Deportivo 1 - Panathinaikos o

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Naybet, Donato, Romero; Emerson, César Sampaio; Víctor (Scaloni 62'), Djalminha (Diego Tristán 82'), Turu Flores (Fernando 60'); Pandiani. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 82. Pandiani. Header after Fernando lost his man and crossed from left.

A late goal by Walter Pandiani gave Deportivo victory over Panathinaikos and saw them through to the second league phase of the Champions League, where they will join Valencia and Real Madrid. The crowning moment came eight minutes from time, when Fernando finally got clear of his marker down the left wing and swung the ball across for the Uruguayan striker to head home from the edge of the six yard box. It ended a night of frustration, with the Greek side defending ferociously, at times with eight or nine men back defending, looking for the point which would take them closer to qualifying.

With Fran and Mauro Silva still injured, Irureta stuck to the side which held Juventus the week before, with Djalminha as playmaker behind Pandiani. The Brazilian almost opened up the Greek defence single handedly with fifteen minutes gone, his shot being blocked by keeper Chalkias, who also stopped follow up efforts by Víctor and Pandiani. César Sampaio saw his header cleared off the line after a corner, and Chalkias saved again from Turu Flores and Víctor. The first shot at goal from Panathinaikos came on the half hour mark from Liberopoulos, which together with a second half effort from Paulo Sousa were their only real attempts at scoring.

Some twenty minutes into the second half Depor had a stroke of luck, with Chalkias injuring himself and being replaced by reserve keeper Nikopolidis. Fernando, who had replaced Turu at half time, was finding space down the left, and he finally found the key for Pandiani to score his fourth of the season. Deportivo now top group E with nine points, with Juventus on 6 and Panathinaikos and Hamburg on 5, and a draw at Hamburg in a fortnight's time will ensure them first place. Irureta could possibly rest some of his key players though if he wants, with a hectic league program to come in the next few weeks.