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13 November 2002

BAYERN MUNICH 3-3 LENS

Kovac received a pass from Scholl, skipped two tackles and sent a fierce shot inside the post. Salihamidzic sent a cross into the box, Warmuz palmed the ball up in the air and it dropped over him into the net. Fink's og was almost as funny, he shot past Wessels when attempted to clear Utaka's centre. A terrible goal kick gave Lens the equaliser. Utaka latched onto the ball and after his initial shot was blocked he centred for Bakari to tap in. Feulner slammed home a loose ball after Elber headed against the post. Blanchard headed Lens level in injury time after Kovac inadvertently helped on a cross.

Assists : Scholl, Pizarro, Utaka


MILAN 1-2 DEPORTIVO

Tomasson got a slight touch to a deep cross from Kaladze to head Milan in front. Tristan levelled just before the hour mark when he sent a 25yd drive screaming into the top corner. A terrible ball by Tomasson handed possession to Depor, Amavisca hit a sensational 60yd pass between two defenders for Makaay to slot in the winner.

Assists : Kaladze, Amavisca


29 OCTOBER 2002

DEPORTIVO 2-1 BAYERN MUNICH

Mauro Silva laid off a free kick and Victor blasted the ball into the bottom corner. Santa Cruz headed Bayern level from a superb Scholl cross. Makaay sent Bayern out of the Champions League with a fantastic right foot volley.

Assists : Mauro Silva (fk), Scholl, Capdevilla


LENS 2-1 MILAN

Shevchenko re-directed a Tomasson header past Warmuz. Moreira levelled 10 minutes later when Ambrosini failed to clear a huge goal kick allowing Utaka to turn him and send a cross to the back post for Moreira. Another defensive blunder gave Lens the three points they needed to keep their hopes of a place in the second phase alive. Helveg tried to dummy a Utaka in his own box, Utaka stripped him of the ball and slotted past Abbiati.

Assists : Tomasson, Utaka

Lens and Depor will battle it out for 2nd place. Milan have nothing to play for and unless they see Depor as a threat in the latter rounds they'll probably tank their final game as they did today. Bayern have nothing but pride to play for in their final match. Lens must win and hope Milan do them a favour if they are to qualify for the second phase.


23 OCTOBER 2002

LENS 3-1 DEPORTIVO

A brilliant opening goal by Depor. Makaay ran onto a pass from Victor and with his first touch took the ball wide of goalkeeper Warmuz and with his second scored. Coulibaly punished Depor for failing to clear a corner, his shot deflected off Fran giving Juanmi no chance. Moreira almost ripped a hole in the Depor net with a violent drive from a laid off free kick. A combination of bad defending and bad goalkeeping cost Depor a third and ended any hopes of a comeback.

Depor have officially joined the small list of big pretenders. The clubs hailed by the media as genuine contenders. Juve and Barca are the other two.

Assists : Victor, Thomert


MILAN 2-1 BAYERN MUNICH

Seedorf pounced on a slip by Kovac and fed Serginho, the Brazilian winger got between two defenders and beat Kahn with a cheeky toe poke into the corner. Tarnat equalised with a tremendous left foot drive, catching out Dida who was expecting a cross from a position wide left on goal. In the second half Kahn injured himself when taking a goalkick and was replaced by Wessels. Inzaghi ran onto an exquisite pass from Rui Costa, brushed aside Kovac and flicked the ball past Wessels. Bayern threw everything at Milan in the final minutes of the match. Dida pulled off a fantastic save to deny Pizarro, Elber headed against the crossbar and there were glaring misses by Kuffour and Santa Cruz.

Milan are the only top club in Europe who are still unbeaten in both the league and Champions League. Having already qualified for Phase Two hopefully Ancelotti will not field weakened sides in the teams final two matches.

Assists : Seedorf, Elber, Rui Costa


1 OCTOBER 2002

BAYERN MUNICH 1-2 MILAN

Kaladze found Seedorf from a throw in, Seedorf burst into the box, swapped passes with Rivaldo and centred to the back post where Inzaghi tapped in with Kahn looking stupid appealing for offside. A mistake by Pirlo gave Salihamidzic a chance to send a cross into the box and Pizarro leapt above to head Bayern level. Dida made a fantastic save from a Ballack drive but also presented Elber with an absolute gift when he dropped a cross but the Brazilian striker blazed wide with the goal at his mercy. A superb counter attack gave Milan the points. Ambrosini latched onto a loose ball after Elber and Nesta collided on the edge of the box, Kaladze played wide to Serginho who muscled his way past Salihamidzic before finding Seedorf, Seedorf took out Hargreaves with a clever back heel, Serginho raced onto the ball, skinned Kovac and and floated a cross to the back post, Inzaghi headed past Kahn.

Another incredible away performance by Milan. Seedorf has been absolutely magnificent this season. Milan have been crying out for a player who can intelligently use the ball and link the midfield and attack. I make it four great performances by the Dutchman for Milan so far this season, hopefully he has many, many more left. If Milan can maintain their current form, and there's no reason to suggest otherwise especially given Rivaldo has yet to shine and Shevchenko is due to return, they're capable of going a long, long way in this competition. Barring victory in the San Siro Bayern are toast.

Assists : Seedorf, Salihamidzic, Serginho


DEPORTIVO 3-1 LENS

Depor had already went close to taking the lead twice before Lens suckered them on a counter attack. Coly punted a ball up field to Utaka, he hit a superb first time pass into the box and Moreira shot under Molina. A magnificent right foot volley drew Depor level. Tristan brilliantly pulled down a Makaay header, turned Song inside out but managed to shoot wide from 2 feet out. INCREDIBLE miss. Capdevilla rifled a shot past Warmuz from a superb Makaay pass and Cesar headed in a corner to make the points safe.

Assists : Tristan, Makaay, Fran (ck)


24 SEPTEMBER 2002

DEPORTIVO 0-4 MILAN

Seedorf ran onto a Rui Costa pass, blew past Depor's static defence and fired into the corner. A terrible mistake by Acuna left Inzaghi in front of goal and despite a reaction save by Juanmi he scored at the second attempt. Depor's best chance came from a corner. Dida made a spectacular one handed save from Naybet and Nesta matched his 'keepers heroics with an overhead kick clearance off the line on the follow-up. Inzaghi tapped in his second with the Depor defence appealing in vain for offside and five minutes later he completed his hat-trick. Maldini broke a Depor attack and Rui Costa sent Inzaghi racing away, he calmly shot past the onrushing Juanmi. Inzaghi should have had a fourth following a fantastic counter attacking move orchestrated by Rui Costa and Rivaldo and even managed to miss an open goal after rounding the 'keeper. Ancelotti substituted him for Tomasson. Milan were now tearing Deportivo apart at will and could have easily won by a greater margin but for bad misses by Rivaldo and Tomasson. Hopefully the boys are saving some goals for Lazio and Bayern next Wednesday.

It's been 8 years since Milan played football of this quality in European competition. Rui Costa finally delivered. Milan are still waiting on Rivaldo, so far they haven't needed him. Inzaghi has scored 21 goals in 28 Champions League games and three Champions League hat-tricks. His tally in European competition stands at 40 goals, a new record for an Italian striker.

Assists : Rui Costa (x3)


LENS 1-1 BAYERN MUNICH

Linke headed in a Ze Roberto free kick. Utaka levelled mid-way through the second half with a stunning header from a corner.

Assists : Ze Roberto (fk), Moreira


17 SEPTEMBER 2002

BAYERN MUNICH 2-3 DEPORTIVO

Depor must have been watching Valencia yesterday because their opening goal was every bit as good as Aimar's goal against Liverpool. Romero bounced a long ball forward off his chest and sent a looping pass to Donato, Donato hit an back heel volley to Valeron, he played and one-two with Sergio, turned and dropped an exquisite chipped pass straight into the path of Makaay, 0-1. Valeron found Hector with another brilliant pass down the channel, Hector brushed aside Ze Roberto and centred for Makaay to bang in his second. Salihamidzic lashed in from close range following a deflection off Donato and Elber equalised with a looping header from a Hargreaves corner. The outstanding Valeron made the winner for his Dutch team-mate with another super pass, Linke stood appealing for offside as Makaay raced downfield to his hat-trick.

Bayern paid the price for employing a suicidal Serie A style high offside trap, which failed miserably on the second and third goals Depor scored. Super Depor are back.

Assists : Valeron, Hector, Hargreaves (ck), Valeron


MILAN 2-1 LENS

Inzaghi punished slack defended to head Milan into the lead. Four minutes later he held off Coulibaly, turned and shot Rui Costa's pass inside the post. Moreira volleyed Lens back into the match but Milan held on for a deserved three points. Gattuso got into an argument with Bouba Diop at the end of the match, Bouba would have knocked seven shades of shit out of him.

Assists : Kaladze, Rui Costa, Utuka