Roma 0 - Valencia 1

Roma: Pelizzoli; Panucci, Aldair, Dellas (Bombardini 58'), Guigou; Cafu, Tommasi, Lima, Zebina; Montella (Cassano 46'), Delvecchio (Gufre 58'). 4-4-2.
Valencia: Cañizares; Revellèire, Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni; Albelda, Baraja; Rufete (Mista 73'), Aimar (Marchena 89'), Vicente (Kily González 63'); Carew. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 78. Carew. Long shot from right wing which caught keeper off line.

Group B:
Arsenal.................. 5 points
Ajax........................ 5 points
Valencia................ 5 points
Roma..................... 0 points

Valencia got their Champions League campaign back on track with a well-earned 0-1 win at Roma. After two draws in the opening games of the second phase, Rafa Benítez's team couldn't afford to lose this one, and the manager put out his strongest side for the visit to the Olympic stadium in Rome. Valencia had never won in seven previous visits to Italy, but with Roma having lost twice and with players such as Totti, Emerson, Candela and Samuel missing, this was their chance to do so.

In the absence of Totti, Montella and Delvecchio shared the role up front, but neither could breach the tight Valencia defence. Montella headed wide from a free kick which Cañizares gave away just outside of the area, and later in the half Delvecchio lost his markers but could only head over the bar. For much of the first half though Valencia controlled midfield, and Rufete forced Pellizzoli to tip his long shot over the bar midway through the first half.

Capello brought on Cassano at the break, and Cañizares had to move qwuickly to get ahead of him to collect the ball almost immediately. There was double blow for the Italians on the hour mark when Dellas and Delvecchio both had to leave the field with injuries, leaving the manager with no further substitutions left. Cafu tested Cañizares with a strong shot from right of goal, but the introduction of Kily and Mista gave extra spur to the visitors. With twelve minutes to go Carew got away down the right wing, and with Pellizzoli way off his line expecting a cross, the big Norwegian striker squeezed a shot past him on the near post.

It was a killer blow, and left Roma reeling at the bottom of the table without a point to their name. When Cassano's late header went just past the post Valencia had taken the three points which draws them level with Ajax and Arsenal, and everything is now back in their own hands. If they can beat Roma again in Mestalla next Wednesday they will be well on their way to another appearance in the last eight.