Barcelona 5 - AIK Solna 0
With the team already qualified for the next phase, Van Gaal decided to rest six of his key players and give the youngsters a chance. They took the opportunity with open arms, beating a poor Solna side who were thinking more of their crucial Swedish league match at the weekend rather than the task in hand. Rivaldo, Luis Enrique, Sergi, Figo, Cocu and Guardiola were all given a three day holiday by the Barça manager, and with Frank de Boer and Bogarde unavailable through injury, B team youngsters Xavi, Gabri, Puyol, Mario and Nano were all given a run out, together with Litmanen, Zenden, Ronald de Boer, Simao and Déhu (just back from injury). Patrick Kluivert, serving a four match suspension in the Spanish league was the only first choice player in the starting line up, and his contribution was vital as the home side added five more goals to end the day the League's most successful team with 13 points and 16 goals in five matches. Kluivert scored his first two goals of the Champions League in the opening half hour of the match, both coming from crosses from Simao on the right. Just before half time he combined to give Zenden his first goal, and eight minutes into the second half his pass to Litmanen set up Gabri to head home the fourth. Two minutes later Déhu scored his first goal for the club with a long shot which Asper could not hold, the ball falling behind the Swedish keeper and into the net.

Real Madrid 3 - Olympiakos 0
Madrid strolled through to the next phase of the competition with a comfortable win against third placed Olympiakos. Having gone seven matches without a win in the league they needed a victory to reconcile themselves with the local supporters, and the result was a tonic for their manager. Toshack recovered Hierro in defence and opted for Geremi at right back in place of Michel Salgado. Guti and Seedorf came in to midfield to support Raúl and Morientes up front. Olympiakos were without ex Barcelona forward Giovanni who was suspended after picking up a third yellow card in his last match. Madrid were two goals up within the first half hour, the first coming from Raúl after Morientes laid back a long pass from Seedorf, and the second came from Morientes himself from a pass from Guti, the ball escaping from the hands of the delightfully named Greek keeper Elefthoropoulos (sewing his name on his shirt must be a full time job). Shortly before half time Hierro had to go off after he once again aggravated his back injury, Iván Campo replacing him, and Madrid's injury problems worsened when Geremi was carried off on the hour, Michel substituting. Toshack gave McManaman a spin out for the last 20 minutes in place of Guti, and the home side wrapped up the match seven minutes from time with the best goal of the game, Roberto Carlos starting the move with a clever chipped pass to Seedorf, and then racing forward to meet Seedorf's cross on the far post. Madrid are still second two points behind Oporto, but could go top if they beat Molde next week and Oporto lose in Greece.

Glasgow Rangers 1 - Valencia 2
Valencia joined Barcelona and Real Madrid in the second league phase with a good victory against the Scottish champions in Ibrox park. Cúper kept the same side which beat Deportivo at the weekend, with Angulo staying at right back and Djukic keeping his place in the centre of defence. Valencia's controversial president Pedro Cortés (which Spanish club president isn't controversial?) caused raised eyebrows and the odd call for a straight jacket when he accused UEFA and their referees of conspiring to eliminate his team after refereeing decisions had gone against Valencia in previous matches. In the end the Austrian referee Gunter Benko did not send off any of the Valencia players, nor did he disallow either of their goals, the first of which was scored by Mendieta in the 34th minute with a snapshot from the edge of the area which surprised keeper Stefan Klos, and the second coming from Claudio López three minutes after the restart from a breakaway. The referee could have been at fault however for awarding a dubious corner to Rangers on the hour mark which lead to the Ranger's scrambled goal from Moore, but he didn't invent any non-existent penalties or blow the final whistle during a Valencia attack, and with Bayern Munich losing at PSV, Valencia are mathematically through to the next stage. Cortés wasn t there to see it however: his nerves got the better of him and he left the stand three minutes before the end. With their plans frustrated, presumably UEFA will be meeting next week to decide their next dastardly move.