Real Sociedad 1 - Galatasaray 1

Real Sociedad: Alberto; López Rekarte, Kvarme, Schürrer, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso, Alkiza (Boris 86'); Karpin, Nihat (Jauregi 86'), Gabilondo; De Paula (Aranburu 71'). 4-2-3-1.
Galatasaray: Mondragon; Hakan Unsal (Cihan 75'), Bulent, Frank De Boer (Karan 84'), Tamas; Ergun, Sabri; Berkant, Petre, Hasan Sas (Arif 65'); Hakan Sukur. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 26. Hakan Sukur. Ran on to Berkant pass and clipped ball over Alberto.
1-1. 51. Collected Xabi Alonso free kick and hit low shot across Mondragon.

Group D :
Juventus................. 13 points
Real Sociedad...... 9 points
Galatasaray............ 7 points
Olympiakos ........... 4 points

A struggle for Real Sociedad in their last group match against Galatasaray, but in the end they got the draw they needed to make it through to the last sixteen. Raynald Denoueix was missing two key players through injury, keeper Westerveld and centre forward Kovacevic, and once again he opted to leave De Pedro on the bench as he had not fully recovered from a recent knock. The Basque side only needed one point to qualify, although their recent poor league form and the injuries meant that this was by no means certain, especially as the Turks had beaten Juventus in their last match.

Real started well, but their first effort on target didn't come until midway through the first half, when Sabri cleared a Schurrer header off the line following a corner. The ball went right up the other end though, and Berkant found Hakan Sukur with a pinpoint pass for him to clip the ball over the advancing Alberto. As things stood that meant the Spaniards were out, and although Nihat went close with an acrobatic shot and López Rekarte also shot just wide after a good run, at half time things were looking grim.

Six minutes in to the second half though Real got the equaliser they deserved, De Paula collecting Xavi Alonso's free kick and placing a shot across Mondragon into the net. After that Denoueix decided that he would try and defend the result, taking off his two forwards and packing his defence and midfield. Galatasaray meanwhile threw on all the fire power they could muster, but the experienced Alberto proved a worthy stand in for Westerveld. The San Sebastian side had made it through in their first ever appearance in the Champions' League, and Denoueix, who had just signed a one year extension to his contract, was a relieved man.