Paris: A Wayne Rooney hat-trick fired Manchester United back into the group stage of the Champions League with a 4-0 win, 7-1 on aggregate, in their play-off second leg at Club Brugge on Wednesday night as Lazio crashed 3-0 at Bayer Leverkusen (3-1 on aggregate).
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/aug/28rooney.jpg" alt="" /> Man Utd&rsquo;s Wayne Rooney (right) scores against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League qualifier in Belgium on Wednesday. Pic/AFP
Rooney&rsquo;s treble was also a timely return to form for the England striker, who had gone 10 games without a goal for United prior to Wednesday. Dutch midfielder Memphis Depay had a role in Rooney&rsquo;s first two goals on 20 and 49 minutes, with a Juan Mata cross eight minutes later allowing the United captain complete his hat-trick. Spaniard Ander Herrera compounded a night of misery for the Belgian club after 63 minutes following a Bastian Schweinsteiger cross to put the three-time winners of the Champions League through in style, despite substitute Javier Hernandez missing a late penalty. Manchester United - winners in 1968, 1999 and 2008 &mdash; didn&rsquo;t feature in the tourney last year but previously reached the group stages for 18 years in succession.
&ldquo;To go through to the group stage after being out of it last year is great. It was a big disappointment last year not to challenge in it. We didn&rsquo;t think it would be as comfortable as it was,&rdquo; said Rooney.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/aug/28CL-groups.jpg" alt="" />

Manchester United striker ecstatic after scoring hat-trick against Brugge to confirm Reds&rsquo; return to prestigious Champions League&nbsp;

CL: To get into the group stages after last year is great, says Rooney

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Manchester United striker ecstatic after scoring hat-trick against Brugge to confirm Reds&rsquo; return to prestigious Champions League&nbsp;

CL: To get into the group stages after last year is great, says Rooney

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Home / Sports / Football / Article / CL: To get into the group stages after last year is great, says Rooney

CL: To get into the group stages after last year is great, says Rooney

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