Champions league - first phase, day 3

Valencia 6 - Basel 2

Once again Spanish sides are top of the pile in Europe, with ten victories and a draw in the twelve league matches to date. Valencia followed up Real Madrid's six goals last week with a "set" of their own, humiliating Swiss side Basel who had been the revelation of their group in their first two games. Benítez gave the striker's shirt to Carew, and with just over a quarter of an hour gone he had scored twice and set up Fabio Aurelio for a third. Baraja headed goal number four from Vicente's cross on the half hour mark, and it could have been more before the break. Rossi got one back just after the restart, but fifteen minutes later a brilliant Aimar scored another and then combined with Carew two minutes after that to set up Mista. Hakan Yakin got a second consolation goal for Christian Gross's side in the last minute, but by then the home fans were already in the streets celebrating their team's third win in a row in the competition. (02.10.02)

AEK Athens 3 - Real Madrid 3

Another six goal thriller involving Real Madrid, but this time the honours were shared in their match at AEK Athens. Del Bosque decided not to take risks, and contrary to all reports he included Zidane and Figo in his starting line up. And a good job he did too, as Zidane in particular was to prove instrumental in his side's recovery after dead-ball specialist Tsartas tore them apart in the first half hour of the game. The ex Sevilla midfielder opened the scoring with a twice taken free kick in the sixth minute, and after Zidane had equalised a few minutes later he set up two more headed goals in three minutes, first for Maladenis from a corner and then for Nikolaidis from a free kick. Del Bosque was starting to regret leaving Hierro at home, but before half time Zidane pulled one back from Figo's corner to narrow the gap. The visitors kept up the pressure after the break, and eventually the on-form Guti made it all square from a Roberto Carlos cross. (02.10.02)

Deportivo La Coruña 3 - Lens 1

Deportivo La Coruña came from behind to beat French side Lens 3-1 and move to second in their group. After last week's humiliation by AC Milan, Irureta decided to line up with both Makaay and Diego Tristán in his side, and Molina returned in goal after a month long injury. However the doubts started once again when Moreira turned in Utaka's cross with only ten minutes gone, and despite Depor's best efforts they went in at the break a goal behind. Eventually though Makaay equalised, volleying home a cross from Tristán in spectacular fashion, and the fans breathed a collective sigh of relief. It was not until twelve minutes from the end though that the relentless pressure turned into a second goal, scored by substitute Capdevila, and only when César headed Fran's corner into the back of the net six minutes later did the supporters really celebrate. The news that Bayern Munich had been beaten at home by Milan added to their joy, and the Gallicians could already be on their way to the second stage if results go in their favour when the competition resumes in three weeks' time. (01.10.02)

Lokomotiv Moscow 1 - Barcelona 3

Barcelona virtually ensured their qualification for the second league stage after a comfortable victory over Lokomotiv Moscow, taking their tally to three wins out of three. Van Gaal once again put out an unchanged side, and they took the lead with just under half an hour on the clock when Luis Enrique touched on Mendieta's long ball for Kluivert to run on and beat keeper Ovchinnikov. Four minutes later Saviola got on the end of Xavi's cross to head home a second, and almost immediately after the half time interval the young Argentine international held off a strong challenge to poke the ball under the Russian keeper for his second of the night and his team's third. There seemed no way back for Lokomotiv, but Nigerian striker Obiorah put the home side back in the game with a clever lob over Víctor Valdés, and the Barcelona defence had a few nervous moments before the referee blew the final whistle. (01.10.02)