RUUD THE MAGNIFICENT

Last updated : 22 November 2004 By editor

"Ruud's statistics in the Champions League are frightening really when you consider that he is coming up against Europe's top defenders, the top defenders in each league in different countries and consistently over the past four or five years he has scored goals," says Giggs.

From MEN:

'Van Nistelrooy's four goals against Sparta Prague in United's last Champions League outing took his personal tally to 43, eight scored during his days with PSV and an impressive 35 from 36 appearances with the Reds.

It also put him within reach of Eusebio, Sixties hero of Portugal and Benfica and it now looks like being a battle between van Nistelrooy and Real Madrid's Raul to see who can set new standards.

Raul took his overall total to 48 thanks to three goals this season and is just one behind all-time best Alfredo di Stefano the Argentinean who masterminded Madrid's domination of the European Cup in its early years. Van Nistelrooy needs another four-goal flurry to put the pressure on the Spaniard and will be hoping to get on the score sheet against Lyon.