Liverpool are still bottom of the group, one point behind Galatasaray, who drew 1-1 with leaders Roma.

Phil Thompson's side must win their final match at home against the Italians to progress.

United and Bayern are both chasing fourth successive domestic championships and went into the game with a background of eventful recent history.

The sides drew 1-1 in Munich in November after Bayern beat United in both legs of the quarter-finals last year.

That was in revenge for the last-gasp 2-1 victory which clinched the Cup for United in 1999.

But the game was a cagey, business-like affair with both sides aware of the damage a loss would cause.

United began in ponderous fashion, their midfield appearing lacklustre and brittle.

Bayern were easily able to snuff out any attacks before they got into the last third.

Giggs had earlier sparked a flutter of interest when he embarked on a jinking run on the left into the Bayern area but his weak shot dribbled wide of the right post.

But Giggs charged again just before the break, scampering left-to-right across the Bayern area before feeding Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was narrowly offside.

United, though, were nearly caught napping immediately after the interval when Claudio Pizarro's shot from the right forced a save from Barthez.

But that seemed to rouse United from their slumber.

Soon, Giggs was on the rampage again, this time terrorising Bayern defender Samuel Kuffour before producing a fingertip save from goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

The German stopper was on hand again soon after, tipping a Mikael Silvestre cross away from his crossbar.

Booked: Blanc, van Nistelrooy.

Bayern Munich: Kahn, Kuffour, Linke, Robert Kovac, Lizarazu, Hargreaves, Effenberg, Jeremies (Fink 73), Santa Cruz (Zickler 77), Pizarro, Sergio (Elber 83). Subs Not Used: Dreher, Sagnol, Sforza, Tarnat.

Attendance: 66,818

Referee: G Veissiere (France).