Celta (2) 2 - Aris
Salonica (2) 0 Celta struggled to win against a clearly inferior Greek
side, and only put the result beyond doubt in the last half hour of the match
after their supporters had begun to whistle in protest. Víctor Fernandez
brought in Velasco, Revivo and Celades, leaving Segio, Gustavo López and
Giovanella on the bench. A brilliant double save by Dutruel in the eighth
minute kept the game scoreless at half time, and with McCarthy and Revivo
ineffective in attack, the manager decided to change them for Turdó and
Gustavo López on the hour mark. Within five minutes they were ahead,
central defender Djorovic heading into an empty net after Cáceres header
from Mostovoi's free kick was blocked by Katergianakis. In the last minute
Turdó ran on to a long pass by Mostovoi and chipped the keeper for the
second goal. They will have to get their act together if they are to get any
further, as Benfica will not be as easy to beat.
Montpellier (1) 0
Deportivo de La Coruña (3) 2 Roy Makaay sentenced the tie on the
stroke of half time with probably the best goal of his career. Makaay picked up
the ball in his own penalty area after a corner and galloped eighty metres up
field, leaving behind a trail of defenders, before chipping keeper Cassard from
the edge of the penalty area. Up to that point Deportivo had been contained in
their own half as Montpellier came forward to try and pull back the two goals
they needed to win through to the next round. Irureta's plan was clearly to
defend, and as is normal in their away matches this season he played with a
lone striker, this time Makaay, with Djalminha playing behind him. With the
result comfortably in their favour, Deportivo brought on Pauleta for Makaay,
and the Portuguese striker got his name on the scoresheet as well eight minutes
from time from Flavio's pass. Deportivo will have Greek opposition in the next
round, and would be well advised to wear cast-iron underpants in the return leg
in Panthinaikos's Olympic stadium in Athens as Greek crowds do not take
prisoners.
Amica Wronki (0) 1 -
Atlético de Madrid (1) 4 In a game which was almost suspended
because of the surrounding fog, Atlético moved easily through to the
next round against an inexperienced Wronki side. Full of new found confidence
after their win at Real Madrid at the weekend, the side completed their fourth
victory in a row to consolidate Claudio Ranieri's position as team manager.
Ranieri played with Correa accompanying Hasselbaink up front, and found a place
for on form youngster Baraja, whose goal separated the sides from the first
leg. The Polish side's manager Stefan Majewski mistakenly decided to play the
offside trap, and Atleti's quick attackers came through time and time again to
leave the defence standing. Hasselbaink scored the first, following up after
Kukielka cleared Chamot's shot off the line on the half hour, but Amica
equalised four minutes later through Jackiewicz after Molina only half stopped
Kryszalowicz's shot. Shortly before half time Baraja's precise pass left
Capdevila with the easy task of beating the local keeper, and Atlético
beat the offside trap twice more in the second half for Baraja and then Correa
to score. Of the four Spanish clubs still in the competition, the Madrid side
have the easiest draw in the next round, although Wolfsburg are backed by
Volkswagen and have been rising through the ranks recently. Mallorca (2) 3
Teplice (1) 0 Mallorca cruised through to the next round, running out 5-1
winners on aggregate against the Czech side. Fernando Vázquez made
several changes from the eleven who started at the weekend, leaving out
ever-present defenders Olaizola and Siviero and giving a start to Armando and
Fernando Niño. Tristán was left on the bench, with Ibagaza,
Djokaj and Biagini coming in in attack. First choice keeper German Burgos had
not fully recovered from an injury and Leo Franco once again replaced him in
goal. Ex Barcelona defender Nadal scored his first goal since returning to his
home town club, following up on an intelligent back-heel by Djokaj in the 31st
minute. Stankovic scored the second with a cross-come-shot in the second half,
and Fernando Niño completed the scoring with a header from Ibagaza's
corner. Mallorca were unlucky with the draw, being paired up with Ajax. There
again, they have played so many times against Barcelona that the Dutch side can
have no secrets for them. |