United’s Last Champions League Play-Off 2nd Leg

Manchester United are in somewhat unfamiliar territory in having to qualify for the Champions League through a play-off tie, but they have been in this situation before- albeit ten years ago.

Their opponents on that occasion were Hungarian side Debrecen and, unsurprisingly, United came through the opening tie with relative ease. After a comfortable 3-0 home win in the first leg, Sir Alex Ferguson’s
team then travelled to Eastern Europe on August 24th 2005, expecting to qualify for the group stage.

United then eased through the second leg, with two almost forgotten men providing the goals to take them through. Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze scored the first goal in another 3-0 win, a header in the 20th minute, which ended any hope Debrecen had of mounting a comeback

Heinze scored another header just after the hour, which was quickly followed by Kieran Richardson’s effort from outside the area. That sealed the tie at 6-0 over the two legs, though it would be a surprise for United to enjoy such a comfortable second leg under Louis van Gaal on Wednesday night

Plenty of comparisons can be drawn between that second leg tie and the one awaiting United on Wednesday. The Reds were going through a quiet spell in terms of trophies at the time, with that 2005/06 campaign the
final of three successive seasons in which the side failed to win the Premier League title. van Gaal’s team are in exactly the same scenario this time around.

Like against Debrecen, United are heading into their second leg this week with a good lead, though the decisive difference on this occasion is the away goal conceded at Old Trafford last week. Not only that, but van Gaal’s side doesn’t include players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and a younger and more powerful Wayne Rooney- perhaps suggesting the gap between the two sides is smaller.

Club Brugge are the team in United’s way this time and they are probably a more dangerous proposition than Debrecen were ten years ago. Belgian football is arguably of a better standard than in Hungary, and the away goal Brugge scored at Old Trafford last week gives them some hope in this second leg.

Whilst Brugge might be able to cause some problems for United on Wednesday, an upset in their favour seems unlikely. However, an early goal for the Belgian’s could at least set up an interesting game, and a potentially anxious night for the Reds.