Celtic's Scott McDonald (left) celebrates his goal during the Champions League Group E match against Manchester United at Celtic Park yesterday. The game ended 1-1 - AP

LONDON (AP):

JUVENTUS JOINED Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon in the knockout round of the Champions League yesterday after two goals by Alessandro Del Piero gave the Italian team a 2-0 victory at Real Madrid.

Defending champions Manchester United are almost through following Ryan Giggs' 84th-minute header in a 1-1 draw at Celtic. But two more group leaders, Bayern Munich and Arsenal, were also held to draws and still have work to do from their final two matches.

With new Argentina coach Diego Maradona watching to see some of his countrymen in action, Italian veteran Del Piero, who first played in a Champions League final 12 years ago, scored in the 17th and 67th minutes at Bernabeu Stadium to give Juventus 10 points from four games.

"I'm pleased to have scored in front of Maradona. I hope Diego comes to watch us play more often," said Del Piero, who received a standing ovation from the Madrid fans in the 80,000 crowd.

"I live off these types of emotions. I'm pleased the fans gave me that applause when I came off. This is a crazy stadium and it was a very important game for us. It's a good moment for me."

Claudio Ranieri's team is four ahead of Madrid and six ahead of Zenit St Petersburg, who won 2-0 at BATE Borisov.

"Fortune wasn't on our side on several occasions, but this is a Champions League game so you have to move on," Madrid coach Bernd Schuster said. "There are still more games to play."

Although Zenit, last season's UEFA Cup winners, can reach 10 points by winning their last two games, that would mean Madrid could only finish with a maximum of nine, ensuring Juventus are guaranteed of finishing in the top two spots in Group H.

Stunned

Celtic stunned Man United before the Scottish club's intimidating 60,000-strong fans in Glasgow when Australian striker Scott McDonald lobbed goalkeeper Ben Foster in the 13th minute. It was the first goal Celtic had scored and the first United had conceded in Group E.

United dominated possession and finally broke through with six minutes to go when goalkeeper Artur Boruc failed to hold a wickedly swerving shot from Cristiano Ronaldo and Giggs headed home the rebound.

"It's always worth following up a shot like that with the ball moving all over the place," Giggs said. "I just gambled and it fell right on to my head."

The draw means that United have eight points from four games, the same as Villarreal, who drew 2-2 at Aalborg. But Alex Ferguson's team still has a six-point lead over Celtic and Aalborg, has a better head-to-head record over the Scottish champions and could only be edged by the Danish team if it loses its final two games heavily and Aalborg wins twice by big margins.

Villarreal are almost there too, but could miss out if they lose their last two games to Celtic and Man United.

Bayern Munich were held 1-1 at Fiorentina after Adrian Mutu gave the Italian side a 10th-minute lead. Tim Borowski replied in the 78th minute for Bayern. The result means the Bundesliga champions have eight points, the same as Lyon, who beat Steaua Bucharest 2-0 after goals by Juninho - a trademark free kick - and Anthony Reveillere.

Fiorentina have three points and can still advance to the next round, but Steaua cannot qualify.

Arsenal were held 0-0 at home by Fenerbahce just two weeks after winning 5-2 in Istanbul against the same opponents.

Arsene Wenger's team has eight points, two ahead of FC Porto, who won 2-1 at Dinamo Kiev. Kiev have five and are still in contention.