Man Utd.

2.96

• 
  188

  45

  3.00

  David de Gea

  Could do nothing about Alan's well-placed header after just two minutes, and the attacker's close-range second was past him before he could react. Dealt with one or two crosses well as Braga's attack was nullified in the second half.

• 
  191

  18

  3.00

  Rafael

  Too often left to fend for himself by Kagawa and Cleverley in the first half as Braga exposed United's narrow midfield with some effective wing play. Was more adventurous in the second half as United looked for a way back into the match.

• 
  155

  36

  2.50

  Jonny Evans

  His indecision with Buttner allowed Alan the time and space to slot home his second. Was alert to poke the ball home and get his side back on level terms. Coped reasonably well with the physical threat of Eder.

• 
  139

  124

  1.50

  Alexander Büttner Flop of the Match

  Always a willing option in attack but frequently caught out of position by the visitors' quick counter-attacks. He was also largely responsible for both of Alan's first-half goals, as he failed to track the forward's run successfully on either occasion.

• 
  111

  72

  2.50

  Michael Carrick

  Beaten all ends up by Eder in the build-up to Alan's second goal, but made amends by stopping the striker from repeating the feat to go clean through in the second half. United missed his presence on the ball in midfield as they struggled to keep possession in the first half.

• 
  208

  20

  3.00

  Tom Cleverley

  Switched to the right midway through the first half but, like Kagawa, left Rafael exposed too often against the Braga counter-attacks. Switched infield to add more bite to United's midfield in the second half. Picked out Chicharito with a superb deep cross to put United in front.

• 
  173

  17

  3.00

  Darren Fletcher

  Showed composure and an impressive range of passing, but was too often outnumbered in the first half. Had more of an impact in the second half with the added support of Cleverley alongside him.

• 
  278

  21

  3.50

  Wayne Rooney

  Always looking for the ball going forward, and made more than one telling intervention at the back when his side were 2-0 behind. When he switched to the left for the second half, he curtailed the threat of Alan as he continued to work openings for the home side.

• 
  494

  18

  4.50

  Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez Top of the Match

  Did extremely well to turn Kagawa's cross home at full stretch and get United back in the game, and nodded his side into the lead before departing to a standing ovation. Denied a hat-trick by some poor officiating. A willing runner all night, giving the defence an uncomfortable time with his movement off the ball.

• 
  265

  37

  3.00

  Robin van Persie

  Showed good strength to hold up the ball in the build-up to Chicharito's first-half goal, and came close himself towards the half-hour mark. Linked the play well, but enjoyed few chances himself.

• 
  262

  22

  3.00

  Shinji Kagawa

  Picked out Chicharito with a delightful chipped cross to get his side going, but his tendency to drift infield left his full-backs exposed on the break. Replaced by Nani at half-time after picking up a knock.

Substitutions

• 
  113

  32

  Ryan Giggs

  Replaced Chicharito for the final ten minutes to steady the ship for the home side.

• 
  166

  35

  3.00

  Nani

  Replaced Kagawa at half-time, and showed flashes of brilliance on the wing as United reverted to an orthodox 4-4-2, with Beto doing well to parry his stinging half-volley behind.

Sporting Braga

2.86

• 
  16

  20

  2.50

  Beto

  Was largely untested in the first half, but could have done better when called upon to stop Chicharito's header from crossing the line. Did well to parry a vicious Nani half-volley past the post, but looked a little suspect when dealing with crosses.

• 
  8

  19

  2.50

  Nuno Coelho

  Commanding in the air but looked uncomfortable against the pace of Chicharito, and was static for both of the Mexican's goals.

• 
  5

  20

  2.00

  Paulo Vinícius de Souza Nascimento

  Left for dead by Chicharito's runs for both of his goals, he was much less effective than his centre-back partner as United came out all guns blazing in the second half.

• 
  8

  21

  2.50

  Uwa Elderson Echiejile

  With the United right regularly unguarded, he was given the licence to bomb forward at will in the opening 45, though he allowed Chicharito far too much space for United's first. Booked for a cynical block on Rafael.

• 
  14

  13

  3.00

  Ruben Amorim

  Another who was lively going forward in the early stages but found his threat curtailed in the second half. Still, he frequently had Rafael worried on the United right.

• 
  20

  11

  3.00

  Rubén Micael

  Hit a stunning cross for Alan's opener. Drifted in between the lines well in the first half, giving Fletcher an uncomfortable time.

• 
  6

  17

  2.50

  Leandro Salino

  A lively outlet for the Braga counter-attack against the ill-disciplined Buttner, but struggled when Rooney was switched to the left in the second half.

• 
  13

  12

  3.00

  Custodio

  Marshalled the back four well, though in truth, the majority of United's attacking threat was confined to the wings. Became less effective as the game wore on.

• 
  7

  18

  2.50

  Hugo Viana

  Kept things simple in the middle of the park whenever his side were in possession. Faded from the game as United took a stranglehold.

• 
  41

  13

  4.00

  Éder

  Bamboozled Carrick with a stunning piece of skill on the touchline, before cutting back for Alan to score his second of the night. His strength and hold-up play were top drawer all night, and on this form, he looks ready to end the Portugal national side's search for a striker.

• 
  77

  11

  4.00

  Alan

  Powered a superb header low past De Gea to give his side a shock lead early on, before slotting cooly past the Spaniard at the near post for his second. Always a threat on the break, but found his attacking play curtailed when United switched to a flat 4-4-2.

Substitutions

• 
  3

  14

  Marcio Mossoro

  Didn't have time to make an impact after replacing Alan late on.

• 
  9

  11

  Zé Luís

  Came on for the closing stages but couldn't get his side back on level terms, though he did come close with a clever turn and shot.