United-Real clash a hit with armchair fans

Manchester United's thrilling quarter-final encounter with Real Madrid attracted the biggest television audience in Britain for a Champions League match for three years, UEFA said on Thursday.

A Ronaldo hat-trick helped Real seal their passage to the semi-finals on Wednesday with an aggregate score of 6-5, despite losing Wednesday's second-leg clash 4-3 to United.

The match, on commercial channel ITV1, was watched by 10.6 million viewers in Britain, a 44.9 percent market share, rising to 12.9 million who tuned in towards the end of the game at United's Old Trafford stadium.

It was the highest audience for a Champions League match since the two sides met in the quarter-finals during the 1999-2000 season.

In Spain, 8.1 million viewers saw the match, 54 percent of the market, with 6.8 million watching in France.

"This week has confirmed what a fantastic competition the UEFA Champions League is," UEFA spokesman Mike Lee told the European governing body's website.

"We have seen some amazing football and tremendous goals, and the matches have been watched by millions of fans."

"The supporters have shown their appreciation in the stadium and in front of their televisions. This has been a great advert for European football."

AC Milan's 3-2 win over Ajax Amsterdam, which set up an intriguing semi-final derby against Inter Milan, was watched by 9.4 million people in Italy, the country's highest live match audience since the semi-finals in the 1998-1999 season.

Barcelona's defeat to Juventus on Tuesday was seen by 8.1 million, with seven million watching the game in Spain. Juve face Real Madrid in next month's semi-finals.