Previous winners Juventus, Bayern Munich and Ajax all ensured their places in the knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday, but Manchester United must wait till the last group match to see if their topsy-turvy season gets any worse.

Indeed United - who drew 0-0 at home to Villarreal - will need to summon up the spirit of the 1968 European Cup winners as they play Benfica, the side who were trounced 4-1 by the '68 United outfit.

United, who this year have had a controversial takeover of the team by the Glazer family and seen their talismanic midfielder Roy Keane leave under a cloud last Friday, are third in their group and must cast an envious look at their other fellow former winners.

Juventus edged Bruges 1-0 thanks to Alessandro del Piero while Bayern Munich thrashed Rapid Vienna 4-0 and led the Italians on goal difference.

Ajax beat Czech's Sparta Prague 2-1 at home to make the last 16 but one of their former managers, Ronald Koeman, must wait to see if he will join them as Benfica were held 0-0 by French side Lille.

There was another sparkling performance by Barcelona, who beat Werder Bremen 3-1 with Ronaldinho once again pulling the strings as he created two and scored one himself.

Not only do Werder risk losing out on the second knockout spot from the group, as Udinese came from behind to stun Panathinaikos 2-1 to take a three point advantage on the Germans, but the Bundesliga side look like missing star striker Miroslav Klose for up to three weeks as he fractured a cheekbone.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson couldn't be too upset at the goalless draw as his side failed to create chances, Ronaldo missing the clearest of them with a header.

However Ferguson said he was still confident that they would make the last 16.

"I think we deserved better," he said. "I don't think it was a bad performance, it was quite good in parts. We just needed a break near goal and didn't get it.

"I think our form is pretty good now, it's much, much better so I'm optimistic going over there."

Benfica were equally shot shy against Lille - who sensationally beat United 1-0 earlier this month - but Koeman did not dismiss their chances when they play United in a fortnight's time.

"It will be difficult but not impossible," said the former Dutch football great, who has found managerial life a tougher task as his present side struggles in the championship race.

While both Ferguson and Koeman were thinking of their clash, Juventus coach Fabio Capello was keen to dismiss rumours about his future after he was linked with the Real Madrid job by one radio station claiming it was a done deal.

"There is absolutely no truth in that story," he said after Juve's victory, which sealed a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

"I don't know where it came from. It's fantasy football. I've said in the past I don't like these re-hashed stories. I'm only thinking about Juventus."

Bayern's romp featured Roy Makaay's first two goals of the campaign but also saw Sebastian Deisler's steady recovery on and off the pitch - he has twice been treated for depression - continue as he rattled in his third goal in as many Champions League matches.

"It is great to have three Champions League goals already," enthused Deisler.

"I am playing with a lot of confidence and so is the team. I think it is early to say what we can do in this competition - we will just have to wait and see."

Source: China Daily