Paris St. Germain 1 - Deportivo La Coruña 3

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Naybet, Donato (Helder 89'), Capdevila; Mauro Silva, Emerson; Víctor, Valerón (Scaloni 81'), Turu Flores; Diego Tristán (Makaay 62'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 37. Algerino. Long shot from right which Molina let through under his body.
1-1. 58. Naybet. First time volley after Víctor's cross headed away by Distin.
1-2. 70. Turu Flores. Ran down left, dummied defender and shot from out wide.
1-3. 91. Makaay. Rounded keeper after Víctor split defence with through ball.

Deportivo came back from a body blow goal in the first half to win their first game of the second league stage of the Champions League. Javier Irureta put out an attacking team for this game, with Diego Tristán preferred up front to Makaay and Pandiani, and Turu Flores back on the left wing. There was speculation all week about whether ex Real Madrid striker Nicolas Anelka would be fit for this game, but in the end Paris Saint Germain lined up without him, manager Bergeroo lining up an exciting young side without any really big names.

Deportivo weathered the early pressure, with Naybet clearing from Robert and Molina saving well from Christian. The game then entered it's most boring stage, with neither side creating chances, until PSG's captain Algerino tried a speculative shot from outside of the area. Molina got down to it easily, but misjudged the speed, and it bounced off his arm and under his outstretched body into the corner of the goal. The mistake disconcerted the Spanish keeper, and he gave the ball away in a dangerous position before referee Helmut Krug blew the whistle for half time. Irureta obviously read out the riot act at half time, as Deportivo came out a transformed side in the second half. Turu missed an easy chance when the ball reached him by surprise after Capdevila's free kick, and instead of burying it in the net he shot tamely across goal.

The Parisians then came back, and Molina flapped away a Leroy header before Okocha hit a 35 yard screamer which just went over the bar. Makaay came on for Tristán, and two minutes later Depor were level, Distin trying to head away Víctor's cross from the right but only managing to direct it across to where Naybet was standing waiting. The Moroccan defender struck a right foot volley which any forward would have been proud of, leaving keeper Letizi stranded. Depor's tails were up, and after Krug waved away Emerson's claims for a penalty after Distin tripped him, Letizi produced a one handed save from Makaay who had the goal at his mercy. It was now a matter of time, and Turu produced the goal of the night, taking the ball down the left, making as if to cross, and then running past his defender to beat the keeper with a shot from a wide angle.

PSG threw everything forward and Naybet blocked a shot from Christian. That left them vulnerable at the back, and Donato charged upfield beating man after man before going a tackle too far and straining something he shouldn't have, and the veteran captain had to be replaced by Helder. A couple of minutes later Víctor picked up the ball in the PSG half and put through a delightful pass for Makaay to run on to. This time he didn't hesitate and took it round Letizi, and the game was over. The result was revenge for Deportivo, who were knocked out of the cupwinners cup semi-finals by the French team in 1996, and they maintain their record as the only undefeated team in the competition. Not bad for their first ever season at this level.