LONDON, Aug 10: Manchester United look destined to extend their record run of appearances in the group stage of the Champions League after comfortably beating Hungarian champions Debrecen 3-0 in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie on Tuesday.

There were also first-leg wins for Spanish duo Villarreal and Real Betis, plus Wisla Krakow, Rangers and Valerenga. A further 10 ties will be played on Wednesday.

The prize for the 16 winners is a place in the group stage of the Champions League. The losers will have to settle for a slot in the UEFA Cup.

United, winners in 1999, are well used to playing in the group stage having done so 10 times previously, including a record run of nine in a row since 1996/97.

However, this is the second year running they have had to go through qualifying after finishing only third in the Premier League.

Visitors Debrecen arrived on the back of an 8-0 aggregate victory over Hajduk Split in the second round but they were never a factor at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney got United’s season under way with a low shot after seven minutes, Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored the second four minutes into the second half and Cristiano Ronaldo capped an excellent individual performance with the third in the 63rd.

A few miles west tickets were like gold dust for Everton’s return to the continent’s premier competition after 34 years and their first European match since 1995.

However, the occasion ended in anti-climax for the locals with a 2-1 home defeat by Villarreal.

Everton were surprise fourth-placed finishers in the Premier League but found their spirited efforts not to be enough against a classy Villarreal side making their first appearance in the competition after finishing behind Real Madrid and Barcelona last season in Spain.

Goals by Argentina striker Luciano Figueroa (27) and Josico (45) either side of a close-range effort by James Beattie put the Spanish side, formidable at home.

Qualification round 3