Dutchman Van Nistelrooy scored after seven and 55 minutes and also had two efforts disallowed in a devastating display that helped lift United's second phase points tally to six out of six before the competition's winter hibernation.

Deportivo, beaten by United in last season's quarter-finals, were disappointing on a frosty night and Javier Irureta's side, who now have only one point from their first two games, had no answer to their in-form English opponents.

While United head the section from second-placed Juventus on four points, Deportivo are third and Basel bottom yet to get off the mark.

Alex Ferguson's United have now won their last six games in all competitions and their last 10 home Champions League matches.

The only negative was a first-half booking for Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who will now be suspended from their next game, against Italy's Juventus in Manchester in February.

Deportivo diplomatically left behind Argentine Aldo Duscher, whose foul on David Beckham when the two teams met in April almost put England's captain out of the World Cup with a broken foot.

Beckham was also absent from the United starting line-up on Wednesday, confined to the substitutes' bench after overcoming cracked ribs.

Deportivo were without captain Fran, a late injury withdrawal, but welcomed back silky midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron back in their side after his broken leg.

BECKHAM RETURN

United, though, made by far the better start. They went ahead after only seven minutes when Van Nistelrooy stretched his neck muscles to head a quality Paul Scholes cross into the corner of the net.

Scholes then shot wastefully wide and Van Nistelrooy should have added to his tally, first sending a header wide and then seeing another apparently legitimate effort ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Juanmi.

Depor offered little as an attacking force, with their prolific Dutch striker Roy Makaay isolated up front so Irureta brought on a second striker, Diego Tristan, at the start of the second half and straight away he nearly won a penalty.

Van Nistelrooy was then denied another goal only by an offside flag but, after United keeper Fabien Barthez parried a fierce Makaay shot in the 54th minute, United's deadly Dutchman struck again.

This time he rammed the ball into the roof of the net from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's cutback after Juanmi had parried a fierce Scholes drive.

Van Nistelrooy continued to cause chaos as a dominant United saw out time and Ferguson was even able to give 10 minutes' action to Beckham, whose rib problem had sidelined him for a month.