LONDON — Shinji Kagawa hit a hat-trick as Manchester United warmed up for the visit of Real Madrid with a 4-0 rout of Norwich City on Saturday that sent them 15 points clear in the Premier League.
Reuters
United will resume their last-16 tie against Madrid tomorrow following a 1-1 draw in the away leg and Kagawa’s first United treble ensured they will approach the game brimming with confidence.
Ryan Giggs was made to wait for his 1 000th senior appearance after being left out of United’s match-day squad, but manager Alex Ferguson selected his first-choice strike pairing of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.
The hosts dominated the first half at Old Trafford, but they had to wait until first-half stoppage time to take the lead.
Japan international Kagawa claimed the goal, beating Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn with a near-post volley after van Persie had helped on Antonio Valencia’s inswinging right-wing cross.
Kagawa doubled United’s tally 14 minutes from time, sweeping home from Rooney’s square pass and completed his treble in the 87th minute by racing onto a Rooney lay-off and coolly lifting the ball over Bunn.
Rooney got on the score-sheet in the final minute with a beautiful strike into the top-left corner from outside the box to further amplify the task facing second-place Manchester City, who visit Aston Villa tonight.
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