Deportivo La Coruña 2 - Hamburg 1

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Naybet, Donato, Romero; Víctor (Scaloni 82'), Mauro Silva, Emerson (Valerón 63'), Fran; Pandiani, Diego Tristán (Turu Flores 66'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 44. Pandiani. Followed up after Fran bent short free kick round wall.
1-1. 53. Barbarez. Headed past Molina after Mahdavika laid back ball.
2-1. 94. Scaloni. First time shot after Donato flicked on Mauro Silva's through ball.

Deportivo won their first ever home match in the Champions League with an injury time goal from their substitute Lionel Scaloni, who had only been on the park twelve minutes. With the clock ticking away and a disappointing draw on the cards, Mauro Silva played the ball in to the goal mouth. A delightful little touch by Donato changed the direction of the ball and left the Argentinian midfielder free in front of goal, and, not used to such occasions, he closed his eyes and hit it as hard as he could. The 25,000 crowd could not believe it, and the Riazor stadium was awash with blue and white as the referee ended the game. The victory takes them joint top of their group on four points, level with Juventus who they play twice in the next two matches.

With Djalminha sitting out the last game of his suspension for his sending off against Arsenal last year in the UEFA cup, Irureta opted to play Pandiani alongside Tristán up front. His side were up against a Hamburg team who had come for a point, with a 5-4-1 formation, leaving ex Leeds striker Yeboah alone up front. Even so they created their chances, and were dangerous on the counter-attack. It was Deportivo who opened the scoring however, keeper Butt only managing to bock Fran's curling free kick, and Pandiani was once again the quickest off the mark to slot the ball home.

Hamburg made two changes at half time, and eight minutes later they were level, Mahdavikia robbing the ball off Naybet and swinging the ball across from the right goal line for Barbarez to rise above the defence and head past a despairing Molina. Irureta took off Emerson and then a disappointing Diego Tristán, yet to find his form for his new club, and brought on Valerón and Turu Flores. And just when it looked as if Hamburg would hang on, on went Scaloni for his moment of glory. As things are he will be back on the bench next week, but he has already made his contribution to the side. One of Deportivo's strong points is the depth of their squad, and having players like Scaloni on the sidelines will be vital with the quantity of games they will have to face this year. Next week they go to the Delle Alpi in Turin to play Juventus, and then it's back to face Barcelona in the league. Just a normal week in La Coruña these days.