Having scored just 11 times in the league this season, United’s ailing strikeforce was badly in need of a boost and Jiri Homola provided it after 13 minutes when he played a backpass straight to Van Nistelrooy on the edge of the area.

The prolific Dutchman wasted no time in slotting the ball home and then calmly tucked home a penalty after Paul Scholes had been fouled in the box to take his United European goals tally to 33 in just 36 matches.