Giggs magic dazzles Juventus

Juventus 0 Manchester United 3

Giggs had already put United in front with a close range tap-in after replacing Diego Forlan early in the contest.

But then he rounded off a 40-yard burst with a clinical finish shortly before half-time to silence the critics who want him packed off to Inter Milan in the summer.

Fellow substitute Ruud van Nistelrooy bagged his 23rd European goal of his United career after some dreadful defending by Igor Tudor to round off a famous victory and take his club into the last eight for a record seventh successive season.

United were dealt a blow almost immediately when Ferrara charged through the back of Forlan, causing enough damage for the Uruguayan to be stretchered away down the tunnel, Giggs arriving as his replacement.

The visitors were still re-adjusting when Thuram flighted a dangerous ball into the penalty area which Pavel Nedved touched just wide.

O'Shea did well to intervene when Gianluca Zambrotta's square pass looked like causing some damage, then Phil Neville was yellow carded for chopping down Davids as the Dutchman began a forward burst.

Keane did well to block di Vaio's snap-shot after another excellent Thuram through ball then United escaped again when Nedved's 20-yard drive flicked off Ferrara and crashed against a post with Barthez beaten.

At that stage, the visitors seemed to be struggling yet within seconds they were in front.

The goal came courtesy of a huge slice of luck as Zambrotta slipped in his own area as he attempted to shadow a routine clearance behind his own line.

Veron seized on the opportunity, quickly pulling the ball back to Giggs, who slotted home from seven yards.

Zambrotta almost gifted the visitors a second with an attempt to chest O'Shea's cross back to Buffon, Solskjaer nipping in only for the home keeper to rescue his team-mate.

David Trezeguet thought he should have had a penalty when O'Shea whipped possession away from him as the Frenchman waited for the ball to drop and unleash a close-range volley.

Ferdinand cleared a low di Vaio cross as Juve tried to increase the pace as news filtered through that Forlan had suffered ligament damage to his left ankle, which could rule him out of action for at least a month.

Trezeguet struck the bar with a firm header from Mauro Camoranesi's cross and the same played sent over the corner which Antonio Conte nodded fractionally over.

Barthez then flew from his goal to block a Camoranesi effort with his chest after di Vaio had played the pass.

Juventus were not having it all their own way in a breathtaking encounter and Butt became the third man to strike the frame of the goal when he lofted a shot against a post after Giggs had flicked the ball on.

Four minutes from the break, the Welshman came up with the kind of brilliant goal which makes you wonder why any United supporter would ever want him to leave.

Picking up possession just inside the Juve half, the Welshman set off on a burst which took him inside Thuram, round Paolo Montera and Ferrara and finally saw him slide the ball past Buffon and into the corner.

Lippi responded to the setback by bringing on Marcelo Salas and Igor Tudor at the break for Conte and Di Vaio.

It almost brought instant dividends when Juve pushed forward at the start of the second period, Fabien Barthez crashing to the floor as he attempted to punch clear leaving Trezeguet with a clear chance which he volleyed over the bar.

Giggs limped off three minutes after the restart after suffering a hamstring strain at the end of the opening period, giving Van Nistelrooy a chance.

Danny Pugh replaced O'Shea on the hour as Ferguson tried to get what rest he could into a side who will attempt to break their barren trophy run in Cardiff at the weekend.

They will certainly head to Wales in good heart after Tudor committed a defensive blunder to gift the Premiership outfit a third.

Crazily, Tudor attempted to chest Solskjaer's cross back to Buffon from a range of around three yards.

He succeeded only in hitting the post and when a startled Buffon failed to collect the rebound, van Nistelrooy tapped home his customary European goal - his 20th for the Old Trafford outfit in the Champions League to give United an almost unbelievable advantage.

Salas sent David Beckham tumbling just outside the United box and the England skipper still looked troubled despite receiving treatment.

However, he continued to the end to ensure he enjoyed the celebrations which accompanied the final whistle.

JUVENTUS: Buffon, Thuram, Ferrara, Montero, Conte, Davids, Nedved, Camoranesi, Zambrotta, Di Vaio, Trezeguet.

MAN UTD: Barthez, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Keane, O'Shea, Beckham, Butt, Phil Neville, Veron, Solskjaer, Forlan.

Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)