Manchester United 4 Bayer Leverkusen 2: match report

Read a full match report of the Champions League Group A game between Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford on Tuesday Sept 17, 2013.

Double act: Wayne Rooney (right) scored twice while team-mate Robin van Persie (left) also got in on the act as Manchester United rolled over Bayer Leverkusen in their opening Champions League group game at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Wayne Rooney now seems intent on making history at Manchester United, rather than being history there. With all his summer travails behind him, Rooney looks fit, refreshed and focused on the future which could one day see him overtake Sir Bobby Charlton as the club’s all-time scorer.

On Tuesday night’s headline-stealing evidence spiced by two goals and a marvellous assist (and a spectacular miss), Rooney can set new records here.

Charlton watched this entertaining Champions League Group A defeat of Bayer Leverkusen, looking on admiringly as Rooney became only the fourth player in United’s illustrious history to reach 200 goals.

Rooney, 27, is now within touching distance of third-placed Jack Rowley’s 211 and could pass Denis Law’s 237 and Charlton’s 249 by the time he is 30. Rooney is walking with giants.

No wonder United’s new manager, David Moyes, worked so hard in the summer to persuade Rooney to stay, ignoring the flirtatious advances of Chelsea amongst other suitors.