DIMITAR BERBATOV SCOURED FIVE IN A MATCH.

Does Manchester United really need the Wayne Rooney circus?
Dimitar Berbatov equaled the Premier League record -- shared by Alan Shearer, Andy Cole and Jermain Defoe -- with five goals as United tore past Blackburn 7-1 -- one of the best-drilled of Premier League defenses -- on Saturday to leap past Arsenal and Chelsea and into first place.
With a striker in that sort of form, who needs Wayne Rooney? Well, Berbatov needs Rooney. The Bulgarian had not scored in 10 games, since his hat trick Sept. 19 against Liverpool. It was no coincidence that for much of that period Rooney was absent, recovering from the ankle injury that had hobbled him in the early part of the season.
It is easy to forget after Rooney's limp play in the World Cup, the revelations about his sex life and the his bizarre public contract facedown with United, that when he's vaguely fit, he terrifies Premier League defenses.
Rooney created havoc on Saturday. He helped set up Berbatov in front of an empty net after just 75 seconds -- a crucial goal for a striker whose confidence is so volatile.
Rooney also laid on the second goal for Park Ji-sung and terrified Pascal Chimbonda into the awful back pass that presented Berbatov with the third goal.
"I think it's a good combination,'' Alex Ferguson, the United manager told Sky Television when asked about Rooney and Berbatov, before going on to praise their interchange play.

Champions League round-up: nine-man Real drama

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho denied that two of his players were deliberately sent off to ensure they will not be suspended for the Champions League knock-out stages.
Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso both picked up second yellow cards for time-wasting in the late stages of the club's 4-0 win at Ajax.
That means they will miss the last group G game against Auxerre, but the match is irrelevant as Real have already qualified as winners.
European football's governing body Uefa said on Wednesday that its disciplinary unit are deciding whether Real have a case to answer.
Madrid's win means four-time champions Ajax are out, while seven-time winners AC Milan booked their place in the last 16 after securing second place in the group
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