PICTURES

WEBMASTER'S COMMENT

"Many predicted Utd would have to win tonight but all were proved wrong as, thanks to other results, Utd are now in the quarter finals of the European Cup. The group stage is now over, it's on to two legged matches."

MATCH REPORT

By David Anderson, PA Sport

Manchester United tonight emerged alive and kicking from the Champions' League Group of Death. United's fourth draw in a largely disappointing match was enough to secure their place in next spring's quarter-finals after other results around Europe went their way.

United maintained their knack of qualifying through the back door as they went through as one of the two best runners-up while Bayern Munich progressed as Group D winners. The man United had to thank for their safe passage into the last eight was skipper Roy Keane, who in so many ways is the very heartbeat of the club.

Keane missed most of last season's ultimately unsuccessful European campaign when he damaged his cruciate knee ligaments. His absence was a huge blow to United as they failed in their pursuit of their Champions' League dream. But now he has returned and is playing as well as ever after another imperious performance in the United engine room.

United manager Alex Ferguson was confident his side would win if they played as well as they did in their 2-2 draw in Munich at the end of September. For the first time in many a European game Ferguson had the luxury of choosing from his full galaxy of glittering stars. But he made only one change from the side which drew at Aston Villa on Saturday and as expected Ryan Giggs replaced Jesper Blomqvist on the left wing.

On the Bayern bench for the Bundesliga side's first visit to Old Trafford was coach and United bogeyman Ottmar Hitzfeld. United remember him all too well as the man who led Borussia Dortmund to victory over them two seasons ago in the Champions' League semi-finals.

Ferguson's forecast that Hitzfeld's side would sit back turned out to be wrong as the Germans threw men forward. Bixente Lizarazu released Hasan Salihamidzic down the left channel, but his teasing cross was headed clear by Wes Brown, before former United target Markus Babbel fired over from 25 yards out.

Back came United and Oliver Kahn punched clear a drive from David Beckham. United were just inches away from opening the scoring with the best move of the match so far on 25 minutes.

Keane played the ball into Giggs, who deftly laid it off for Andy Cole to turn and shoot just past the post. Keane came to United's aid when he deflected Alexander Zickler's header from Stefan Effenberg's freekick over the bar for a corner.

Kahn produced the first decent save of the match when he got across well to hold Cole's deflected shot. Then Thomas Strunz went close for Bayern when he directed Effenberg's freekick narrowly wide.

Two minutes before half-time came the goal the United fans had longed for. Giggs beat Strunz on the left and picked out Keane advancing to the edge of the area and the Republic of Ireland midfielder drove home past Kahn.

Ronny Johnsen squandered a glorious chance to double United's lead within two minutes of replacing the injured Denis Irwin at half-time. Keane laid Beckham's deep corner back into his path, but he completely missed the ball from close-range and then fired over from his second attempt

Jaap Stam was looking reassuringly solid at the back and he produced a fine tackle to halt Giovane Elber in his tracks. Elber had claimed before the match that Peter Schmeichel was United's weak link following his recent gaffes, but the big Dane proved him wrong with a flying save to keep out Samuel Osei Kuffour's drive from just outside the area.

But in the 56th minute Bayern equalised as the United defence was caught napping. They failed to react to Strunz's free header from Effenberg's corner and Salihamidzic tucked the ball home from close range.

The game was coming nicely to the boil and Elber knocked the ball over the bar before a Paul Scholes shot was deflected away off Kuffour's legs. Scholes then produced a glorious run in the 66th minute when he went past three Bayern players before he shot wide of Kahn's far post.

Cole thought he had restored United's lead when he directed Beckham's cross just the wrong side of the post. Scholes continued to look lively and he fired over again after creating an opening for himself. The game, though, lost much of its early impetus as it became clear to both teams that a draw would see them both through. And so it turned out when the final whistle blew.

POST MATCH REACTIONS

Manchester United made sure of their place in the Champions League quarter final with a little help from Bayern Munich at Old Trafford tonight. United boss Alex Ferguson revealed how the Germans kept him informed of other results so that he knew a draw would be good enough to see them through.

United qualify as one of the two runners-up while Bayern also progressed as Group D winners after the 1-1 draw.

Ferguson said: "I knew we were okay with 10 minutes to go because the Germans are never wrong with these things. They have the best information."

Ferguson claimed his biggest problem towards the end was convincing his players that a point would be sufficient.

"I knew it was good enough and I had to emphasise it to the players," he said. "I think they should make announcements to the fans so they would all know."

United are through to the last eight for the third successive season and Ferguson is confident about his side's chances after they emerged unbeaten from the 'group of death'.

"At the start of the group it looked a really difficult task for us and we have achieved a lot to come through as good," he said. "We have scored 20 goals and you can't dispute that, that is good form. Even tonight we looked like scoring goals and we have shown we have got the ability to do well."

Ferguson's only regret is that Arsenal are free to concentrate on the Premier League and FA Cup following their Champions League exit.

"I wish they had stayed in because they are out of another competition and they will be a big threat."

Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was pleased both sides had qualified and he feels United have improved since he lead Borussia Dortmund to victory against them in the 1997 Champions League semi-final.

"This team of Manchester United has two years more experience while they have also got players like Jaap Stam and Dwight Yorke therefore it is a better team," he said.

Denis Irwin is doubtful for Saturday's trip to Tottenham after he came off at half-time with concussion following a clash of heads.

TEAMS

Manchester United: Schmeichel, Brown, Stam, G Neville, Irwin, Keane, Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Cole, Yorke.
Subs: Butt for Yorke.
Scorers: Keane (43)

Bayern Munich: Khan, Babbel, Lizarazu, Kuffour, Strunz, Elber, Matthaus, Effenberg, Jeremies, Salihamidzic, Zickler.
Subs:
Scorers: Salihamidzic

Referee: D Jol (Hol)