Mixed results for the Spanish
teams in the return to European competitions. Real Madrid were beaten at home
by an impressive Bayern Munich side, and Valencia lost narrowly at Fiorentina
thanks to a penalty from their ex forward Mijatovic. Barcelona recovered their
pride after losing to Madrid at the weekend with a good win against Oporto.
Mallorca virtually booked themselves a place in the UEFA cup quarter finals
comfortably beating Monaco, with a hat-trick by Stankovic. The other three
teams had disappointing results however, with Deportivo losing heavily at
Arsenal, Atlético saving a draw at home against Lens and Celta losing by
a single goal at Juventus. See European section for fixtures and results. Match
reports follow:
Champions League, second
league phase, day 3
Real Madrid 2 - Bayern
Munich 4
Real Madrid: Casillas;
Salgado, Hierro, Karanka, Roberto Carlos; Geremi, Redondo, Guti (McManaman
60'); Raúl; Morientes (Ognjenovic 79'), Anelka. 4-3-1-2.
Real Madrid were caught on the
hop by an impressive Bayern Munich side who demonstrated the sort of form that
got them to last year's final. The Bernabeu stadium registered the best
attendance for the Champions League after Madrid's 3-0 victory against
Barcelona at the weekend, but the 65,000 crowd went away disappointed. Bayern
scored twice in three minutes halfway through the first half, with first Scholl
finding the ball at his feet to lift it past Casillas and then Effenberg
striking a free kick around the wall and catching the Madrid keeper
daydreaming. A minute later the home side were back in the game after Morientes
headed in after Raúl's shot hit the bar, but seven minutes from the
break Elber's clever back heel left Fink free to score from the edge of the
penalty area. Madrid came out after half time with all guns blazing and
Raúl met Roberto Carlos's cross with his head just two minutes after the
restart. Raúl has been waiting for a couple of games to dedicate a goal
to his new born son, and probably trying to find a viable alternative to
Bebeto's cradle gesture, he stuck his thumb in his mouth as if it were a baby's
dummy. Oh well, back to the drawing board on that one. Del Bosque, who had
named an unchanged side from the one last Saturday, brought on McManaman for
Guti, but it was Munich who went further ahead, with Paulo Sergio scoring from
Scholl's corner in the 65th minute. Madrid threw everything forward, but Kahn
was imperial and reminded everyone that he is still a candidate for Real
Madrid's vacant goalkeeping position next season. Munich move to the top of the
table on 7 points ahead of Real Madrid on 6, Dynamo Kiev on 3 and Rosenborg
with one. Next week the fixtures are reversed, with Madrid travelling to
Munich. Both should still qualify for the quarter finals.
Barcelona 4 - Oporto
2
Barcelona: Hesp; Frank
De Boer, Abelardo; Puyol (Reiziger 46'), Guardiola, Zenden; Luis Enrique, Cocu;
Figo (Ronald De Boer 86'), Kluivert, Rivaldo. 2-3-2-3.
Barcelona won back their fans
with a good victory after their 3-0 defeat at Real Madrid last weekend. A week
is a long time in football as they say, and this 4-2 win together with a 2-4
loss by Madrid sends the 'crisis' scuttling back on the 'puente aereo' to
Madrid. Van Gaal finally made the changes that fans have been demanding for
some time (and some that they haven't), bringing back Hesp, Frank De Boer and
Guardiola into the starting line up for the first time in months. Bogarde
dropped out of the squad at the last minute after picking up a shoulder injury
in training. It wasn't all plain sailing though, as they found themselves
behind as early as the fourth minute after Jardel headed in from close range.
Within 20 minutes Barcelona were in front however as Rivaldo, now back on form
and enjoying his football in Barcelona, scored from a well hit free kick, and
then Frank De Boer celebrated his return with a powerful header from Figo's
corner. Just before half time Kluivert pulled down Abelardo's long pass and,
after holding off Costa, placed the ball past Hilario for Barça's third.
Ten minutes from time Jardel rose between two defenders to head Clayton's cross
past Hesp, and the fans hearts were in their mouths. However Rivaldo popped up
in the last minute to dribble through the visitors' defence and put the result
beyond doubt. Barcelona move top of the group on 7 points, one ahead of Oporto.
The draw between Hertha Berlin and Sparta Prague leaves them on 2 and one
points respectively, and as with Madrid's group, Barcelona and Oporto are close
to going through.
Fiorentina 1 - Valencia 0
Valencia:
Cañizares; Angloma, Djukic, Pellegrino, Carboni; Milla (Angulo 26'),
Farinós, Gerard, Kily González; Ilie (Juan Sánchez 80'),
Claudio López. 4-4-2.
Valencia lost ground in their
group with this single goal defeat at Fiorentina, and now have an uphill
struggle to qualify. They sorely missed club captain Mendieta, suspended for
this match, with Valencia dominating much of the game in midfield but short of
creative ideas in attack. The only goal came early in the first half, with ex
Valencia and Real Madrid midfielder cum forward Mijatovic fooling the German
referee Merck into awarding a penalty when tackled by Milla in the area. Milla
was forced to go off shortly after the goal with a knee injury which could keep
him out for several weeks, Angulo coming on in his place. Fiorentina decided
that 1-0 was enough, and put up the shutters, with goalkeeper Toldo in superb
form. The defeat leaves Valencia in third place with three points, with
Fiorentina on 7 points, Manchester United on 6 and Bordeaux with one. Valencia
will have to beat Fiorentina at home next week to stay in the competition.
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