Manchester United did their best not to look like cats who had got the cream in the Stadio Delle Alpi here last night, but, with their place in the Champions' League quarter-finals secure, a certain amount of whisker-preening was inevitable.

Yet while United's attack tended to jog through the match, Peter Schmeichel and his defenders had much to do after half-time once Juventus had brought a proper sense of urgency to their game. Schmeichel made several saves, Fabio Pecchia missed an open goal and then Filipo Inzaghi headed in from Zinedine Zidane's cross with seven minutes remaining.

There was jubilation on the Juventus bench when news came through that Rosenborg had been held 2-2 by Olympiakos in Greece, which was enough to send Juventus through as one of the two best runners-up.

This time United left the worrying to Juventus. The night air was cold and raw, but Alex Ferguson's players were warmed by the knowledge that this was a match they did not have to win and a situation which they could not lose.

Juventus, by contrast, could never escape the chilly thought that, however well they played and however impressively their victory might be, events elsewhere would determine their fate.

Last season United lost three times in their group and still reached the quarter-finals. Juventus enjoyed no such leeway. Already beaten at Old Trafford and by Feyenoord in Rotterdam, they could not afford to drop any more points.

Sides that do not have to win quite often lose, but, whatever the result last night, Manchester United wanted to banish memories of their gauche performance in Turin 15 months earlier. Nevertheless, Ferguson was not inclined to take needless risks with players carrying aches and twinges.

So Andy Cole and his calf strain were left on the bench and Nicky Butt, having developed a hamstring injury, missed the game altogether. But even with Paul Scholes staying home to nurse his flu, United still put out a strong side. Karel Poborsky came in on the right, with David Beckham moving to central midfield, and Ole Solskjaer joined Teddy Sheringham up front.

Juventus looked to Zinedine Zidane for the sort of momentum he had provided in their victory at Old Trafford last season, but with Didier Deschamps unfit their formidable Gallic influence had been halved. In addition, Alessandro Del Piero, whose goal after 19 seconds had stunned United supporters in October, was suspended.

True, Filippo Inzaghi did his best last night to put Juventus ahead within half-a-minute. Alessandro Birindelli's pass found Daniel Fonseca in space on the right, and from his centre Inzaghi produced a sharp downward header which was on its way to the left-hand corner of the net until Schmeichel dropped on it.

After that, with Ronny Johnsen tracking down Zidane and Beckham again making good use of the greater freedom he has when moving inside, Manchester United began play with the discipline, composure and authority which characterised their performances in Europe this season.

Poborsky's recall ensured their attacks had more natural width, and, after Ryan Giggs had nodded back his long cross, Solskjaer, shooting on the turn, was just wide on the quarter-hour.

After Schmeichel's early save Juventus began to be frustrated by a combination of Henning Berg, Gary Pallister and the offside flag. The sluggishness of their passing was doing little to help Fonseca and Inzaghi break clear without exercising the linesman's right arm.

For Juventus, the most promising avenue of approach continued to lie on their right when the ball was played in behind Phil Neville. Angelo Di Livio opened up the wing in this way for Fonseca 11 minutes before half-time, and from his centre Zidane just failed to force the ball past Schmeichel.

Yet this was a rare moment of hope for Juventus in a first half largely dominated by the relaxed tempo at which United were prepared to play the game. The Italian side had to raise the pace, and when they did they nearly scored twice in the opening three minutes of the second.

First, Fabio Pecchia, who had come on for Alessio Tacchinardi, headed wide after Fonseca had again found the right weight and angle with his cross. Then Fonseca himself hit the outside of the near post after Zidane had sent him clear.

These moments, plus encouraging news from other European fronts, roused both Juventus and their followers. Twice in as many minutes Schmeichel left his line to grab the ball from the feet of the charging Inzaghi.

Yet when the United goalkeeper rushed out again, this time in an effort to intercept Zidane on the right, the Frenchman had the wit to leave Schmeichel stranded and Pecchia facing an open goal. Somehow Pecchia managed to shoot wide.

Zidane did much better in the 67th minute, meeting a ball from Pecchia with a smart turn and volley which looked like finding the inside of the right-hand post until Schmeichel, at full stretch, managed to turn it behind.

Juventus: Peruzzi, Ferrara, Torricelli, Di Livio, Conte (Montero 64), Inzaghi, Iuliano, Birindelli (Dimas 75), Fonseca, Tacchinardi (Pecchia 46), Zidane. Subs Not Used: Rampulla, Cingolani, Aronica, Giandomenico. Booked: Zidane. Goals: Inzaghi 83.

Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Johnsen, Pallister, Beckham, Sheringham, Giggs, P Neville, Poborsky (McClair 79), Solskjaer (Cole 73), Berg. Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Clegg, Thornley, Mulryne, Curtis. Booked: Berg.

Referee: G Veissiere (France).