Manchester United placed one foot in the group stage of this season's Champions League courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge at Old Trafford last night.

The tie could have had a very different outlook, after United midfielder Michael Carrick turned the ball into his own net in the eighth minute.

However, summer signing Memphis Depay hit back with a brace before the break and he then went on to assist the third goal deep into stoppage time for Marouane Fellaini. It was a goal that has been seen as one too many for Brugge, who were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages when Brandon Mechele was given a second caution.

Here, Sports Mole looks back on the encounter to pick out five of the biggest talking points ahead of next week's second leg at the Jan Breydel Stadium.

1. Shades of former number sevens

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While it is far too early to be drawing major comparisons between Depay and anyone, the similarities between the Dutch winger and previous occupants of United's number seven shirt were unnerving and impossible to ignore.

There were shades of a young Cristiano Ronaldo in the way that the 21-year-old wanted to get beyond his marker with a catalogue of step-overs, and he also struck a free kick in a not-too-dissimilar fashion to the Portuguese star. Then, his cross for the Fellaini goal - David Beckham would have proud of that. He placed it perfectly into the corridor of uncertainty between the goalkeeper and defenders, leaving his teammate with a routine header to score what appears to be the crucial third goal.

Like those two, Depay also suggested that he is a perfectionist when speaking to BT Sport during the post-match interview he said: "If you come to a big club you have to score and do the job, and of course it's a nice feeling to score at Old Trafford, my first two goals. But, tonight I will think about that last chance and I am a little bit disappointed. I'll forget it tomorrow."

2. Smalling brings out 'beast mode'

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"It's a massive season for him. [He was in] beast mode. He just wants to defend - pushing people out of the way, getting the ball and being aggressive. It seems like he's got the bit between his teeth and he's saying 'I want to be the number one centre-half at this club'. With the form he's shown so far this season, he's going the right way."

Coming from former Man United centre-back Rio Ferdinand, who was talking about Chris Smalling to BT Sport after the final whistle, that is some accolade.

In truth, many United supporters would have been happy to see Smalling head through the exit door following his red card during the Manchester derby last November. But, to the 25-year-old's credit, he has recovered from that low moment at the Etihad Stadium to have arguably become Louis van Gaal's most important defender. Against the Belgians, he won numerous duels and made a couple of crucial interceptions.

3. Subs outshine skipper

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As you would expect, during the press conference the day before this game, Van Gaal defended Wayne Rooney. The captain had not scored in his last eight United outings and the thinking was that if the drought was going to end, with the greatest of respect, Brugge were the perfect opposition.

He did at least register a couple of shots at goal, unlike at Aston Villa last time out where he had just one touch in the home side's penalty area and that was in the 89th minute. Even so, he never truly troubled Sebastien Bruzzese between the posts last night and but for a couple of pinpoint cross-field passes, Rooney's overall contribution was lacklustre once again.

However, the same cannot be said of Van Gaal's two attacking substitutions. Javier Hernandez replaced Adnan Januzaj and the Mexican's movement caused problems, so much so that it was he that was fouled for Mechele's second booking. As for Fellaini, who came on for Rooney, he may have only been on the pitch for six minutes, yet he harried the Brugge defence and scored the third goal.

4. Flying full-backs

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Speaking on Monday Night Football this week, Gary Neville highlighted that partnerships between a full-back and a wide player had become a thing of the past. He would know, given that during his career he formed one of the best understandings of that type down the right-hand side with Beckham.

Nevertheless, there were indications yesterday evening that Luke Shaw and Depay on the left and Matteo Darmian and Juan Mata down the right had started to forge a decent working relationship.

Neither Shaw nor Italy international Darmian are shy in getting forward, and while that can at times leave Smalling and Daley Blind at centre-back exposed, it does provide excitement at the other end of the pitch. United's best move of the match involved their left-back as he motored down the right flank to cross for Rooney, who in turn produced a deft flick to tee up Depay, only for the man of the moment to fluff his hat-trick chance.

5. Time to unleash the German?

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Following his arrival from Bayern Munich, Bastian Schweinsteiger has been treated with kid gloves by Van Gaal and his coaching staff. Having had no pre-season training to talk of, the midfielder, who turned 31 at the start of the month, has been eased into things at United. With his recent injury record in mind, it was the right thing to do.

But, having featured in two friendlies and twice as a substitute in the Premier League, Brugge at home was viewed as the perfect opportunity to play the World Cup winner from the start. Asked on BT Sport why Schweinsteiger was on the bench again, Paul Scholes replied: "I have absolutely no idea. I was driving to the ground, thinking he would be playing. I think Michael Carrick and Morgan Schneiderlin are a bit too similar. Okay, they protect the back four brilliantly but do we get as much at the other end?"

He was introduced into the action during the interval at the expense of Carrick and immediately provided a greater impetus to the United midfield. Occasionally his passes went astray, but as Scholes also added, a midfielder at a club like United must be prepared to "take risks". Van Gaal admitted after the game that the decision to swap Carrick for Schweinsteiger was a tactical one, which could indicate that the German is in his thinking for Saturday's game against Newcastle United.