27 October 1999
MARIBOR 1-2 DYNAMO KYIV
Rebrov put the finishing touches to a superb move with a blistering volley. Farcical defending by Dynamo gifted Balajic an equaliser. Kaladze got a penalty and a
perfect 10 for a dive, Rebrov converted.
Attendance : 9,500
LAZIO 1-1 LEVERKUSEN
By Tim Leidecker
Bayer coach Christoph Daum and a German interviewer were joking before the game that Leverkusen had played brilliantly in the Champions League
so far but didn't get good enough results out of it so they should try to reverse that and that's exactly what happened. Still in the first minute a corner by
Mihajlovic couldn't be cleared by the Bayer defense and Nedved poked the ball across the line from the resulting goalmouth scramble. It took Leverkusen 20
minutes to digest the shock and create equal possession.
Just before the half time break substitute Markus Happe who came on for the injured Gresko broke through on the left wing and centred the ball for Kirsten
who used his goal getter instinct to tap the ball in. Laziowho had just relaxed and not done anything of note after their goal now had problems to get back
into the game. Leverkusen forced them to play their kind of game and didn't allow much more chances. As both teams were content with the result the
game rippled on 'til the end.
Bayer now has to hope for Lazio not to stay undefeated in the Champions League when the Laziali take on Dynamo in Kiev next week. Another amazing
thing in this game was how Emerson dominated Veron again. "Emma" now clearly has to seen on a level with players like Keane, Davids or Petit. No
surprise Roma, Lazio and Atletico de Madrid have offered $M20 for him.
Attendance : 30,000
19 OCTOBER 1999
DYNAMO KYIV 4-2 LEVERKUSEN
By Tim Leidecker
Leverkusen played a superb game, dominating possession as usual (should have been around 60%, they were really playing like a home side) and wouldn't it
have been for some poor finishing, injuries to first choice defenders Kovac & Gresko as well as dubious referee calls (again!) the Bayer-boys should have
walked off clear winners.
Dinamo got off to the better start though, Kossovskyi had no trouble finishing from Rebrovs low cross. B04 equalized only 8 minutes later, Emerson headed onto goal
from Beinlichs free kick, Shovkovskyi could only clear the ball to the front where Kirsten was waiting to put back the rebound. At 36 minutes Bayer again had a
defensive blackout. Guerassimenko intercepted a pass by Emerson, raced the length of the pitch and fed Shatskikh with a fantastic throughball and as 4
Bayer-defenders were appealing for offside the Dinamo attacker rounded Matysek and put the ball into the open net.
It took Leverkusen only 4 minutes into the 2nd half to react. Ramelow put through Neuville who fired the ball into the left bottom corner. Bayer continued to push for the third goal and had no trouble keeping Kyiv out of the game until the hour break when the ref decided to let the home team have a free kick on the edge of the area despite clear ball winning by Bayer: Substitute Iachkin curled the ball against the right post, Holovko converted the rebound with a diving header. Keeper Matysek didn't look very convincing on that one. The visitors kept attacking and were rewarded with a penalty when Holovko and Vaschuk sandwiched Neuville in the
box but Shovkovskyi made up for his earlier blunder with a great save from Beinlichs although weak attempt. As Bayer still didn't give up attacking Dinamo
was presented a couple of good chances on counterattacks and they proved that they are still - even without Shevchenko - one of the best teams on the break
when Vaschuk headed in Iachkins cross. Bialkevich then even had a 1 on 1 opportunity with Matysek but blew it.
After losing this "6-point-game" Leverkusen now basically has to win both of their remaining games (at Lazio and at home against Maribor) to make the 2nd round
because Dinamo are now back in it and will seek revenge next week in Maribor plus Lazio might not give 100% in their last game as they are virtually qualified.
Attendance : 40,000
29 SEPTEMBER 1999
LAZIO 4-0 MARIBOR
Inzaghi and Conceicao began the rout in the second half. Veron found Mancini in the box with a trademark laser precision pass, Mancini hit a beautiful
first time chip to the far post and Salas powered a header down past the 'keeper and grabbed his second with a volley from Inzaghi's cross.
Attendance : 33,000
LEVERKUSEN 1-1 DYNAMO KYIV
By Tim Leidecker
Robson Ponte played a perfect throughball to Ramelow and the "big blond dude" moved the ball on to Kirsten who put it in the back of the net.
Leverkusen made a single mistake all game long and paid for it: Keeper Matysek mishit a backpass and the ball went out of bounds. Dinamo
quickly threw the ball back in and while Bayers defense was still sleeping Dmytrulin crossed to Husin who scored with a precise shot.
Emerson wasn't as strong as usual for Bayer but Nowotny again had a hell of a match and should be at Nesta level by now.
Attendance : 22,500 (sold out)
Too many draws, although one draw ruled (the Hertha one), one was OK (the Dortmund one), one was acceptable (the Leverkusen one) but one
really sucked (Bayern).
22 SEPTEMBER 1999
LAZIO 2-1 DYNAMO KIEV
Rebrov gave Kiev a shock lead from the penalty spot after Mihajlovic made zero contact with Konovalov. Negro headed in Mihajlovic's cross and Salas won the
match with a fierce volley.
Attendance : 45,000
14 SEPTEMBER 1999
BAYER LEVERKUSEN 1-1 LAZIO
Neuville gave Leverkusen the lead with a sweet volley from Schneider's cross. Mihajlovic smashed a free kick in off the post to give Lazio a share of the points.
An awful match with few moments of drama. In his infinite wisdom Eriksson left Nedved, Sergio Conceicao, Inzaghi and Salas on the bench.
Attendance : 22,500