Manchester duo take charge of Europa ties

Winger Ashley Young put three-times European champions United ahead just before the hour mark and Javier Hernandez extended the lead five minutes from time as they showed they meant business in a competition they would rather not be in.

Their domestic title rivals Manchester City made it harder for themselves in Portugal by conceding in the first half against the run of play before an Alvaro Pereira own goal and a late Sergio Aguero strike put them on course for the next round.

Other teams to build a solid advantage ahead of next week’s second legs were Ukrainian sideMetalist Kharkivwho won 4-0 atSalzburgandAtletico Madridwho take back to Spain a 3-1 win overLazioafter fighting back from a goal down.

The 2004 winners of the UEFA Cup – the Europa League’s predecessor -Valenciasecured a 1-0 win atStoke Cityto sit pretty halfway through the tie whileTwente Enschedecame away with the same scoreline fromSteaua Buchareston a cold night.

Schalke 04were glad to grab an equaliser 15 minutes from time to draw 1-1 atViktoria Plzen, whileLegia Warsaw’s tie withSportingwas also evenly balanced after a 2-2 draw in Poland andUdineseandPAOK Salonikaplayed out a 0-0 draw.

German sideHannover 96needed an 80th-minute penalty by Jan Schlaudraff to complete a comeback at home toClub Brugeswho had taken the lead early in the second half through Maxime Lestienne before Arthur Sobiech’s equaliser.

In the day’s other games,AZ AlkmaarbeatAnderlecht1-0 courtesy of Adam Maher’s 35th-minute goal,Lokomotiv Moscowcame from behind to overcomeAthletic Bilbao2-1 andPSV Eindhovenheld on to an early two-goal lead to win 2-1 atTrabzonspor.

The English champions picked up the pace after the break and made the breakthrough when Nani’s cross eventually found Young in space and the