United wake up before hibernation

In yesterday8217;s other games, FC Porto stayed at the top of Group A with a 1-0 victory over Hertha Berlin and Fiorentina was held to a 0-0 tie at Bordeaux to cling on to top place in Group B.

There were fears that a defeat at Old Trafford following the loss in Florence two weeks ago would virtually end United8217;s reign as champion. But goals by Roy Keane, hours after signing a new four-year Aring;ldquo; 12 million contract, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul Scholes swept away those negative thoughts.

Keane fired in a low 20-yard shot after 37 minutes, and David Beckham8217;s accuracy from the right set up a close range prod by Solskjaer in the 48th and a glancing header by Scholes in the 69th.

Fiorentina had to face Bordeaux without suspended Argentine star Gabriel Batistuta and concentrated on defence.

Barcelona swept Sparta Prague aside in the Camp Nou Stadium but didn8217;t score its first until the final two minutes of the first half.

Kluivert hit the first in the 44th minute and then Luis Enrique made it 2-0 just before the interval. Josep Guardiola added a third in the 60th and Kluivert made it 4-0 three minutes later. Luis Enrique8217;s second with 14 minutes remaining meant a big victory for the Spanish soccer giant but was wasn8217;t enough to put the team on top. The competition goes into a three-month sleep now and resumes in late February.

Results

Group A: FC Porto 1 Ljubimko Drulovic bt Hertha Berlin 0; Barcelona 5 Luis Enrique 2, Patrick Kluivert 2, Josep Guardiola bt Sparta Prague 0.

Group B: Fiorentina 0 drew Bordeaux 0; Man United 3 Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer bt Valencia 0

Group A: FC Porto 6, Barcelona 4, Hertha Berlin 1, Sparta Prague 0; Group B: Fiorentina 4, Man United 3, Valencia 3, Bordeaux 1; Group C: Real Madrid 6, Bayern Munich 4, Rosenborg 1, Dynamo Kyiv 0; Group D: Points position: Chelsea 4, Lazio 4, Feyenoord 3, Marseille 0.