AC Milan 3 - Barcelona 3

Barcelona: Dutruel; Puyol, Abelardo, Petit (Reiziger27'); Xavi, Cocu (Frank De Boer 46'); Simao, Luis Enrique, Sergi; Rivaldo, Alfonso (Dani 62'). 3-2-3-2.

Goals:
0-1. 19. Rivaldo. Low free kick from outside area under wall as they jumped up.
1-1. 26. Albertini. Long shot from 35 metres out past flailing Dutruel.
2-1. 39. Albertini. Free kick from edge of area found gap in defensive wall.
2-2. 43. Rivaldo. Free kick over wall which deflected in off bar and keeper's back
3-2. 45. José Mari. Following up after Dutruel blocked Bierhoff's shot.
3-3. 68. Rivaldo. Low diving header after cross from Sergi on left.

Rivaldo they say is going through a crisis period in his life, questioning his continuity at Barcelona and offering to pay back his salary after fans whistled at him in recent matches and newspapers criticised him for going to Brazil without permission during the two week mini-break between matches. However he replied in the best way he can, scoring three great goals in this match to add to the two he got last weekend against Real Sociedad. His first two came from dead ball kicks, taking the Mickey out of the Milan defence by hitting the first one low under the defensive wall as they jumped in the air, and then curling one over the top and in to the net by way of the crossbar and the unfortunate keeper's back. His third came from a low diving header in the second half after Sergi got free of his marker on the left and whipped a cross over in front of Abbiati's goal.

Normally that would have been enough to secure a victory, but a combination of bad luck and poor goalkeeping put Milan back in the match. A few minutes after Rivaldo's first goal, Petit and Cocu clashed heads as they both challenged José Mari for a ball. Both players were carried off, with Petit the worse off with blood streaming from a cut on his forehead holding his neck in pain. Cocu eventually came back on with a bandage around his head, whilst Petit was stretchered away to hospital in a neck brace for tests, being replaced by Reiziger. Before the two players could get on the field however, Milan came away, and Albertini hit a speculative shot from some 40 metres out which Dutruel, possibly unsighted at first, failed to reach.

Thirteen minutes later the scene was virtually repeated, with Albertini striking a free kick from the edge of the area through the defensive wall and almost in-between Dutruel's hands. Rivaldo got his second, but just as the half was coming to a close, ex Atlético Madrid striker José Mari spoilt the day for his Olympic colleagues Xavi and Puyol with his first goal against the Azulgrana. Rivaldo had to save the day again in the second half, and Barcelona came away with a point that might not be enough to see them through to the next round. With Besiktas and Leeds United also drawing, Milan and Leeds are joint top of group H with seven points, followed by Barcelona and Besiktas on four. To be sure of qualifying Barça have to win their last two games, and their tie next Tuesday against the English side will be vital. Fans will be hoping that Rivaldo's crisis continues.