14 MARCH 2001
ANDERLECHT 2-0 REAL MADRID
Dindane turned in Goor's cross. Goor slammed in a rebound after Casillas saved Ilic's shot.
Assist : Goor
LEEDS 3-3 LAZIO
Terrible marking and a perfect cross gave Ravanelli the opening goal. Leeds hit back through top scorer Bowyer. Kewell headed a loose ball back into the
box, Bowyer turned and shot high over Marchegiani, superb finish. A minute later Lazio went back in front from the penalty spot, Matteo stupidly tugged
Ravanelli's shirt, he went down, Mihajlovic converted. Wilcox volleyed Leeds level from Harte's corner and Viduka scored Leeds third from another Harte
set piece. Robinson made a fantastic save from Mihajlovic's deflected free kick. Salas shot against the inside of a post. Nedved should have been sent
off for almost breaking Maybury's leg in half, the ref and linesman missed it and seconds later Lazio were awarded a free kick for a foul on Baronio.
Mihajlovic stepped up and bent the ball over the wall and out of reach of Robinson.
Assists : Nedved, Kewell, Ravanelli, Harte (x2), Baronio
7 MARCH 2001
LAZIO 2-1 ANDERLECHT
Didn't see much of this as my satellite system is playing up due to the bad weather. Lopez scored direct from a corner. It wasn't a Veron classic or
anything, Milosevic came up for the ball and missed. Anderlecht's equaliser also came from a corner kick, Baronio weakly cleared the ball and Stoica
blasted it first past Marchegiani. Baronio made up for his mistake with the winner, probably the most unspectacular scissor kick you're every likely to
see, the ball bounced off the ground into the net.
Assist : Pancaro
REAL MADRID 3-2 LEEDS
Neither of the first two goals should have been allowed to stand. Smith was clearly offside when he received Viduka's pass and opened the scoring.
A minute later as Figo whipped in a free kick Raul did a Maradona - handling the ball over the line. Kewell stole the ball off Makelele, ran 50yds and
turned Geremi before floating over a cross into the box, Smith weakly headed into the ground. Figo gave Real the lead with a bizarre goal, he made one of
his trademark surges down the left flank and whipped in a cross, the ball missed everyone including Martyn, 2-1.
Horrendous marking from a corner gave Viduka a free header and Leeds the equaliser. The marking wasn't too hot on the next goal either though Raul
has to take credit for a super leap to head in Figo's cross. Kewell skipped over a two footed lunge by Makelele, passed to Smith he slipped in Viduka
and the burly striker smashed the ball against the post. He was given a similar chance minutes later, Kewell and Smith were again involved but this
time he didn't get close. Geremi gift wrapped a goal for Figo but he dragged the ball wide from close range.
Assists : Figo (x2), Viduka, Harte
21 FEBRUARY 2001
ANDERLECHT 1-4 LEEDS
Smith flicked a throw-in onto Viduka. The Australian brilliantly held up the ball, centred and Smith arrived to tap Leeds into the lead. Leeds added two
quick goals with some marvellous one touch passing. The first came on the break, Mills played a stray ball to Bakke, Viduka touched the ball back to
Dacourt, he sprayed it wide to Matteo on the opposite flank, he sent in a cross and Viduka made it 0-2. Leeds third was even better. Dacourt played
the ball up to Smith, he passed to Batty, Batty passed to Dacourt, Dacort knocked the ball into Viduka, he back-healed it to Batty, Batty released Smith
and with his first touch he chipped the ball over the 'keeper. Six passes in ten seconds, magnificent goal.
Koller handled Ferdinand's volley on the goal-line. Martyn was finally called into action about an hour into the game. Stoica knocked a cross down to Goor,
Martyn flew off his line and made a brilliant save. The ball fell to Goor following sloppy defending from a set piece but he only got as far as the
side netting. Koller headed in Dheedene's free kick. Martyn was nowhere but then he never really had a prayer of beating Koller to the ball. Minutes
later Martyn made a crucial, world class save from Koller and just as Leeds seemed set for a nervy finish, De Boeck climbed over Viduka in the box,
penalty. Harte smashed the ball past Milosevic.
Can O'Leary's men pull off the biggest shock of all and defeat Real Madrid in the Bernabeau? That's one miracle too many.
Assists : Viduka (2), Matteo, Batty, Dheedene
LAZIO 2-2 REAL MADRID
A combination of strong running by Castroman and a terrible 'keeping blunder gave Lazio a dream start. Castroman breezed past Solari and Geremi on the
right wing, fell as he entered the box, the ball broke for Nedved and his first time shot went in off Cesar's leg. Cesar made amends with a brilliant
close range save from Simeone. Peruzzi made excellent saves from Raul and Roberto Carlos before his defence gifted Real the equaliser. Geremi knocked
back Peruzzi's goal kick, three Real players were walking back towards their own goal, the Lazio defence appealed for offside, Solari ran through and
coolly lifted the ball over Peruzzi.
A treacherous mistake by Geremi, who was awful all night, put Lazio back in front. Castroman drove into the box, turned inside Geremi before shooting
against Cesar, Geremi stupidly tried to control the ball on his chest but only managed to send the ball towards Crespo, 2-1. Solari ran through the
entire Lazio defence, rounded Peruzzi and seemed certain to score until an awesome block by Couto!! who threw himself onto his knees and chested the
ball down to Peruzzi. Substitute Munitis somehow managed to pull the ball back from the goal-line to Raul but Negro made an excellent block, however,
a shocking clearance by Mihajlovic allowed Real another chance. This time Raul rose above Negro and Pancaro to head Munitis' cross past Peruzzi and
send the Champions of Italy out of the competition.
Assists : Castroman, Geremi, Munitis
13 FEBRUARY 2001
LEEDS 2-1 ANDERLECHT
Koller weakly met Baseggio's teasing cross and the ball ran wide of the post with Goor just failing to make contact. Viduka, so impressive at the start
of the season, continued his miserable recent form with two horrible finishes. Koller, Goor and Stoica combined for a sweet opening goal. Koller
knocked the ball down to Stoica, he passed to Goor who returned the ball with a fabulous back heel, Stoica evaded Batty's challenge and slotted the
ball inside the post. Awesome, awesome, awesome goal. Harte equalised with a thunderous low free kick. Radzinski and Goor gave Koller an open goal to
aim at but he shot over the bar. His chairman recently claimed he was worth £16 million, bollocks. De Boeck slipped while trying to cut out a long ball
out of defence, Smith found Bowyer with a super first time pass and from the type of angle no one should score from, he did. Martyn made a fantastic save
at the death from Radzinski to earn his team the three points, Anderlecht should have came away with at least one.
Assist : Goor, Bowyer, Smith
REAL MADRID 3-2 LAZIO
On paper this was the match of the tournament so far and it didn't disappoint. Peruzzi just managed to clear Figo's cross with Morientes bearing
down on goal. Castroman chipped a ball upto Crespo, he controlled it on his thigh, sent Hierro running the wrong way with a rude touch inside and poked
the ball into the corner. One of those goals that look even better in slow motion. Figo cracked a shot off the crossbar and had an effort cleared off
the line following great interplay between Raul and Mr. Champions League (because he saves his best for this competition) McManaman. Another
'triangle' lead to the equaliser, this time it was Helguera and Raul who created an opening for Morientes who admittedly was never going to have
trouble with Couto marking him. The woodwork again came to Lazio's rescue, this time McManaman hit the crossbar after cutting inside the box and
unleashing a shot.
Crespo blew a great chance in the second half when Lazio tore through Real's offside trap though Casillas deserves credit for forcing him wide. Peruzzi
spilled a powerful shot by Figo, Raul hit the rebound into the side netting. Casillas again thwarted Crespo as he seemed set to score his second. Lazio
were punished for failing to deal with a corner kick. They attempted to play offside, Makelele sprayed the ball wide to Roberto Carlos and Simeone
deflected his centre to Helguera, 2-1. Real then gave away a soft equaliser, Casillas dropped Pancaro's high cross and Gottardi tapped in. Munitis conned
the ref into awarded a penalty in the last minute though Gottardi only has himself to blame for pushing Munitis with his arm. Peruzzi got a touch to
Figo's spot kick but it wasn't enough. Marvellous match. Can't wait for the return leg.
Assists : Castroman, Raul, Munitis
6 DECEMBER 2000
REAL MADRID 4-1 ANDERLECHT
Morientes pulled down Helguera's cross, sent Dheedene crashing on his arse with an outrageous dummy and hammered the ball into the roof of the net.
Professional wimp Raul took one of his dives in the box, Figo converted the penalty. Helguera volleyed Madrid's third from Figo's corner and Roberto
Carlos banged in a free kick. Stoica got a consolation goal for the Belgians with a great strike from outside the box.
Assists : Helguera, Raul, Figo, Makelele, Dheedene
22 NOVEMBER 2000
LEEDS 0-2 REAL MADRID
Guti blazed over with the goal at his mercy as Leeds failed to clear from a free kick. Leeds best chance of the match came as a result of an
uncharacteristic error by Cassias, he flapped at a cross, Woodgate whacked the loose ball goalwards but Campo cleared off the line. Fabulous interplay
between Roberto Carlos, Guti, who humiliated Woodgate with an outrageous dummy, and Raul went un-rewarded when Raul struck a first time shot
against the post.
In the second half Real were even more dominant, Raul should have done better following a great run by McManaman. Hierro gave the reigning
champions the lead heading in a cross from the disappointing Figo. Minutes later Raul added a deserved second this time finishing a marvellous move as
Real broke from a free kick, Roberto Carlos and McManaman combined on the left, McManaman found Guti, he passed to Raul who swept a beautiful
first time shot past Robinson.
Assists : Figo, Guti