Berbatov Scores Brace For United

Dimitar Berbatov got off the mark with a double strike as Manchester United cruised to Champions League victory against Aalborg in Denmark.

Wayne Rooney slid home a pass from Ryan Giggs - on for Paul Scholes after he was stretchered off with a knee injury - to open the scoring after 22 minutes.

Berbatov opened his goal account when he took advantage of a defensive mix-up to score 10 minutes after half-time.

He then volleyed in Cristiano Ronaldo's cross for his second after 79 minutes.

United outclassed Bruce Rioch's minnows, but injuries to Scholes and Rooney cast a shadow over the win, which leaves them with four points from their first two group games.

Scholes was left on crutches, while Rooney limped off in some discomfort just before the hour mark.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson kept faith with Berbatov, despite a lacklustre start to his Old Trafford career, but he made an undistinguished start with a dreadful miss after five minutes.

Aalborg keeper Karim Zaza's clearance ricocheted off Ronaldo straight to Berbatov, but he shot wide of an open goal.

Zaza then had to block a drive from Rio Ferdinand after Nemanja Vidic flicked on Nani's corner.

United suffered a blow after 16 minutes when Scholes was stretchered off with a knee injury following a challenge by Thomas Augustinussen.

Giggs came on and demonstrated his enduring quality six minutes later with a perfect through ball into Rooney's path and he slipped home a simple finish.

Rafael had looked promising at right-back, and he almost showed his goal-scoring talent with a fine left-foot shot that was turned over by Zaza.

United needed to kill the game off, and they did so when Berbatov was gifted his first goal following his £30m move from Spurs in the 55th minute.

Augustinussen's dreadful control presented Berbatov with possession on the edge of the area, and he wasted no time in hammering an emphatic finish past Zaza.

There was another concern for United after 58 minutes when Rooney pulled up injured and limped off to be replaced by Carlos Tevez.

Tevez had the ball in the net almost immediately, but referee Olegario Benquerenca ruled out the effort for handball.

United were now carving out a succession of chances, with Ronaldo failing to take advantage of good work by Tevez and the Argentine shooting wide after cutting in from the left.

Berbatov got his second with 11 minutes left, showing great technique to hook home Ronaldo's right-wing cross.

The Bulgarian almost repaid the compliment with six minutes left when he set Ronaldo racing clear with a glorious pass, but he was unable to provide the final flourish to a comfortable win.

A job well done by United - but at what cost in terms of injuries remained to be seen as the players prepared to fly back to Manchester.

AaB: Zaza, Bogelund, Olfers, Beauchamp (Caca 38), Pedersen, Augustinussen, Risgaard, Curth, Johansson, Enevoldsen, Saganowski.

Subs Not Used: Stenild, Due, Braemer, Sorensen, Kristensen, Ronnie Schwartz Nielsen.

Booked: Johansson, Zaza.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva (Brown 66), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes (Giggs 16), O'Shea, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney (Tevez 59).

Subs Not Used: Amos, Anderson, Park, Evans.

Booked: Rafael Da Silva.

Goals: Rooney 22, Berbatov 55, 79.

Att: 10,346

Ref: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal).

United lose Paul Scholes to a knee injury after 15 minutes as they search for victory in Denmark

United take the lead as Scholes's replacement Ryan Giggs sends a sublime pass to Wayne Rooney who calmly slots home

Dimitar Berbatov takes advantage of poor AaB defending to volley in his first goal for Manchester United in the 55th minute

Berbatov scores his second of the night with a perfectly-timed volley in the 79th minute as United secure the three points