United and Milan set the standard

Manchester United FC set a new UEFA Champions League record in superb style on Tuesday, while Real Madrid CF needed a last-gasp equaliser to prevent BV Borussia Dortmund wresting the second Group C qualifying position from their grasp.

Group winners
United, who have qualified for the quarter-finals for a record seventh time, proved too strong for Juventus FC for the second time in a week, running out 3-0 winners to establish an eight-point advantage in Group D. The cushion means they win the section, as FC Basel lost 1-0 to RC Deportivo La Coruña in Spain. Group C has a similar look about it with Milan as group winners and Madrid and Dortmund fighting for second place.

Maldini record
Even though Paolo Maldini became the first man to play 118 matches in European club competition as Milan beat FC Lokomotiv Moskva in Russia, 1-0 courtesy of Rivaldo's first-half penalty, the night belonged to United as they reproduced the form which saw them win the 1999 edition of club football's most prestigious competition.

Two for Giggs
Ryan Giggs was the architect of the victory, putting United ahead at the Delle Alpi stadium in the 15th minute after being played in by Juan Sebastián Verón. The second goal, though, was all of the Welshman's making, Giggs intercepting a pass on the halfway line before racing clear and slotting past Gianluigi Buffon with his weaker right foot. Ruud van Nistelrooij, a scorer in the 2-1 defeat of Juve at Old Trafford last week, completed the scoring following a mistake by Igor Tudor.

Tristán comes up trumps
United now have a maximum 12 points from four matches, eight more than Juve and Deportivo, who had Diego Tristán to thank for a 1-0 home triumph against Basel. The Italian champions remain in second place, though, as they drew 2-2 in La Coruña on Matchday 7. The two meet on 12 March in what promises to be a titanic tussle. Yet Basel, on three points, cannot be written off.

Portillo pounces
Dortmund almost rivalled United for the performance of the night, but Javier Portillo's added-time equaliser denied the German side revenge for last week's 2-1 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu. Dortmund's scorer in the Spanish capital, Jan Koller, was again on target. The Czech international got on the end of a fine chipped Sebastian Kehl pass to beat Iker Casillas at his near post in the 23rd minute. Just when it looked as though the goal would lift Matthias Sammer's side above Madrid, substitute Portillo pounced.

Milan on top
Milan, with four 1-0 wins in succession, are seven points clear of Madrid with two games to play. The two meet in the Spanish capital on 12 March, when Vicente del Bosque and his lauded team will hope to continue to fend off the challenge of Dortmund. The German champions will tackle Lokomotiv at the Westfalenstadion on the same night.