Real Madrid 3 - Rosenburg 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Karembeu, Hierro, Karanka, Roberto Carlos; Helguera, Redondo, Guti (Seedorf (Anelka)), Savio; Morientes (Julio César), Raúl. 4-4-2.

Real Madrid moved into top spot in their group with their second win in a row, a far cry from their form in the Spanish league, where they have only won one match in twelve. They did however have to struggle for their victory, with the two winning goals coming in the last six minutes of the match. Del Bosque brought back Hierro and Redondo to the side after long injuries, and decided to play Casillas in goal in place of the out of form Bizzarri. With several players injured however, young B team defender César was brought in to make up numbers on the bench. Once again it was Raúl who gave them the lead, following up after Savio's shot was blocked by Rosenborg keeper Jamtfall in the 17th minute. A minute before half time Hierro had a great chance to give his side a comfortable lead after Hoftun brought down Morientes in the penalty area, but his spot kick was saved by Jamtfall. It looked like it was going to be a costly mistake, as Carew equalised only a couple of minutes later, heading Jakobsen's corner past Casillas just after the restart. Del Bosque brought on Seedorf for an off form Guti in an attempt to stimulate the attack, but Madrid were lucky not to go behind, with Casillas having to save from Sorensen and Johnsen. The home side gradually got back in the game however, and six minutes from time a one two between Savio and Morientes was finished off by the Brazilian with an unstoppable shot. In the last minute Roberto Carlos added a third and ran towards Lorenzo Sanz in a visible sign of support for his president. Sanz clearly shed a tear which was captured on film by local reporters, thereby following in the example of Barcelona's José Luis Nuñez who was often seen weeping with the emotion of it all. Strong stuff.

Barcelona 5 - Sparta Prague 0

Barcelona: Arnau; Frank de Boer, Dehu; Reiziger (Xavi), Guardiola, Zenden; Luis Enrique (Ronald de Boer), Cocu; Figo (Simao), Kluivert, Rivaldo. 2-3-2-3.

Barcelona clocked up an easy win against the weakest side in their league, although it was only after Sparta's key defender Hasek was sent off eight minutes before half time by Italian referee Pierluigi Collina that the floodgates opened. Patrick Kluivert, sporting a newly shaven head, opened the scoring three minutes before the break with an individual effort, and two minutes later Luis Enrique added the second from Cocu's pass. Guardiola scored a rare goal from a free kick early in the second half, the defensive wall being disrupted by the presence of Barcelona players. Kluivert scored his second and Barcelona's fourth just after the hour mark, and fifteen minutes later Luis Enrique added his second after Reiziger dribbled past the Sparta defence on the right. Barcelona are second in their group on four points, two behind leaders Oporto, who they play next. Rivaldo was unusually quiet throughout the match (he did however hit the crossbar with one shot), and with rumours that he may be listening to offers from Italy, the crowd were whistling at him at the end.

Manchester United 3 - Valencia 0

Valencia: Palop; Björklund, Djukic, Pellegrino; Angloma, Milla, Carboni; Farinós, Mendieta; Oscar (Juan Sánchez), Claudio López (Vlaovic). 3-3-2-2.

Valencia turned up at Old Trafford with several first choice players missing, and in the end they were easily beaten by a superior Manchester side. Suspensions to young midfielders Gerard and Albelda, and injuries to Cañizares, Angulo, Kily González and Ilie left the side weakened, and although Milla, Oscar and company did their best, their lack of recent match experience showed. United went ahead in the 37th minute through Roy Keane, celebrating his new record contract with the English side with a spectacular first time shot from outside of the area which left Palop stranded. New fathers celebrate their goals with the impression of a cradled baby, but was I mistaken to see Keane imitate the Harry Enfield 'I've got loads of money' gesture, waving an imaginary wad of money at the crowd? Surely not. Two minutes into the restart Manchester went further into the lead, Beckham's cross from the right being turned into the net by Solskjaer from close range. Twenty minutes from time the home side wrapped it up, once again Beckham creating the opportunity for Scholes to head past the outstretched Palop. Cúper brought on Sánchez and Vlaovic up front, but they were unable to make any headway and they fell to their first European defeat in 17 matches. Mendieta received another yellow card which means he will miss the next match against Fiorentina. Despite the defeat, Valencia are still in with a reasonable chance of qualifying for the quarter finals having beaten Bordeaux 3-0 in their first match.