Champions League

Deportivo 1 - Juventus 1

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Naybet, Donato, Romero; Emerson, César Sampaio; Víctor (Scaloni 85'), Djalminha, Turu Flores (Fernando 65'); Pandiani (Diego Tristán 75'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 10. Inzaghi. Touched in after Manuel Pablo turned Iuliano's shot against bar.
1-1. 12. Víctor. From close range after defence splitting pass from Turu.

Deportivo were unable to finish off a wounded Juventus, and now have to try and ensure their qualification for the next round in their game next week against Panathinaikos in the Riazor stadium. Manager Javier Irureta recovered Djalminha for this game after serving out a two match suspension and then being injured, but was missing two of his most experienced players Fran and Mauro Silva, both injured. Top goal scorer Pandiani was preferred up front to Diego Tristán. This was a golden opportunity to win through to the next round at the first attempt, with Juventus missing their French midfield star Zidane, who was suspended after being sent off in the previous match between these two sides three weeks ago.

However the game didn't go according to script, with Juventus scoring on their first attack in the tenth minute through Inzaghi after Manuel Pablo and/or Molina deflected a shot by Iuliano up onto the crossbar. The ball fell kindly to the Italian international in front of goal, and he burried it into the back of the net. Depor expected the famous Italian 'catenaccio', which basically consists of constructing a nuclear-proof concrete wall in front of the visitor's goal, but before Juventus could get the builders in the Gallician side struck back. Turu Flores was the creator this time, turning the ball across the goal from his position on the left, and after Pandiani and Van der Sar missed it, Víctor was on hand to steer it into the net from close range.

After that Djalminha directed the orchestra, the Brazilian bringing the best out of the Dutch keeper with a free kick on the half hour mark, and setting up Víctor only to see him shoot wide. But the construction workers had finished their work, and with Juventus content to limit themselves to the odd counter-attack, very little could be done. Irureta changed his forwards, but in the end both sides settled for the draw as the best possible result, leaving them joint leaders of group E on six points apiece. Panathinaikos are third on five after only drawing with Hamburg, and the Germans are down on two points in fourth place. The away goal by Juventus could count against Deportivo in the event of a tie, but a victory next Tuesday will at least ensure them one of the top two spots, enough for them to go through to the second league phase.