Two goals from Real Madrid hitman Raul Gonzalez all but handed the titleholders a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Wednesday, underpinning a 3-1 win over AC Milan at the Bernabeu stadium.
Guti was also on target with Rivaldo nodding a consolation for the Milanese as Real remained a point clear of Group C rivals Borussia Dortmund, who swamped Lokomotiv Moscow 3-0 in Germany.
Real, who became the first side to amass 50 Champions League wins while Raul became the first player to break the 40-goal barrier in the competition, have eight points from five games to seven for the Germans, champions in 1997.
PHOTO: AP
The Spanish giants travel to Moscow next Tuesday -- where Brazilian wingback Roberto Carlos will be suspended -- while Dortmund face having to win in Milan's San Siro, that match seemingly the tougher task.
Should Real and Dortmund finish level on points the Madrid giants would progress anyway having collected four points from the fixtures between the two.
Milan had already qualified for the last eight by dint of winning their opening four group fixtures.
In Group D Juventus look set to follow group winners Manchester United into the quarters after coming from behind to see off Spain's Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 in Turin.
Croatian defender and substitute Igor Tudor snatched the victory in the final seconds for the "zebras" who now will progress unless they lose their final fixture at Basel by a huge margin.
Were that to happen the Swiss would book their own passage.
Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque, already twice a Champoins League winner, said the club could take nothing for granted despite their three points.
"Qualifying will still be tough. We'll have a battle in Moscow against a side who will not lie down. Today we played well in attack and scored three marvellous goals. Milan played well -- but we were vastly superior."
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted the key element was Real's greater desire -- and need -- for the win.
"Real had to go for the win and that showed. In the first half we were a little afraid of a team which was playing well. The fact we were already through was undoubtedly a factor.
"Real versus Milan would make a good final," added Ancelotti.
In Turin, Juventus captain Ciro Ferrara headed the Italian champions into an early lead at the Delle Alpi stadium for Juve's 250th European Cup goal, only for Deportivo striker Diego Tristan to level from close range before half-time.
Roy Makaay, Spain's leading scorer with 19 goals, put the visitors ahead with a superb finish just after the interval for the club's 100th European goal but French striker David Trezeguet made it 2-2 after Edgar Davids' cross fell kindly for him.
A makeshift Manchester United side completed their Old Trafford group fixtures -- they travel to Deportivo next week -- with a 1-1 draw at home to Swiss minnows Basel.
The dropped points mean United failed to record a sixth straight Champions League win.
Gary Neville hit his first goal of the tournament to spare the blushes of the English Premiership giants after Argentine striker Christian Gimenez scored early on for the Swiss champions.
United went through the motions with Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes all rested, while Juan Sebastian Veron, Roy Keane and Mikael Silvestre were missing through injury.
Roy Carroll stood in for Fabien Barthez in goal while Darren Fletcher made his debut in place of Beckham.
Giggs replaced another youngster, Kieran Richardson, after the interval while Beckham and Scholes also finally appeared in the closing stages.
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