Champions league - first phase, day 2

Spartak Moscow 0 - Valencia 3

A comfortable win for Valencia in their second Champions League game against a Spartak Moscow side who have now gone thirteen games in the competition without a victory. Within six minutes of the kick off Angulo had put the visitors in front, running on to Aimar's pass to control the ball on his chest and shoot past Cherchessov. For the rest of the first half Valencia were on top, although a slip by Cañizares on the half hour mark almost let a shot from Kalynychenko into the net.

Spartak manager Oleg Romantsev brought on the more attacking Baranov at the break, and for a short while it looked is if the Russian side would get back in the match. However with twenty minutes to go, Valencia substitute Mista got on the end of Rufete's pass to score Valencia's second and wrap things up. And Juan Sánchez made it three five minutes from the end when a bad mistake by Cherchessov let in Aimar for him to set up the striker up for the easiest of tap ins. Valencia top their group and already have one foot in the next round. (25.09.02)

Real Madrid 6 - KRC Genk 0

It took Real Madrid a bit of time to get going, but once they started there was no stopping them as they hit Belgian side Genk for six. There was disappointment in the crowd at the absence of Ronaldo, who suffered a slight relapse and who has delayed his debut by a few days, and Zidane and Makele were also missing through injury. So there was some doubt as the first half wore on as to whether a surprise was in store or not. Two goals in a minute on the stroke of half time put the fans mind at ease though, the first when Zokora deflected Guti's off-target shot past his own keeper, and the second a rare strike by Michel Salgado.

Once the floodgates were open, the goals rained in. Figo got the third from the penalty spot after Iván Helguera was tripped by Vanbeuren, and Guti caught the unfortunate Zokora half asleep to make it four. Then Celades joined in the act volleying past Moons after good work by Raúl, and Raúl himself made it six with a long shot only seconds before he was substituted by Portillo. By then Morientes had replaced Cambiasso to a standing ovation from the crowd, his appearance in the competition virtually ensuring he stays this season, and the last quarter of an hour was just shooting practise for the home team players. Madrid were just too good, and with two victories under their belts, they are already more than halfway through to joining Barcelona and Valencia in the next round. (25.09.02)

Galatasaray 0 - Barcelona 2

Barcelona are well on the way to qualifying for the second league stage after their second win in a row. Their 0-2 victory in the always difficult visit to Galatasaray takes them to the top of the table, and with Brugge and Lokomotiv drawing in the other game their lead is even bigger. Kluivert opened the scoring in the first half after the ball fell kindly for him following Motta's cross, and Saviola went close to getting a second just before half time when he went past two defenders but then shot over the bar.

Hasan Sas came on at half time for the home side, and he almost created a goal for Christian a few minutes later. But Barcelona were looking much more dangerous, and after Mondragón tipped a Cocu effort over the bar from Motta's corner, Luis Enrique stepped in to go one better and head Motta's next kick into the back of the net. It was the Spanish international's sixth of the season, and his one hundredth goal in a Barcelona shirt. Either side could have scored after that, but time ran out for the locals, and the Spanish side can go into their Saturday night game at Betis feeling relaxed. (24.09.02)

Deportivo La Coruña 0 - AC Milan 4

Deportivo La Coruña were completely outclassed by an AC Milan side who gave the Gallicians a thrashing in their own Riazor stadium. It was a complete turnaround from last week's victory at Bayern Munich, and leaves the "group of death" wide open once again. The man who did the damage was Italian striker Inzaghi, who scored a hat-trick without any apparent opposition from a defence in complete disarray. Seedorf set the scene though with the opening goal with a quarter of an hour gone, and Inzaghi made it two before the break.

Depor were sorely missing their midfield star Valerón, who will be out for two months after breaking his leg last Saturday, and although his replacement Sergio put in an enthusiastic performance, he was lacking the class to find a way through a defence marshalled by Maldini and Nesta. Inzaghi added two more without too much trouble after the break and could have scored three more, in particular when he hit the bar from only two yards out. Deportivo were relieved when the final whistle went. (24.09.02)