AEK Athens 1 - Deportivo La Coruña 1

Deportivo: Molina; Héctor, Andrade, Naybet, Romero; Sergio (Duscher 66'), Mauro Silva; Víctor, Valerón, Luque (Diego Tristán 71'); Pandiani (Scaloni 77'). 4-2-3-1.
AEK Athens: Chiotis; Borbokis, Kostenoglou, Kapsis (Moras 20'), Kreek (Nalitzis 81'); Zagorakis, Georgeas, Katsouranis, Tsartas; Liberopoulos (Ivic 64'), Okkas. 4-4-2.

Goals:
0-1. 12. Pandiani. Near post header angled down into net from Víctor's corner.
1-1. 86. Tsartas. Took pass from Nalitzis on left of and shot through Molina's legs.

A late goal from ex Sevilla midfielder Tsartas deprived Deportivo of a possible three points in their opening game of this year's league stage. Irureta was expected to bring in Diego Tristán and Duscher for this game, but in the end the only change he made from the weekend side was to replace Scaloni with Víctor. That meant that Pandiani kept his place up front, and the manager's decision was vindicated in the twelfth minute when the Uruguayan striker got on the end of Víctor's corner to head down past Chiotis. Luque went close and Scottish referee Thomas McCurry failed to spot a clear hand ball by Moras in the area as Depor pushed forward for a second, and Héctor sent a shot just over the bar after the restart.

But the Greek side recovered later in the second half, and the referee made up for his earlier mistake by making another, waving away the home side's appeals for a penalty when Sergio clearly handled in the area. A few minutes later Tsartas found Okkas free in front of goal, but the Cypriot striker could only head weakly straight at Molina. Then substitute Ivic broke through and drove a shot just wide of the post into the side netting. It seemed that Depor were going to hold on, but with four minutes to go Tsartas took a pass from Nalitzis and struck a fierce shot which went through Molina's legs into the net for the equaliser. AEK had started where they left off, having drawn all six of their games last season including two against Real Madrid. Depor went home with a point, felling that it should probably have been three.