Manchester United's Louis Saha (L), Wayne Rooney (top) and Michael Carrick (R) congratulate Nemanja Vidic (C) after he scored during their Champions League Group F soccer match against Benfica in Manchester, northern England, December 6, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    LONDON, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Manchester United survived a scare to take top spot in their European Champions League group by beating Benfica 3-1 on Wednesday, while Arsenal also finished top in Group G after a scoreless draw in Porto.

    The result in Portugal rendered CSKA Moscow's 3-2 defeat to Hamburg irrelevant, while Lille edged out AEK Athens for the runners-up spot in Group H behind Milan.

    Benfica took the lead in stunning circumstances at Old Trafford on 28 minutes when Nelson thumped home a brilliant drive from 25 yards.

    United drew level at the end of the first half when Nemanja Vidic rose to head home Ryan Giggs's free-kick.

    Giggs was on hand with a header to put United in front on 61 minutes and Louis Saha's header 15 minutes from time sealed his side's progress to the second round.

    Celtic endured a torrid start in Denmark, falling behind after just two minutes when Atiba Hutchinson nipped in to score.

    And things turned for the worse on 27 minutes when former Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer steered home from close range.

    To complete the set, Celtic conceded a third goal for the third away game in a row in the competition when Marcus Allback steered the ball home on 57 minutes.

    Celtic did claim a consolation through Jiri Jarosik on 75 minutes, but another meeting with a Premiership side is a live possibility after Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all topped their groups.

    Arsenal secured top spot in Group G after a 0-0 draw in Porto and that was enough to take both teams through in a game neither side showed any great desire to win.

    CSKA Moscow forged in front on 23 minutes in Hamburg when Ivica Olic converted a penalty after Milos Krasic had been brought down.

    But Hamburg, going into the game without a point from the previous five matches, equalised five minutes later through Besart Berisha.

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