Smash hit

Berbatov was the first to err in the sixth minute, steering a volley wide from six yards, and Cristiano Ronaldo could have scored a couple in the second half, especially after being sent through on goal after an exquisite pass by Berbatov.

Aalborg would not be cowed, though, and United looked vulnerable defensively at times. Thomas Enevoldsen flung over a cross from the left that missed everybody except Jeppe Curth at the far post. The Aalborg midfield player’s shot would have asked questions of Edwin van der Sar but was superbly blocked by Patrice Evra.

Rio Ferdinand, who had a rasping volley saved in the eighth minute, denied Kasper Bogelund with a terrific last-ditch tackle soon after and Andreas Johansson demonstrated why he rarely got a game for Wigan Athletic when he snatched horribly at a good chance from 12 yards. A cooler head might have prevailed.

“We rode our luck a little,” Ferguson said. “I thought we were very loose in our defending. We were too open. It was almost, ‘You attack us, we’ll attack you.’ ”

At least Rafael da Silva, afforded a surprise start at the expense of Wes Brown, kept the back four in shape. The Brazilian was a constant menace, twice going close with long-range efforts, and it cannot be long before the comparisons to Cafu, his illustrious compatriot, start. “He’s got something special, the lad,” Ferguson said.

United had Thomas Augustinussen to thank for their second goal in the 55th minute. The Aalborg captain failed to control a simple pass and when the ball looped up into the path of Berbatov, the forward made no mistake with his finish. Berbatov’s second came 11 minutes before the final whistle, when he fizzed a scissor kick into the corner after a cross by Ronaldo. Job done.

Aalborg (4-2-3-1): K Zaza — K Bogelund, S Olfers, M Beauchamp (sub: Caca, 38min), M Pedersen — T Augustinussen, K Risgaard — J Curth, A Johansson, T Enevoldsen — M Saganowski. Substitutes not used: K Stenild, A Due, S Braemer, J-K Sorenson, P Kristensen, R Schwartz. Booked: Johansson, Zaza.

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): E van der Sar — Rafael da Silva (sub: W Brown, 66), R Ferdinand, N Vidic, P Evra — J O’Shea, P Scholes (sub: R Giggs, 16) — C Ronaldo, D Berbatov, Nani — W Rooney (sub: C Tévez, 59). Substitutes not used: B Amos, Anderson, Park Ji Sung, J Evans. Booked: Rafael.

Referee: O Benquerença (Portugal).