Deportivo La Coruña 1 - Monaco 0

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Andrade, Naybet, Romero; Duscher, Sergio; Víctor (Scaloni 81'), Valerón (Pandiani 65'), Luque (Fran 57'); Diego Tristán. 4-2-3-1.
Monaco: Roma; Evra, Squillacci, Rodríguez, Givet; Giuly, Cissé, Bernardi, Plasil (Prso 87'), Rothen; Morientes (Adebayor 78'). 4-5-1.

Goals:
1-0. 83. Diego Tristán. Shot from right of area which hit keeper and rolled over line.

Group C :
Deportivo............... 7 points
Monaco................... 6 points
PSV Eindhoven.... 3 points
AEK Athens............ 1 point

Deportivo beat erstwhile leaders Monaco to move to the top of group C. It was not an easy victory though, and their opponents demonstrated why they are leading the French first division at the moment. The excellent Giuly almost caught the defence off guard early on, and although Diego Tristán (preferred to Pandiani up front) failed to convert Valerón's pass at the other end, Giuly just failed to find ex Real Madrid striker Morientes soon afterwards.

Just before half time Morientes did find the net when he poked home Evry's cross, but much to the relief of the home fans, referee Franf De Bleeckere ruled it out for a borderline offside. And the visitors kept up their attacks into the second half, with Morientes heading over and Molina tipping another header from Squillaci over the bar.

Irureta finally decided to take off Luque and then Valerón, who was being marked out of the game by Deschamps's men, and brought on Fran and Pandiani. The big striker soon made his mark, heading just over within minutes of entering the field of play, and Tristán came alive with a back-heel flick which keeper Roma somehow managed to save.

By now Depor were on song, and eventually Tristán got the goal they were looking for after Scaloni played the ball in to him. It was fortunate when it came though, Roma blocking the shot only to see it spin back over the line before a defender could get it away. Morientes was already on the bench by then, but Monaco did do their best to get back, with Giuly bringing another good save from Molina and Fran heading off the line from Adebayor. But Prince Rainier and Prince Albert, both watching from the directors' box, had to go home disappointed and hope that their team's fortunes will be reversed in the return leg in a fortnight's time.