Giggs, Rooney Break CL Records

Ryan Giggs, described as “ageless” and “evergreen” by the official UEFA Champions League website, has broken a football record already in this year’s edition of the tournament.

The Manchester United midfielder, who is 37-years-old, is not only the oldest player to ever score in the Champions League, a record he set prior to this year’s campaign, but the Welshman is now the only footballer in history to have scored goals in 16 different instalments of the competition.

“I’m lucky enough to play with good players”, Giggs said, in September. “Over the last few years we’ve had a good record in Europe, especially away from home.”

Giggs’ achievement was part of a showcase on the UEFA website, which lists interesting facts about the group stage, so far – and, while most of the anecdotes revolve around teams with ideas above their station (APOEL FC topping Group G), some are genuine landmarks in football history.

In keeping with the theme of ‘Manchester United players’, Wayne Rooney has also broken a record in the Champions League. The striker has scored more goals in Europe than any other English player, with 25, across several tournaments, two of which were scored against Romanian minnows, Otelul Galati, last week.

Despite having two record-breakers in the side, Manchester United have endured an awkward start to the 2011/12 Champions League, recording a win and two draws, against, Galati (2-0), Benfica (1-1), and Basel (3-3), respectively. However, the Red Devils have an opportunity to bolster their points tally, when they play Otelul for the second time, next week. The betting suggests it should be an easy win.

Other points of interest in Champions League games, to date, include Alexandre Pato’s goal for AC Milan against Barcelona, scored after just 25 seconds of play. The strike was the first goal scored in the 2011/12 campaign, and the fifth-fastest in Champions League history.

One final record, from Pato’s goal; Barcelona had never conceded the first goal in the campaign as a whole, until they played Milan, on September 13.