Champions League: Club Brugge v Man Utd preview

Manchester United head into their Champions League play-off second leg against Club Brugge aiming for a spot in the group stage of Europe's elite competition after missing out last season.

Lous Van Gaal's side will take a 3-1 lead to the atmospheric Jan Breydel Stadion on Wednesday after Memphis Depay's brace and Marouane Fellaini's last-ditch third at Old Trafford last week but the Belgians have a crucial away goal.

A 2-0 win for Brugge would be enough to take them through at United's expense on the away goals rule, but United - three-time winners of the competition - will be in confident mood of making progress having made an unbeaten start to their Premier League campaign.

They were held to a frustrating goalless draw at home by Newcastle on Saturday, though, and eyes are sure to be on goal-shy striker Wayne Rooney. 

The England striker has failed to find the back of the net for United since a 3-1 win against Aston Villa in April - a barren run that spans 10 games and 858 minutes and his worst since 2007.

United didn't feature in the competition last season, but had previously reached the group stages for 18 years in succession and will not want to miss out this time around.

Van Gaal is expecting an uncomfortable night in Belgium and told the official Manchester United website: "It is a difficult ground, and it is not a simple opponent. I have read in the papers in England that it is simple and it is a walkover, but it isn't like that.

"Brugge against Panathinaikos, they won 3-0 [in the previous round]. It is still a game, but because of our third goal we now have more confidence."