Defending champions Real Madrid stepped back from the brink of almost certain elimination from the Champions League when they came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 for their first win in the second phase of the competition on Wednesday.
Manchester United forgot about Saturday's over-hyped spat between manager Alex Ferguson and England star David Beckham to beat Juventus 2-1 at Old Trafford in Group D and virtually seal their place in the quarter-finals.
Group C leaders AC Milan also look safe on nine points after a 1-0 home win over Lokomotiv Moscow while Basel are still in contention in Group D after a surprise 1-0 home win over Deportivo Coruna.
It was not so straightforward for Real, however. With just a point from their two opening Group C games, the nine-times winners were facing another, possibly decisive, defeat after tall Czech striker Jan Koller scored to put Dortmund ahead after 30 minutes.
RONALDO GOAL
But Raul equalised just before halftime and Ronaldo, with his first Champions League goal for the club in the 56th minute, enabled Real to move on to four points from three games and go second in the group behind AC Milan.
The Italians won for the third successive match, beating Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0 at the San Siro with Jon Dahl Tomasson scoring the only goal after 62 minutes.
Milan top the group with nine, Real are second on four, followed by Borussia (three) and Lokomotiv (one).
United boss Ferguson admitted kicking a boot in anger that hit Beckham above his left eye after United's defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday -- but the United camp were all smiles after the victory that put them clear at the top of their group with nine points from their three opening matches.
Wes Brown scored his first ever goal for United after four minutes, while Ruud Van Nistelrooy added the second in the 85th minute. It was his 28th of the season and also equalled the record he set last year of scoring in six successive Champions League games.
NERVY MOMENTS
Pavel Nedved gave United a few nervy moments at the end with a goal for Juve two minutes into stoppage time but the Italians, without several first-choice players because of flu, had left it too late.
If United draw at Juventus next week they will guarantee their place in the quarter-finals.
Juve remain in second place on four points, one ahead of Basel who kept their hopes alive with an impressive 1-0 home win over Deportivo, Hakan Yakin scoring the only goal after 30 minutes.
