Deadly duo on the mark

Two of Europe’s thoroughbred strikers provided the vital inspiration for their respective clubs on a dramatic night in the Champions League.

Ruud van Nistelrooy struck two goals as Manchester United came from behind to beat Basle 3-1, while Andrei Shevchenko scored the only goal to lift AC Milan to a 1-0 win over Real Madrid.

Shevchenko’s 40th-minute strike underlined the resurgence Italian clubs have enjoyed in Europe this season after several years in the shadows of Spanish, English and German clubs.

Four Serie A sides are still in the Champions League, the same number as the Primera Liga and more than either the Barclaycard Premiership or the Bundesliga.

Shevchenko’s goal was a brilliant effort from the edge of the box after Rui Costa had released him with a superb long ball, and it proved decisive in the Group C clash.

It also continued Real’s poor recent European form – the reigning champions have not won in the Champions League since demolishing Genk 6-0 in late September and have now gone five games without victory.

And while Shevchenko was lifting Milan to a memorable win over star-studded Real – Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos, Raul and Luis Figo all played for the Merengues – van Nistelrooy was reminding everyone of his class in Switzerland.

After Christian Gimenez put Basle 1-0 up after just 35 seconds, United were unable to get back into the Group D game until the Dutchman’s explosive intervention in the second half.

He headed home Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s cross to equalise in the 62nd minute then went on a brilliant solo run to set himself up for a second goal just a minute later.

Five minutes after that, Solskjaer completed the scoring by running onto Van Nistelrooy’s through-pass and firing the ball under goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhl.

In the Riazor, Juventus came back from being two goals down after 11 minutes to grab a 2-2 draw with Deportivo La Coruna in Group D.

Juve have not won in Spain for 31 years and that record looked safe when Diego Tristan opened the scoring after nine minutes and his strike-partner Roy Makaay doubled the lead just two minutes later.

But Alessandro Birindelli reduced the deficit seven minutes before the break and Pavel Nedved struck the equaliser just before the hour-mark for the Italians.

In last night’s other game, Borussia Dortmund bounced back from a goal down to claim a vital 2-1 win at Lokomotiv Moscow in Group C.

Sergey Ignashevich put Lokomotiv ahead in the 31st minute, but the home side’s lead lasted just two minutes before Torsten Frings levelled the scores.

And 10 minutes later Jan Koller scored what would prove to be the winner, giving Dortmund the ideal start to the second group stage.