On the biggest stage, against the most glamorous opposition, Ryan Giggs stamped his class all over one of the greatest nights in Manchester United's illustrious European history.

Inter Milan have declared their intention to bid for the Welsh winger this summer and with confidence in his undoubted talent starting to ebb, there is talk that the could be accepted.

If it is true, then his majestic first half solo effort will cause even then most sceptical Old Trafford sages to have second thoughts.

For the moment that will live forever on a night which will never be forgotten involved just one man.

A goal in front after his own seven-yard tap-in, United were coasting towards half-time when Giggs seized on a mistake from Antonio Conte just inside the home half.

Immediately, the Welshman stepped inside Lilian Thuram before embarking on an electric burst forward which took him round Paolo Montero and Ciro Ferrara on the edge of the area opening up the angle which allowed him to stroke an immaculate shot into the corner of Gianluigi Buffon's goal.

Even though a night of glory, which actually began on the bench, ended with the worry of a tweaked hamstring and an early exit, Giggs can afford himself the luxury of a satisfying smile on the journey home.

And he will not be on his own because although the Welshman took personal glory, between them, the whole United side have written their names into history.

Before tonight, Juventus had not lost a Champions League home game for over two years and not conceded a single goal on their own soil in this season's competition.

It might have been the result of some ridiculous defending but Sir Alex Ferguson's team strolled into the fortress, picked up the loot and walked off with a cheery wave.

As victories go, it will rank alongside their famous 3-2 semi-final triumph at the same venue four years ago and it made them the first side to reach seven successive Champions League quarter-finals, a feat achieved with two games to spare.

Monumental blunders cost Juventus dearly. After 15 minutes, Gianluca Zambrotta stood on the ball inside his own penalty area, presenting Juan Sebastian Veron with the opportunity to slide Giggs in with a neat square pass.

Just past the hour, substitute Igor Tudor committed defensive suicide trying to chest Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's cross back to Buffon.

Instead he shovelled it onto a post and Ruud van Nistelrooy tucked home the rebound to maintain a remarkable European scoring record of 23 goals in 22 games.

The only sour note was the damaged ankle ligaments Forlan suffered when Ferrara crashed into him in the opening stages. It gave Giggs his chance but will rule the popular Uruguayan out of Sunday's Worthington Cup final against Liverpool in Cardiff.

On a night of stunning shock, first surprise had come Ferguson's decision to name skipper Roy Keane alongside Rio Ferdinand in the heart of his defence.

Given the Irishman's last appearance in the position had resulted in a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea last season, it was a bold decision. Ferguson's faith in his skipper has never wavered no matter what controversies and injuries Keane has suffered. And boy was he rewarded tonight.

Keane stood like a man mountain during the tense early stages, upstaging Ferdinand completely, a player do not forget who cost almost £30million in the summer.

Time after time, Keane appeared to make blocked tackles, interceptions and stroll out of his own penalty area with the ball. Even as Juventus piled forward after Giggs had grabbed his first, Keane remained an oasis of calm.

Not that United did not enjoy a bit of good fortune in their defending as well as attack.

A virtually full strength Juventus side might have wondered if it was to be their night when Pavel Nedved's shot looped up off Ciro Ferrara and smashed against a post, the omnipresent Keane on hand to tidy up the mess.

That Zambrotta was to almost instantly suffer his own personal heartbreak just piled on the agony, which became even more acute when David Trezeguet headed Mauro Camoranesi's cross firmly against the bar.

Not that United were not having bad luck of their own, Nicky Butt lifting a shot against the post after running onto a Giggs flick on.

Giggs though was about to take centre stage, as he has done so many times in the past and Ferguson will hope that the 'tweak' to his notoriously fragile hamstring does not prove too serious.

United fans joyously sung 'Arrivederci' as they celebrated their win. After this, they will hope it is not Giggs they will wave goodbye to this summer.

Teams:

Juventus: Buffon, Thuram, Ferrara, Montero, Conte (Tudor 46), Davids, Nedved, Camoranesi, Zambrotta (Pessotto 67), Di Vaio (Salas 46), Trezeguet.

Subs Not Used: Chimenti, Iuliano, Birindelli, Zalayeta.

Booked: Nedved.

Man Utd: 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.

Goals: Giggs 15, 41, van Nistelrooy 63.

Att: 59,111

Ref: Markus Merk (Germany).