Fiorentina 2 Manchester United 0

Gabriel Batistuta produced a stellar finish to send Fiorentina on their way to a win over holders Manchester United in the Champions League.

United saw their second phase campaign get off to a poor start as they failed to break down a Florence side that strung five players across the back and sat back at regular intervals to defend.

They did this even before the 24th minute mistake from Roy Keane that gifted the Argentine super star with a lazy back pass that allowed Batigoal to run through and curl the ball around a stranded Mark Bosnich in the United goal and direct the chance into the top corner of the net.

United had not played badly but the Serie A side made the most of pre match irony to put them into arrears.

Pre match hype had concentrated on United's attempts to sign Batistuta last year and he showed all his many qualities again in this match. In the United camp Roy Keane has again been linked with a move to the peninsula but his wage demands may not look too attractice after his mistake in the Ennio Tardini tonight.

Rui Costa had forced an excellent save on full extension from Bosnich two minutes before La Viola took the lead but the early threat had come from United.

Keane had set up Paul Scholes for a low drive that only went one metre wide from the edge of the area and Ryan Giggs allowed the ball to run away from him to Toldo in the home goal.

Abel Balbo, the 33 year old former AS Roma veteran, came close with a 25th minute shot that Bosnich again parried and United had to wait until the last few seconds of the half to see the Fiorentina goal threatened.

David Beckham's twisting free kick was slapped up by Toldo and straight onto Repka's thigh. The Czech knew little of the touch that sent the ball onto the top of the bar.

If United were encouraged by that and a blast from irrascible manager Alex Ferguson they conceded again inside two minutes of the re-start with another howling defensive error.

Henning Berg produced a sloppy pass back that allowed Batistuta to head for the penalty area and cross low for Balbo to scuff his finish into the ground and wide of Bosnich's dive although the Australian did almost reach the fluffed shot with his arm.

Ferguson left the side to wallow in their mistakes for ten more minutes but then as the game became scrappy and bad tempered threw on all three United substitutes. Yorke was carrying an injury but Berg and Cole was taked of for poor displays. On came Solskjaer, Sheringham and Phil Neville but Rui Costa started to dominate the game completely even with the new men.

United's hopes ended when Paul Scholes mis-kicked in front of goal twice after Teddy Sheringham had also scuffed a chance.

Keane and Beckham combined to produce an ugly atmosphere on the pitch. Batistuta will miss the next game after being booked for a foul on Beckham. The United man was also yellow carded for disobeying referee's orders at a free kick. Cois is banned for the trip to Bordeaux on December 8th after a foul on Beckham earned him a booking.