Indeed, it was an indication of the changing priorities of Sir Alex Ferguson - and the confidence with which they approached this fixture - that this was a makeshift United team with the 2003 Worthington Cup final the coming Sunay firmly in mind.

Champions League success may have come at a cost for United, however. Diego Forlan limped off after eight minutes to be replaced by Giggs, who Ferguson hoped to rest. Transfer speculation had linked Inter Milan with a move for Giggs and his admirers at the San Siro must have been impressed with a sharp finish for his first, overwhelmed by a superb solo strike for his second and surprised when the Welshman, a substitute himself, was then replaced. And, of course, Giggs' goals beat Inter's major rivals, Juventus to send Manchester United through to the last eight of the Champions League for the seventh consecutive year.

Keane, returning to the scene of his finest 90 minutes, was forced to play centre back in the absence of Mikael Silvestre and Wes Brown. Ferguson believes his captain may one day settle in the back four, and though a clean sheet and a captain's performance may strengthen that argument, United endured a few nervy moments en route.

After 13 minutes, Pavel Nedved, the main creative force in the Juve side, had a shot deflected on to the post by his own team-mate Ciro Ferrara. Juventus then forced a corner; within 30 seconds United were ahead. Solskjaer released Veron, who forced his way past Gianluca Zambrotta, and crossed for Giggs to finish clinically with the side foot.

Zambrotta, enduring a miserable evening, then chested a backpass to Solskjaer, who was denied at point-blank range by the excellent Gianluigi Buffon. But, with the game in the balance, fortune favoured United when David Trezeguet was first denied a penalty after John O'Shea's challenge and then rose unmarked to head Mauro Camoranesi's cross against the bar before Barthez made a fine save from the Argentinian-Italian.

Prompted by Veron, United started to control the midfield and exerted themselves on the counter-attack as Juventus' defence proved decidedly fallible. Nicky Butt, who turned in an intelligent display in midfield, rattled the woodwork from Giggs' pass before the rejuvenated winger showed him how to finish.

Picking up the ball near the half-way line, Giggs set off on a typically dazzling run. The Welshman accelerated past Ferrara, cut inside past Paolo Montero then as the gap opened up on goal he rolled his shot clamly beyond Buffon into the bottom corner - with the right foot responsible for his that famous miss against Arsenal.

Giggs then found himself in the situation of being the substituted substitute, necessitating the introduction of Ruud Van Nistelrooy in the 48th minute. How Juventus could have done with similar inspiration, but with the talismanic Alessandro del Piero injured, the onus fell on Trezeguet and the Frenchman failed, shooting wildly over the bar after substitute Marcelo Salas had roughed up Barthez.

It proved Juventus' last chance. Solskjaer had a second opportunity to celebrate his impending 30th birthday with a goal after another fine Butt ball, but once again brought the best out of Buffon. No matter, as Juventus gifted United a third. Catanaccio it was not as Igor Tudor, under no pressure, chested Gary Neville's cross on to his own post, leaving Van Nistelrooy with an easy finish for his tenth goal of another prolific Champions League campaign.

And Neville almost capped one of United's finest European nights with a sublime and remarkable goal, chipping Buffon from 30 yards and hitting the bar.

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Ryan Giggs as the Welshman capped a marvellous Manchester United display with a double strike to help sink Juventus 3-0 in Turin. However, Giggs is rated doubtful for Sunday's Worthington Cup final, and Diego Forlan, whom he replaced early on, is definitely out of the Cardiff showdown.

Giggs had already put United in front with a close range tap-in after replacing Forlan early in the contest. But then he rounded off a 40-yard burst with a clinical finish shortly before half-time to silence the critics who want him packed off to Inter Milan in the summer.

"He was tremendous," said Ferguson. "We did not want to use him, but had to so early and he has paid with a terrific performance." Fellow substitute Ruud van Nistelrooy bagged his 23rd European goal of his United career after some suicidal defending by Igor Tudor to round off a famous victory.

Ferguson said: "Without question this was another great performance by us. The experience they have picked up in European football was in evidence tonight." Giggs, who has been under fire from some sections of the Old Trafford faithful of late following a dip in form, ran a full 40 yards before slipping in his second goal. Giggs claimed: "It was a great goal. To score a good goal at a difficult place like this is very pleasing."

The result, coupled with Deportivo's win over Basle, meant United had not only reached the last eight of the Champions League for the seventh successive season, but also won the group with two games to spare. Europe's elite sat up and took notice of United's statement of intent on this glorious night and the result looks even more impressive in hindsight, considering Juve would go to reach the final knocking out Barcelona and Real Madrid en route.

MANCHESTER UNITED: Barthez, O'Shea, Silvestre, Barthez, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Keane, O'Shea (Pugh 60), Beckham, Butt, Phil Neville, Veron, Solskjaer, Forlan (Giggs 8), Giggs (van Nistelrooy 48)
Subs Not Used: Ricardo, Fletcher, Roche, Richardson Booked: Phil Neville