KRC Genk 1 - Real Madrid 1

Genk: Moons; Tomasic, Seyfo, Zokora, Roumani; Thijs, Beslija, Skoko, Ingrao (Suzuki 60'); Sonck, Vandenbergh (Chatelle 70'). 4-4-2.
Real Madrid: César; Miñambres, Hierro (Iván Helguera 30'), Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Flavio Conceiçao, Celades; Figo (McManaman 67'), Guti, Tote; Morientes (Solari 77'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 21. Tote. Turned ball in from close up after Pavón headed back corner.
1-1. 86. Sonck. Got ahead of defence to head home corner.

Group C:
Real Madrid.......... 9 points
Roma...................... 9 points
AEK Athens........... 6 points
Genk....................... 3 points

Real Madrid finished top of their group despite another disappointing draw. With the team already qualified for the second stage, Del Bosque decided to rest many of his key players for the visit to Genk, and César, Flavio Conceiçao and Tote all made their first appearances in the competition this season with César returning in goal.

The Belgians needed a victory to take the UEFA cup spot, and they started at a frantic pace. Sonck fired a half-hit shot off a defender for a corner when free in front of goal and César pushed away a shot from Skoko. The pressure died down though, the Spanish side took the lead midway through the half when Pavón headed back a corner for Tote to finish off from close range.

Madrid suffered a blow soon afterwards though when Hierro limped off with an ankle injury which may keep him out for a couple of weeks or so. Genk bounced back after the goal, and once again put César's goal under attack. However the European champions rallied round, and with Helguera joining the defence they held off until the half time whistle.

Immediately after the restart Tote got the ball in the net again, but the strike was correctly ruled out for offside. Morientes wasted a good chance a few minutes later, but after that the Belgians resumed the pressure looking for the equaliser. Eventually they got it, Sonck beating César with a header from a corner to level the scores, setting up a frenetic last few minutes. With the game coming to an end substitute McManaman headed wide and César saved from Sonck.

Eventually though time ran out, and for the fourth European match in a row Madrid failed to win. However a last minute goal by AEK Athens in the other group C match against Roma means that the Spaniards still finish in first place, and they go into Friday's draw as one of the top seeds.