ensure United kept a clean sheet. The whistle went to end United's fantastic night in Germany where they have recorded their biggest away victory in the Champions League. No doubt they will have left the country in good spirits after taking five goals, a clean sheet and qualification away from this trip alongside many other positives. Next they travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday in the Premier League safe in the knowledge that they need only a point in their final game of Group A at home to Shakhtar Donetsk to ensure that they finish top of the Group. After tonight's performance, you wouldn't bet against them.
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