Deportivo 0 - Milan 1

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Naybet, Donato, Romero; Mauro Silva, Emerson (Scaloni 80'); Víctor (Fernando 67'), Djalminha, Turu Flores (Makaay 55'); Diego Tristán. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 45. Helveg. Drove shot through crowd of players after corner not fully cleared.

Deportivo finally lost their unbeaten record in this year's competition, losing by a single goal against a disciplined AC Milan. Coming into this match as the only Champions League team not to lose, and haven beaten PSG in the first game of the second league stage, they were perhaps too confident against the dangerous Italians. Irureta did however put out his best available team, with Molina shaking off the injury he picked up at the weekend to keep his place in goal and Diego Tristán preferred to Makaay up front.

A 35,000 capacity crowd turned up for the first time this season, despite the inclement weather which got worse as the game wore on. The initial minutes were for Depor, with Turu sending out a warning to Abbiati with a shot in the first 20 seconds and Roque Junior clearing off the line after clever play by Djalminha. However Milan always threatened on the counter attack, and they took the lead against the run of play after Naybet's clearance from a corner on the right reached Helveg, the defender not hesitating to drive a shot back in through the crowded goalmouth. After that Milan did what they know best, closing ranks and letting Depor come at them, but always reminding them that they could score again if they let their concentration slip.

Shortly after the half time interval Irureta brought on Makaay to play alongside Tristán, and Djalminha brought out an excellent save from Abbiati with a free kick which was heading for the top corner. But as the rain came down Depor gradually sank in to the Riazor mud, and Milan held on to complete their first win in the current phase. With Galatasaray and Milan on four points Deportivo are now third, and they will probably need four points from their next two games with Galatasaray to go through to the next stage. The night was further spoilt by an idiot in the crowd who threw a hard plastic flagpole at the Milan keeper, hitting him on the back of the neck like a javelin. His actions could result in the closure of the ground by UEFA at their next disciplinary meeting.