Job done for Louis van Gaal in his first European game as Manchester United manager. Plenty of signs that his side are still a work in progress at this early stage of the season, but there were enough positives knocking around too. More fine performances from Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling and the arrival of Memphis Depay as an attacking force at Old Trafford will have left the Dutchman pleased ahead of their return trip to Bruges next Wednesday.

Marouane Fellaini's last gasp header gave United a far comfier cushion heading into that second leg but it has been similarly close fought elsewhere across Europe this evening. The other scores from the qualifying playoff in full:

FC Astana 1-0 Apoel Nicosia

BATE Borisov 1-0 Partizan Belgrade

Lazio 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen

Sporting 2-1 CSKA Moscow

Job done for Louis van Gaal in his first European game as Manchester United manager. Plenty of signs that his side are still a work in progress at this early stage of the season, but there were enough positives knocking around too. More fine performances from Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling and the arrival of Memphis Depay as an attacking force at Old Trafford will have left the Dutchman pleased ahead of their return trip to Bruges next Wednesday.

Marouane Fellaini's last gasp header gave United a far comfier cushion heading into that second leg but it has been similarly close fought elsewhere across Europe this evening. The other scores from the qualifying playoff in full:

FC Astana 1-0 Apoel Nicosia

BATE Borisov 1-0 Partizan Belgrade

Lazio 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen

Sporting 2-1 CSKA Moscow

FULL TIME:

Manchester United 3-1 Club Brugge

Just as the ref was about to blow for full time, Fellaini makes it three. Memphis is again involved, digging out the cross to the far post for the big Belgian to nod home a very important goal. United now have a real cushion ahead of their trip to Bruges next week.

Goal! Manchester United 3-1 Club Brugge (Maroaune Fellaini)

It;s been a tame conclusion to this match from United. With Brugge down to 10 men they could have really gone for the jugular, instead it's barely looks like they have a man advantage. The Belgians will be happy enough if this stays the same.

Fellaini wants a penalty after De Bock swings an arm out to clear a cross, but the referee instead awards Brugge with a free kick. On replay, the big Belgian may have used his arm to bring the ball down before De Bock swung his across.

Rooney's evening is now over too; Maroaune Fellaini comes onto replace him with Chris Smalling taking the armband.

Nah. The free kick comes in and Claudemir does get his head to it but can't direct it anywhere near Romero's goal.

Chris Smalling is now shown a yellow after a foul on Obbi Oulare. A chance for Brugge to provide a twist in the tale?

The lively Hernandez robs Mechele of possession out on the right and the Brugge defender slides through the back of the Mexican in a vain attempt to get the ball. A second yellow predictably follows and Brugge will finish with 10.

RED CARD - Mechele (Club Brugge)

Final change for Brugge as Vanaken comes on for Vazquez

Hernandez does brilliantly just inside the box, flicking the ball out to Darmian who tees up Mata on the edge of the box. Duarte comes crashing through the Spaniard but Schweinsteiger is on the rebound before any foul can be given. His effort veers wide, however.

Brugge are looking a bit knackered here. That pressing from the first half has disappeared and twice in the past minute, two players have almost run into each other chasing the same ball.

United have a free kick about 30 yards out and Memphis has control of it. The technique tries is Ronaldo-esque, but the end product is well off target.

Nick Howson at Old Trafford

Bastian Schweinsteiger on for Manchester United in an attempt to exert a little more control and while Brugge have not lifted their foot off the accelerator, the success of their ventures into the attacking third is now far more varying. Brugge went through their third qualifying round after losing the first leg 2-1. Could they repeat that?

Another change for United and it's a first appearance of the season for Javier Hernandez, who comes onto replace Januzaj. Just under 20 minutes of the first lef remaining.

The ball now breaks to Schweinsteiger in the box but he can't react quick enough and Brugge hoof clear.

That was a wonderful flowing move involving Shaw, Mata and Rooney and Memphis really should have kept his effort down.

What a miss from Memphis! Shaw gives the ball away in a dangerous position but races across the pitch from left to right to win it back. The former Saints defender powers down the right channel, finding Mata, who clips a pass into Rooney inside the six yard box. The United captain's first touch has deserted him at times in recent days, but there is nothing wrong with this one, flicking the ball first time behind him into the path from Memphis. The Dutchman has the goal at his mercy for a Champions League debut hat-trick but miss-hits his volley over the bar.

United come straight back down the other end with Darmian and Januzaj combining neatly down the right. The Italian wins the corner, but Brugge scamble it away.

Big let of for United. Schneiderlin strokes a ball back for his goalkeeper to clear but Romero takes an age to come out and sweep it clear. Just as Oulare is about to close him down, he punts it clear, but only as far as another Brugge player on the edge of the box.Luckily for him, the referee has given a free kick for the challenge from Oulare.

Pass, pass, pass. United comfortably stroke the ball around the pitch, swapping from left to right. Mata then kicks it up a gear, slotting a pass into Rooney on the edge of the D. He tries to swivel and shoot, but gets too much on his shot and lifts it wide of goal.

Change for Brugge as Oulare comes on for Diaby up front.

An encouraging United move down sees them switch the ball from left to right with Schweinsteiger eventually seeing his shot on goal charged down.

And it's Memphis again. He races towards a terrified Brugge backline who again fail to show him down the line, inviting him to shoot. When he eventually does, it's a fairly tame effort and Bruzzese can palm it around his far post.

An exchange between Rooney and Depay breaks down, allowing Brugge to advance through Diaby. Darmian steps across to halt him but is judged to have fouled the forward and is shown a harsh yellow card.

Nick Howson at Old Trafford

Manchester United's return to the Champions League may not be being accompanied by a performance becoming of the illustrious competition, but it is enough to be leading an enterprising Club Brugge at half time.

"Memphis Depay's glorious double has cancelled out if not erased Michael Carrick's eighth minute own goal - an away goal at that - but the truth of the matter is it could be much worse for Louis van Gaal's side. Much to be improve upon; a statement on which his reign at Old Trafford is defined on. Brugge meanwhile have been excellent and credit to them for showing no fear.

Memphis looking dangerous again. Out on the left, the Dutchman is far too easily shown inside and whips a shot/cross in towards the far post. Rooney momentarily looks like he can get on the end of it but it;s out of his reach.

Bright start from United as Januzaj lays a pass off to Mata whose cut infield from the right to hit a first time effort from just outside the box but it's easily saved by the Brugge goalkeeper.

One change to bring to you, Bastian Schweinsteiger makes his way onto the pitch, replacing Michael Carrick for the second half.

And we are back underway for the second half at Old Trafford with Club Brugge getting us started.

After falling behind after a Michael Carrick own goal, Memphis Depay has hauled United back into this with two wonderful solo efforts.

HALF TIME:

Manchester United 2-1 Club Brugge

Unitec come again as Carrick frees Rooney down the left. He cuts inside with Duarte for company, flicking the ball past the Costa Rican but that touch was too heavy and he can't keep the ball in play at the byline.

What a goal from Memphis! From his own half, Blind threads a sublime ball down the inside left flank to find his countryman who skips inside past the challenge of Mechele to curl a wonderful right footed effort into the top right hand corner.

Goal! Manchester United 2-1 Club Brugge (Memphis Depay)

Brugge skipper Timmy Simons is down clutching his hamstring and it looks like his evening is over. Claudemir comes onto replace him.

Memphis now receives the ball 25 yards out from goal from Carrick, shimmies past his man and fires a vicious effort on goal that Bruzzese manages to palm away. For better of for worse, it's coming through Memphis in the final third for United this evening.

Rooney drops deep and threads a brilliant ball through for Depay to run onto from the left. His first touch isn't bad, but the Dutchman loses his composure completely as he enters the box and sprays a shoot/pass//something else wide that Mata manages to keep in play. He tries to lift it back into the box but Brugge block.

Vormer ventures down the right and fires a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Romero doesn't get a hand to it and it just bypasses Diaby whose waiting in the box. Looking at the replay, it looked like a good decision from the Argentine goalkeeper to leave that alone.

United again work the ball neatly across midfield with Mata springing Januzaj clear with a wonderful clipped ball from the right. Januzaj has sprang clear of the line but Duarte gets across and knocks the young Belgian off the ball. Was that enough for a foul? The referee doesn't think so.

Rooney tries an overhead kick this time and gets just enough on it to test Bruzzese who can palm it out of play for another corner.

Januzaj is hauled down on the left flank and wins a free kick for his side. United work it much better this time with Schneiderlin almost springing the young Belgian free down the inside channel. It's half cleared, but only as far as Memphis whose effort on goal deflects out for another corner.

Nick Howson at Old Trafford

"If United were under any illusion that Brugge were going to merely role over in this playoff tie, they have been given a rude awakening in the opening quarter of an hour. The Belgian side are not going to go down wondering and though they led in fortunate circumstances they have already caused United plenty of early problems. Level Louis van Gaal's side might be, but they face a long evening ahead."

United hit right back! Carrick advances upfield and slips a ball inside to Memphis. He slips around his man onto the edge of the box before finding the back of the net with a precise low effort

Goal! Manchester United 1-1 Club Brugge (Memphis Depay)

Oh oh. From about 35 yards out Victor Vasquez swings a fairly harmless ball into the box from the left. Michael Carrick leaps across to divert it away from goal but instead slices it into his own goal.

Goal! Manchester United 0-1 Club Brugge (Michael Carrick OG)

Memphis picks the ball up out on the left and cuts menacingly inside, shaping to shoot. He goes down on the edge of the box appealing for a free kick but gets nothing.

Brugge press United back into their own box and the ball is just about shuffled back to Romero who can only hoof the ball away

United start quickly with Mata scooping a ball out for Januzaj to race onto down the inside right channel. He cuts inside and slides through an inviting ball back to Rooney but he can't quite get on the end of it.

And we are BACK.

Both teams are lining up in the tunnel ahead of kick off.

United and Brugge aren't the only teams in action this evening. BATE Borisov v Partizan Belgrade, Lazio v Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting Lisbon v CSKA Moscow all kick off at 7:45pm. FC Astana have taken a 1-0 aggregate lead over Apoel Nicosia having already finished up their game earlier this afternoon.

United are heavy favourites to progress to the group stages and Louis van Gaal is aware of the expectation resting on the shoulders of his players.

There is a lot of pressure for us but we have to cope with it. We need experience and we can't lose the ball unnecessarily.

In the last two matches we are too easily losing the ball."

Nick Howson at Old Trafford

Is Louis van Gaal naming an unchanged team from the win over Aston Villa a sign of progression or an insight into his confidence in the other options available to him? Either way, he has resisted the temptation to recall last season's get-out clause, Marouane Fellini, from the start as the 6ft 4in midfielder becomes available for the first time since his red card against Hull City.

"One Belgian that will have the chance to impress against the opponents from his homeland is Adnan Januzaj. The match-winner from Villa Park is again expected to play in the number 10 role behind Wayne Rooney as the rebirth of his United career continues."

As mentioned earlier, Manchester United enter this play-off stage having never been troubled by it before, easing into the group stages in each of their previous visits. Here's a full breakdown of how teams from Europe's other big leagues have fared at this stage in the past, stats courtesy of bwin

Bwin stats
Bwin

That same XI from Louis van Gaal sees Adnan Januzaj handed another starting role after his goal at Villa Park on Friday. He told United's official website on Monday:

Last year was last year, and this year is this year. I'm happy at United and I'm happy with the way the manager has worked with me, so I don't have any issues with that.

"Of course [I'm improving]; the manager has spoken to me a few times and I felt that I haven't been myself but I hadn't had many games, so hopefully I can play more this year.

Nick Howson at Old Trafford

After a stuttering, yet winning, start to the season there is certainly an air of expectation around Old Trafford tonight as United look to return to the Champions League proper after a year away. The naming of an unchanged team from the victory over Aston Villa only emphasises the pressure on the home side to deliver tonight against their Belgian opponents.

"Club Brugge may not have played top tier European football since 2005 but they travel to the home of the three-time winners with no fear, having staged a dramatic comeback to knock-out Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round. Though they have not started their own domestic season in convincing fashion, Michel Preud'homme's side will not be overly concerned by their opponents' own league form. If their support is anything go by, they will fancy themselves.

That's just one centre half in Louis van Gaal's 18-man squad however. Chris Smalling alongside stand-in Daley Blind with no other options on the bench...

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ander Herrera again settle for a place on the bench alongside Marouane Fellaini, who is free to play tonight but is still to serve a one match domestic ban. Wayne Rooney continues up front.

BREAKING: Manchester United are unchanged from the side that beat Aston Villa on Friday night.

Manchester United team to face Club Brugge: Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Mata, Memphis, Januzaj, Rooney

Subs: Johnstone, Valencia, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Fellaini, Young, Hernandez.

United's only confirmed absence this evening is Phil Jones, who is still shaking off a bout of mild thrombosis that has ruled him out of his side's two games this season.

The Dutchman does have Marcos Rojo fit but has been reluctant to throw him straight back into the first team following his delayed return to training this summer following his exploits with Argentina at the Copa America this summer.

Marouane Fellaini is still serving a domestic suspension after his red card on the final day of last season but is free to available for tonight's clash.

Manchester United are 180 minutes away from the group stages of the Champions League. Standing in their way is Club Brugge of Belgium and while the Premier League giants landed a slightly favourable draw in this play-off stage, they will be advised to take no chances.

Let's face it, failure to qualify for the groups will be an unmitigated disaster for the Old Trafford club. For Louis van Gaal and chief executive Ed Woodward, it would be the undoing of a year's worth of steady progress that culminated in their fourth place finish last season.

Back-to-back wins and clean sheets in their first two games of their Premier League campaign bode well, however, despite growing concern over the performances of skipper Wayne Rooney.

History is on their side this evening, too. United have a 100 percent success rate in the play-off round of this competition and have won all three of their previous encounters with Belgian opposition, boasting a healthy aggregate score of 18-1.

And compared to the dire straits he found himself in this time last year, Louis van Gaal has an almost-full squad to choose from. There are no excuses for any slip ups.