Bayer Leverkusen 3 - Deportivo La Coruña 0

Bayer Leverkusen: Butt; Zivkovic, Lucio, Nowotny, Placente; Schneider, Ramelow, Ballack (Vranjes 87'), Zé Roberto; Neuville (Berbatov 86'), Kirsten (Basturk 75'). 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Molina; Héctor, Donato, Naybet, Romero; Mauro Silva, Emerson; Scaloni (Djalminha 70'), Valerón (Diego Tristán 75'), Fran (Amavisca 59'); Makaay. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 64. Zé Roberto. Bent free kick over wall into top corner of net.
2-0. 67. Neuville. Ran on to Ramelow pass to drive low shot past Molina.
3-0. 79. Ballack. Got ahead of Molina to head Zé Roberto corner into net.

Deportivo La Coruña lost ground in group D after losing 3-0 to Bayer Leverkusen, their first defeat in the Champions League this season. Irureta made seven alterations to his side having lost four away games in a row in the league, leaving Diego Tristán and Víctor on the bench and Sergio back in La Coruña. However the changes made little difference, with the German side dominating the game from start to finish. Only Molina and the woodwork kept them out in the first half, with the Depor keeper making two great saves from Zé Roberto and Zivkovic and Ballack hitting the bar from outside of the area. Depor did however have a couple of efforts at goal through Roy Makaay, the best a shot from a tight angle which just crept past the post.

Makaay was unlucky to be ruled offside when he got free after the break, but only a minute later a well struck free kick from Zé Roberto beat Molina for the first time to put Bayer in front. Neuville charged through the middle to add a second only three minutes later after Ramelow put him through, and the Spanish side were in disarray. Irureta brought on Djalminha and Tristán, but that only left them wide open at the back and Ballack got in front of Molina to head a third from a corner. And Leverkusen could have got a fourth when substitute Berbatov failed to capitalise on an easy chance. The group ended the day all square however, with all four teams with one win and one loss, although Depor are last for the time being on goal average.