PARIS, Feb 21: Ruud van Nistelrooy’s last-ditch equalizer from the spot saved Manchester United in a 1-1 Champions League draw at French club Nantes who were denied a famous win at the Beaujoire stadium Wednesday.

The Dutch international striker put in a great all-round performance to elevate him to second in the competition’s scoring chart with seven goals - and repay another instalment of the 19 million pounds (31.2 million dollars) that United paid PSV Eindhoven for his services.

United’s English Premiership rivals Liverpool had a frustrating time in their 0-0 Group B draw at home to Turkish club Galatasaray whose Colombian international goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon was outstanding.

Liverpool assistant coach Phil Thompson, far from downcast, predicted his side would not be overawed in the return fixture at Istanbul’s intimidating Ali Sami Yen stadium next Tuesday.

In the other Group B second phase game, Barcelona came from behind to draw 1-1 with Italian champions AS Roma to keep the Catalans top of the pool.

The lacklustre reigning champions Bayern Munich picked up a valuable point after drawing 0-0 with Boavista in a tight stalemate in Oporto.

Like Nantes and Liverpool before them in this competition, Bayern found Boavista impossible to beat at the compact Bessa stadium.

In France, United showed their fighting spirit under pressure and they might look back on the fixture as a crucial point gained.

United manager Alex Ferguson led the tributes to van Nistelrooy after his well-placed injury-time penalty.

United were handed the penalty lifeline after Nantes defender Mario Yepes clearly handled inside the area as the Red Devils midfielder Paul Scholes surged goalwards.

Yepes, who had already been booked in the first half, was sent off and ice-cool van Nistelrooy rifled in his equaliser to the relief of his team-mates.

Earlier Ferguson’s men had seemed destined for defeat as they struggled to recover from going a goal down when Nantes’ Romanian international Viorel Moldovan scored on nine minutes.

At Anfield, Liverpool’s disappointing result was compounded by the loss of England midfielder Steven Gerrard who was stretchered off with a groin injury 20 minutes from time.

Liverpool came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute when Emile Heskey’s header hit the woodwork.

The home side enjoyed the better chances but when they did breach the Galatasaray defence they Mondragon in sparkling form.

Gerard Houllier’s side, under the guidance of Thompson while the Frenchman recovers from heart surgery, face an uphill battle to reach the quarter-finals after taking just two points from three matches.

Bayern Munich’s point at Boavista leaves them tied on five points with Manchester United at the top of Group A.

Boavista have four points, meaning they are still in with a chance of qualification ahead of their trip to Bavaria for the return match next Tuesday.

Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said he was happy to settle for a point.

In the other B game, Roma had looked the better side until their goal but Barca deserved the point after dominating the last half hour and stay top of their group.

After 57 minutes Roma’s pressure paid off. Francesco Totti, fouled by Patrick Kluivert, shaped up to take a freekick but instead of playing it into the danger zone knocked it into space for Christian Panucci who controlled and fired past keeper Jose Manuel Reina with his left foot.

Barca equalized on 82 minutes. Vincent Candela fatally tried to let the ball run out of play but was dispossessed by Crles Puyol who crossed to Kluivert and the Dutchman lashed an unstoppable shot into the net.

That brought the Nou Camp to life and the Spanish side pressed forward in a vain quest for a winner.