Champions League football returned to Old Trafford last night in the form of German Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen, managed by Liverpool old boy Sami Hyypia. Leverkusen are currently sitting third domestically, winning four out their first five games and all eyes were on David Moyes to see how he handled his first European test as United manager.
Shinji Kagawa fans will have been happy to see Moyes finally hand the Japan international a starting place whilst Marouane Fellaini earned his first start in a reds shirt. With Rafael still out with a hamstring injury, Chris Smalling took over at right back with Antonio Valencia ahead of him on the right flank as Nani was sidelined courtesy of the ban brought on by his red card in last season's disappointing exit to Real Madrid.
United began the game comfortably and Valencia and Rooney looked impressive early on. Rooney just missed out on connecting with one of the Ecuadorian's dangerous crosses inside the first ten minutes. Moments later it was Fellaini that turned provider handing Van Persie the ball with a driven first time pass that the Dutchman dragged wide of the far right post from 30 yards out.
Leverkusen finally had a spell of possession shortly after, forcing two quick corners but both were cleared with ease by the United defence and the Germans struggled to trouble De Gea. Their best outlet was down the right hand side as Evra was sometimes caught out of position as he committed himself to United's attack. However, Leverkusen failed to capitalise and it was the Frenchman who finally created the opener for United on 22 minutes after clever trickery from Van Persie on the left. Quick interplay between Carrick and Fellaini then allowed Kagawa to flick the ball on with his head into the path of Evra on the left wing who curled his cross into the box providing Rooney with the perfect opportunity to half volley the ball into the ground and see it rise over the young Bernd Leno in Leverkusen's net.
It was the perfect start for the reds and Rooney looked in confident mood again seconds after the re-start with a cheeky nutmeg as United attacked on the break but Leverkusen managed to clear his resulting cross-field pass to Van Persie. United were enjoying plenty of possession down the right hand side as Valencia looked to be enjoying his battle with the full back.
The second half started at a similar tempo, with Rooney linking up well with the United midfield. The United number 10 should have put the home side 2-0 up early on as Toprak slipped and allowed him to round the keeper, but his effort on goal ended up well wide. It was a shock, therefore, when Leverkusen sneaked an equaliser in the 54th minute. Captain Simon Rolfes' left foot shot took a crucial deflection off Carrick which left De Gea flat-footed and caught the defence off guard.
However, United didn't have to wait long to get back in front when less than five minutes later one of their stand-out performers Antonio Valencia floated a cross in from the right which found Van Persie in the box who somehow managed to volley the ball in with his back to goal. It was a typical athletic finish from the striker and put United back in command.
Rooney managed his landmark 200th goal twenty minutes from time to put United 3-1 up as De Gea supplied him with a fantastic ball over the top that was controlled well. This time Rooney made no mistake, drilling the ball in past the near post and past Leno, who had a difficult night all round.
Kagawa, who understandably tired late on, was then substituted off for Ashley Young who was involved in United's fourth and final goal of the match, a wonderfully quick counter-attack that began when Van Persie won the ball in the United area. He did well to find Young on the left who showcased his pace and gave the ball to Rooney who rounded off his near-perfect performance with an inviting ball for Valencia to hit with venom and claim his first goal of the season.
Leverkusen managed another goal late on as United's defence seemed to switch off, De Gea failed to deal with a corner and Toprak put the ball in the net to make the final score seem a little more respectable for the Germans. United should have made it 5-2 right at the death though, Van Persie uncharacteristically missing an open goal that seemed harder to miss.
Overall it was a good night for United with both strikers continuing to score goals and David Moyes will be hoping they can take their great form to the Etihad on Sunday in a match against Manchester City that could prove vital come the end of the season.
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