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20 March 2002

PANATHINAIKOS 2-2 REAL MADRID

Geremi headed out a cross, Liberopoulos stood on the edge of the box, waited for the ball to drop then volleyed past Casillas. Morientes equalised with a freak header from Celades' cross, the ball bounced off the back of his head and looped over Nikopolidis. Goumas put Pana back in front with a great header from Vlaovic's free kick. Portillo equalised with a brilliant strike from 25yds but his celebrations were cut short when the World's ugliest man, Ivan Campo, hugged him. I think he's safe though as he crossed himself as Campo walked away:)

According to UEFA Morientes scored from McManaman's cross. Of course the Italian commentator got it right. How anyone can confuse the two is a mystery. I hope this was a rare slip by UEFA but I don't read their site often.

Assists : Celades, Vlaovic (fk), ?


SPARTA PRAGUE 2-0 PORTO

Sionko scored a superb individual goal. He picked up the ball in Porto's half on the left wing, cut inside Andrade and shot inside the post. Jarosik added a second with a brilliant curling free kick.

Assists : ?, Cizek (won fk)


12 MARCH 2002

PORTO 2-1 PANATHINAIKOS

Capucho hooked Clayton's brilliant cross field pass to the centre of goal and Deco volleyed into the corner. Brilliant football. Capucho looked offside when Clayton? sent him way with another great long ball, the Panathinaikos defence stood waiting for the flag as Pena tapped into an empty net. Olisadebe inadvertently helped on Bassinas' free kick and Kolkka volleyed the ball into the corner.

Assists : Capucho (x2), Olisadebe


REAL MADRID 3-0 SPARTA PRAGUE

Solari played a one-two with fellow bench warmer Savio on the edge of the box then cheekily lobbed the ball over a sprawling Cech. Minambres centred for Guti, he skipped past Hubschman and shot Real further in front. Midget Savio headed in Real's third from a superb cross by Raul Bravo.

Assists : Savio, Minambres, Bravo

Panathinaikos will be hoping Real's reserves will roll over but they didn't do that today having already secured qualification for the knockout stages. If Porto win and Panathinaikos avoid defeat, Panathinaikos are through. If Porto win and Panathinaikos lose, Porto go through due to their superior head to head record.


27 FEBRUARY 2002

PORTO 1-2 REAL MADRID

Real were without Zidane, Figo, Raul, Morientes and Roberto Carlos but their reserves proved too strong for Porto. Solari headed in a Pascua cross. Former Barcelona 'keeper Baia made a complete mess of a long ball into the box and scored after Guti's shot had been blocked. Slack defending from a throw in gave Porto their goal. Hierro dived in for tackle but missed allowing Postiga to pick out Capucho and as Cesar flew off his line, Capucho fired into an empty net.

Assists : Pascua, Postiga


PANATHINAIKOS 2-1 SPARTA PRAGUE

Michaelsen dropped a fabulous 30yd pass between two defenders on to Konstantinou, he nodded the ball down before drilling it past Cech. Konstantinou met Michaelsen's laser precision cross with a magnificent diving header. Klein scored a consolation goal in the last minute from Michalik's free kick.

Konstantinou is the Greek Christian Vieri, an incredible talent. Michelsen's crossing is absolutely World Class.

Assists : Michaelsen (x2), Michalik


19 FEBRUARY 2002

SPARTA PRAGUE 0-2 PANATHINAIKOS

Two huge defensive blunders almost certainly ended Sparta's hopes of a place in the quarter-finals. Liberopoulos sprayed the ball wide to Karagounis, he ran into the box and sent a cross to the far post, Ceh tried to claim the ball but it under him into the net. Four Sparta defenders ball watched a hopeful cross bounce over their heads and Konstantinou muscled his way through before shooting inside the post. Jarni got Hubschman sent off late on with a totally un-necessary dive when clean through.

Assist : Liberopoulos


4 DECEMBER 2001

REAL MADRID 3-0 PANATHINAIKOS

Helguera pulled down Zidane's huge cross before volleying through Nikopolidis fingers, he really should have saved. Bobby Carlos' cross hit the back of Morientes' heel, bounced off a defender and Raul threw himself to head into an empty net. He bagged a second from another rebound.

Assist : Zidane


21 NOVEMBER 2001

SPARTA PRAGUE 2-3 REAL MADRID

Zidane's shot took a wicked deflection off the superbly named Flachbart leaving Cech no chance. Farcical defending by Real lead to the equaliser. Hierro fell on his arse when trying to cut out a cross, Pavon gathered the ball and was slow to clear, Sionko sent a cross to the back post and Michalik volleyed into the bottom corner. Real hit back almost immediately through Morientes.

Casillas made a fantastic stop from Flachbart's 20yd drive but made a complete mess from the resulting corner but fortunately for him Sparta couldn't capitalise. More bad defending from Real for the equaliser. Helguera weakly headed out a long throw in and Sionko blasted the ball in off Pavon. Real went downfield and scored the winner, Morientes tapping in after Cech spilled Roberto Carlos' shot. Dodgy handling from Casillas almost handed Sparta a share of the points but once again they failed to capitalise.

Assists : Sionko, Salgado