Oporto 0 - Barcelona 2

Barcelona: Hesp; Frank De Boer, Abelardo; Puyol, Guardiola, Bogarde; Ronald De Boer, Cocu (Gabri 46'); Figo (Xavi 88'), Kluivert, Rivaldo (Dani 75'). 2-3-2-3.

Barcelona qualified mathematically for the quarterfinals with two games to go after beating Oporto for the first time ever in the Das Antas stadium. Van Gaal made two changes to his side, bringing in Bogarde for Zenden at left back, and including Ronald De Boer in midfield in place of Luis Enrique, who will be out for around three months with a knee cartilage injury. The competition's third top scorer was operated on the day after the match, and may now miss Spain's games in the Euro 2000 competition this summer. Since their humiliating defeat by Real Madrid, Barcelona have returned to form, with Pep Guardiola returning to direct operations from midfield. The new look Barcelona dominated much of the first half, with Figo and Rivaldo trying their luck from outside of the area. Eight minutes before half time they got the goal they were looking for from Figo's corner. Nobody picked up Abelardo (understandable, as he isn't exactly the best looker in the team), and the defender, unmarked, stroked the ball past Hilario. Gabri came on for Cocu at half time and the pressure continued, with all three forwards going close. On the hour mark Barcelona extended their lead when Rivaldo's low free kick from the edge of the area passed under the defensive wall, Jardel and company jumping in the air expecting a high curler. This was Rivaldo's eighth goal of the championship, and puts him joint top goalscorer with Jardel. Their work done, Rivaldo and then Figo were replaced by Dani and Xavi. Oporto came forward, with Domingos in particular forcing a couple of saves from Hesp, now back in favour with his manager. Barcelona head group A with 10 points, followed by Oporto on 6, Sparta Prague on 4 and Hertha Berlin on 2, and are the top prize-winners so far in the competition, with 6.7 million euros already in the bag. Next week they play Hertha at home, and a victory will leave them group champions, giving them a better seeding for the quarterfinals.

Valencia 2 - Fiorentina 0

Valencia: Cañizares; Angloma, Djukic, Pellegrino, Carboni; Mendieta, Farinós, Gerard, Kily González (Angulo 94'); Ilie (Oscar 77'), Claudio López. 4-4-2.

Valencia kept their hopes alive with a good victory against the Italians, and now have their destiny in their own hands. They will probably need two good victories to do so however, away against Bordeaux next week and at home to Manchester United, barring a collapse by Fiorentina. Héctor Cúper was able to call upon the services of his captain Mendieta, back from a one match suspension, and he came in for the injured Milla. Claudio 'Piojo' López kept his place alongside Ilie up front, and the Argentinian striker took advantage of the European stage to demonstrate to potential investors that he has not lost any of his skills. Fiorentina's manager Trapattoni was missing first choice keeper, Toldo, but his substitute Taglialatela wove a web of spaghetti around his goal and was the best player on his side on the night, his save from a Gerard header in the third minute setting the tone for the match. Pedrag Mijatovic came back to the ground where he made his name, but his return was not a happy one, the Montenegrino being booed following his dive last week to win a penalty for his new side. The pressure obviously got to him, and after a disappointing performance he was replaced by Balbo before the hour was up. Fiorentina had obviously come for the point, and packed their side with five defenders at the back. Even so they were dangerous on the counterattack, with Torricelli coming forward from the right wing back position to test Cañizares on three occasions in the first half. The first goal came ten minutes before half time, Adrian Ilie proving that his nickname of the 'cobra' was well founded with a venomous turn and shot after receiving a pass from Carboni. The second half was all Piojo, the Valencia striker hitting the crossbar twice in five minutes and missing a couple more chances before forcing an injury time penalty which Mendieta converted. He unfortunately also picked up a yellow card which means he misses the next match. Fiorentina nearly sneaked it just before the penalty however, Rui Costa's free kick from the right wing deceiving Cañizares and entering the net, but German referee Krugg disallowed the goal for a positional offside by Batistuta. That rounded off a rotten night for the Argentinian, who only had his first shot at goal right at the end of the match. The second goal gives Valencia a goal advantage over Fiorentina which could be important at the end of the group games. They are now third in group B on six points, one behind their rivals on the night and three behind Manchester United. Bordeaux a bottom with one point. Valencia's 45,000 crowd was their best of the season.

Bayern Munich 4 - Real Madrid 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Salgado, Hierro, Karanka (Anelka 69'), Roberto Carlos; Geremi (McManaman 63'), Redondo, Iván Helguera, Guti; Raúl, Morientes (Iván Campo 84'). 4-3-1-2.

Real Madrid once again ran into a brick wall, with Bayern Munich putting four past them for the second time in eight days. This was Lothar Matthaus's last game for Bayern before moving to the United States, and his team wanted to send him off in style. They certainly did that, the most capped player in international football (who incidentally changed shirts with Raúl last week), leaving the field in the last two years clearly in tears. The game was full of emotion, with 65,000 spectators packing the Olympic stadium to cheer their team on. Madrid's manager Del Bosque was at a loss to know how to cope with the German champions, and he only made one change from the side he fielded in the first leg, Iván Helguera coming in for Anelka, with Guti and Raúl moving further forward. Within three minutes they were behind, Scholl receiving the ball in an obvious offside position and shooting past Casillas. Spanish sports press were very critical of Dutch referee Dick Jol for allowing the goal (and later not awarding a penalty for a foul on Raúl), although he probably felt that Hierro was the last player to touch the ball before it came to Scholl. There was no doubt for the second goal however, Hierro misjudging a long clearance by Kahn and the ball falling to Eibar to score on the half hour. Roberto Carlos hit the crossbar shortly before half time, and Raúl went close twice in the second half before Helguera got one back in the 68th minute with a shot from outside of the penalty area. However Bayern brought on Zickler for Elbar fifteen minutes from time, and the German striker scored twice to produce a score which flattered his side. They are now qualified for the quarterfinals from group C with ten points, with Madrid and Dynamo Kiev level on six, and Rosenborg bottom with one. Madrid are still favourites to take second place, although they must win at home to Dynamo Kiev next Tuesday to be sure.