Manchester United - 5 Panathinaikos - 0:SOCCER/Champions League: If Manchester United's fans were going to be really pernickety - and it has been known - they might think it a shame Alex Ferguson's players approached the second half last night in a mood of conservatism rather than intent on breaking records.
Had they been feeling particularly ambitious, the Premiership champions might easily have emulated the nine goals they put past Ipswich in 1995, or at least racked up a record Champions League victory.
Ferguson, of course, is mindful that Arsenal are next on Old Trafford's guest list and perhaps did not want his players to exert too much energy when, by half-time, Panathinaikos had already endured some brutal punishment.
As it was, there was plenty for United to celebrate and they will enjoy the view from the top of Group E before they head to Stuttgart's Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium in a fortnight.
In doing so, they also answered many of the questions that are likely to engulf them if they fail to reach the European Cup final in Gelsenkirchen, the home of Schalke 04, next May. Quibbling with Ferguson's decisions can be a hazardous pastime.
But there linger legitimate concerns that, having sold their two best distributors of the ball in David Beckham and Juan Sebastian Veron, United no longer have quite the same creativity of old.
A midfield trio of Nicky Butt, Phil Neville and Quinton Fortune hardly doused that particular theory, for all their respective talents, but the haste with which United overwhelmed their opponents was a satisfying riposte to any misgivings that might have infested Old Trafford's packed stands when the teams were announced.
Panathinaikos, who were quarter-finalists two years ago, had bridled at the suggestion that they would be little more than sightseers, but after 15 minutes it was clear this would be an unhappy night for the Greek side, and by half-time, with a four-goal deficit, it had become an exercise in damage limitation.
Each goal depicted a glaring vulnerability in the visiting defence, none more so than when Antonis Nikopolidis, the hapless goalkeeper, inexplicably fumbled Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's daisy-cutter over the goalline. To add to his ignominy Nikopolidis was then withdrawn at half-time.
By then, United seemed as though they could score whenever the mood took them. Mikael Silvestre had opened the floodgates, charging through a congested penalty area to bundle in Ryan Giggs's corner, and the inquest was still going on among the Greek players when a rasping shot from Fortune brought him his first United goal for two years and the outstanding moment of a slightly surreal opening period.
At least Panathinaikos managed one serious attempt at Tim Howard's goal, with Michael Konstantinou coaxing a wonderfully agile save from the American. But it was a brief respite and Butt, another rare addition to the scoresheet, rewarded United's superiority five minutes before the break with a well-timed run and header from John O'Shea's centre.
The only disappointing aspect for Ferguson must have been Solskjaer's premature departure just before half-time, apparently because of an injury. Yet it was the only item of good news for the Highbury employees inside Old Trafford charged with keep a watching brief for Arsene Wenger.
Ferguson's players are brimming with confidence and they will relish the arrival of the deposed Premiership champions.
It was a much more conservative United after the break than that which had over-run their opponents earlier on, and there were few opportunities to enhance their goal difference in Group E.
There was still an air of inevitability, however, when substitute Eric Djemba-Djemba turned in Gary Neville's cross for his first United goal and the final flourish of a hugely satisfying night.
Guardian Service
MAN UTD: Howard, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea (Fletcher 57), Solskjaer (Bellion 45), Butt (Djemba-Djemba 57), Phil Neville, Fortune, Giggs, van Nistelrooy. Subs Not Used: Carroll, Ronaldo, Keane, Forlan. Goals: Silvestre 13, Fortune 15, Solskjaer 33, Butt 40, Djemba-Djemba 83.
PANATHINAIKOS: Nikopolidis (Chalkias 45), Seitaridis, Henriksen, Kyrgiakos, Fyssas, Zutautas, Goumas (Epalle 45), Papadopoulos (Olisadebe 62), Sanmartean, Maric, Konstantinou. Subs Not Used: Maurice, Munch, Konstantinidis, Michaelsen.
Referee: Alain Sars (France).
