Goals from Juan Mata and Chris Smalling put Wolfsburg to the sword on Wednesday evening, despite Daniel Caligiuri's early opener.
Both managers made one change to their teams from the weekend. André Schürrle dropped out for Maximilian Arnold, in a more defensive switch from Dieter Hecking. Louis van Gaal opted to bring Bastian Schweinsteiger's experience against the Wolves into midfield, meaning Michael Carrick was not included.
Wolves shock the home crowd early on
Despite the contrasting form of both sides going into the game, it was Wolfsburg who took the lead early on. A powerful, surging run from Daniel Caligiuri started the move down the right-hand side. He burst past several players before coming inside and collecting a well-weighted pass from Max Kruse. Caligiuri went through on goal and, unmarked, finished expertly past David de Gea to give his side an unexpected lead.
United were slow to issue a response but it was emphatic when it did arrive. Matteo Darmian was slipped through down the left flank and produced an excellent first-time delivery across the six-yard box. The ball eventually found its way to Juan Mata, before the Spaniard shifted onto his left foot and curled toward goal. Thankfully for the visitors, Dante was on hand to flick his effort over the bar with a dramatic headed clearance.
Anthony Martial soon came knocking and, from a similar position, fired just wide after cutting inside to shoot with his left. Mata then fired straight into Diego Benaglio's midriff, as an air of anticipation for an equaliser began to descend over Old Trafford.
United dominance pays dividends
That came to a crescendo midway through the half when a golden chance fell the way of Wayne Rooney. Martial ran the channel well and eventually came inside, beating Ricardo Rodriguez at the by-line. The French teen kept calm and slid the ball to the back post towards the United captain, though he blazed over the goal from just a few yards out with Benaglio already committed.
United would, deservedly, find themselves back on terms from the spot. Caligiuri turned from hero to zero when his outstretched arm stopped Mata's cross. It was the Spaniard and not Rooney who would be tasked with beating Benaglio, and that decision paid off. The midfielder calmly sent the Swiss stopper the wrong way to restore parity.
That was the way it remained until the break, as a flurry of late yellow cards saw the game boil down to a late midfield battle. Despite getting back on level terms, United would have been desperately disappointed not to have ahead.
The hosts edge ahead early on in the second period
Wolfsburg, like the first half, started much better and were unlucky to not take the lead again. A great ball in from Julian Draxler was touched off the toes of Bas Dost just in time, thanks to some desperate defending by Darmian. The Dutch forward was then played through by the impressive Kruse, though an offside flag denied him a clear run on goal.
However that was momentary respite, as United went 2-1 up moments later. Mata was the architect one again, as his pass was turned home by Chris Smalling. The former-Chelsea midfielder picked out his team-mate perfectly after Schweinsteiger's initial ball was falling well short. Wolfsburg defence left him free in the middle of the box, which culminated in Smalling sliding the ball past Benaglio.
Wolfsburg's late show isn't enough
Caligiuri replied immediately for the visitors but saw his powerful drive parried away by de Gea. Schürrle and Niklas Bendtner were thrown on by Hecking and sparked the Wolves into life, with the latter going inches away from drifting an equaliser into the left corner and then had a cross brilliantly cleared by Phil Jones.
A deflected effort was cleared off the line by Jones a matter of moments later but Wolfsburg just couldn't force home a leveller. The final chance came to Ricardo Rodriguez and the Swiss' free-kick crept mere millimetres past the post, as United held on for the three points.
All teams in Group B now have three points, and the double headers between Wolfsburg and PSV and United and CSKA Moscow will certainly shape up the group come matchday five. These two will meet at the Volkswagen Arena that gameday, in a fixture that could decide the winner of the group.