The summer signing came to the fore with two
stunning goals as Louis van Gaal's side came from
behind to take a strong lead to Belgium for the
play-off second leg
Memphis Depay turned on the style and Marouane
Fellaini struck in stoppage time as Manchester
United beat Club Brugge 3-1 on their return to the
Champions League.

Depay, signed from PSV in June, opened his
account for United in impressive fashion on
Tuesday with a first-half double as Louis van Gaal's
side moved a step closer to claiming a place in the
group stage.

The 21-year-old forward's heroics came after
Brugge had taken a surprise early lead against the
Premier League side when Michael Carrick
deflected a Victor Vazquez free-kick into his own
net.

United were ahead by the break, though, as Depay
quickly endeared himself to the Old Trafford
faithful with two clinical finishes.

Another two chances fell the way of the
Netherlands international but a Champions League
hat-trick eluded him, while Obbi Oulare nearly
embarrassed Sergio Romero at the other end.

Substitute Fellaini gave the home side a two-goal
cushion with a header in time added on after
Brandon Mechele's late red card for a second
bookable offence, to make United favourites to
progress heading into the second leg of the play-
off tie next Wednesday.

United, unchanged following their win at Aston
Villa on Friday, made a positive start with the
backing of an expectant Old Trafford crowd and
Wayne Rooney was inches away from converting
Adnan Januzaj's low cross after only 46 seconds.

The home side continued to threaten but found
themselves behind after eight minutes as Carrick
diverted Vazquez's free-kick into his own net – the
first goal conceded by Van Gaal's side this season.

Brugge could not hold on to their advantage,
though, as Carrick – who was replaced by
Schweinsteiger at half-time – made amends with a
superb assist for Depay's equaliser after 13
minutes.

His whipped pass was superbly brought down by
Depay on the edge of the penalty area and, after
beating three defenders, the Netherlands
international rifled his shot past Sebastien
Bruzzese.

Chances continued to come for the hosts and two
minutes before the break Depay doubled his tally,
cutting in from the left and curling a precise effort
beyond Bruzzese.

Not satisfied with two goals, Depay quickly went in
search of his hat-trick after the restart and was
denied a third by a fine Bruzzese save after a
marauding run.

With an hour played Romero – barely tested in the
United goal – nearly gifted Brugge an equaliser as
he hesitated to clear Matteo Darmian's back pass,
substitute Oulare nearly robbing the Argentine.

It was a rare opportunity for the visitors, and
United quickly broke down the other end and
Depay inexplicably missed a glorious chance from
12 yards after a sumptuous backheel from Rooney.

A late Depay free-kick flew inches wide before
Mechele was shown a second yellow card late on
and Chris Smalling headed straight at Bruzzese.in
stoppage time.

Finally United got their third goal, though, as
Fellaini rose at the back post to head home a
deep cross from the left, giving Van Gaal's side
breathing space heading into the second leg.