United hang on for victory

Bayer Leverkusen 1 Man Utd 2

Manchester United emerged triumphant on German soil for the first time in 36 years against Leverkusen tonight, but they only managed it by the width of a post.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first half double should have allowed Sir Alex Ferguson’s team to stroll home and exact maximum revenge for their heartbreaking semi-final exit to Leverkusen last season.

Instead, they were subjected to a second half pummelling which they only survived when Thomas Brdaric’s late header rebounded off the inside of a post with Fabien Barthez beaten.

It must have been cruel viewing for van Nistelrooy, who had silenced his critics in spectacular fashion, overtaking Denis Law in United’s European Cup goalscoring stakes in the process.

The Dutchman’s form has been the subject of some analysis over the past few weeks.

Conventional wisdom has it that van Nistelrooy is suffering from a severe case of second-seasonitis, defenders have started to get used to him and the chances are not flowing as freely.

He went into tonight’s clash with five goals from 10 appearances, just one down on the same period last term, which he ended with an impressive 36.

Juan Sebastian Veron’s 31st-minute cross from the left should not really have caused the home side too many problems. However, Hanno Balitsch found himself caught out of position, and van Nistelrooy, a predator waiting at the far post, calmly brought the ball down on his chest and despatched a first-time shot into the opposite corner.

There was no sign of nerves in that effort and his granny could probably have finished off the chance Nicky Butt provided him with a minute before the break.

More calamitous Bayer defending was exposed by Ryan Giggs, who found Butt in acres of room inside the box. There were a few options, but the England midfielder chose wisely, squaring the ball across the six-yard area to provide van Nistelrooy with a tap-in.

It marked the end of his evening because of a hamstring tweak although he did not appear to be suffering unduly as he made his way off at the interval and Diego Forlan’s arrival appeared to be more of a precaution.

John O’Shea’s problem was slightly more serious. The Irishman had apparently recovered from an unintentional aerial clash with Phil Neville but as half-time arrived, reported double vision and was immediately withdrawn.

Gary Neville came on as his replacement, providing experience which should have allowed United to coast home. Instead, the United bench had their nerves shredded as the visitors dropped further back towards their own goal, inviting pressure on themselves.

Within six minutes, Dimitar Berbatov, an early and enthusiastic substitute for Oliver Neuville, despatched a shot into the corner after Yildiray Basturk found him in space 10 yards out.

Barthez produced a couple of good stops, then blotted his copybook by firing a clearance kick straight at Thomas Brdaric’s whose elusive movement around the penalty area was causing the visitors more anxiety.

Brdaric should really have shot first time but instead tried to barge his way into the area and was robbed. His best chance was still to come though. Schneider picked him out with a perfect cross and his flicked 10-yard header momentarily seemed destined for the corner. Instead it crashed out off the inside of a post.