Champions League

AC Milan 1 - Celta Vigo 2

Milan: Abbiati; Simic, Laursen, Costacurta (Abate 68'), Kaladze; Seedorf (Rui Costa 46'), Brocchi, Redondo, Serginho; Kaká (Tomasson 46'), Borriello. 4-4-2.
Celta: Cavallero; Angel, Cáceres, Berizzo, Sylvinho; Luccin, José Ignacio (Giovanella 80'); Jesuli, Gustavo López (Contreras 88'), Juanfran; Milosevic (Catanha 84'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 40. Kaká. Took return pass from Redondo to shoot past Cavallero.
1-1. 42. Jesuli. Picked up ball on edge of area and made space to shoot into net.
1-2. 71. José Ignacio. Collected Luccin pass and beat keeper at second attempt.

Group H :
AC Milan.............. 10 points
Celta Vigo............. 9 points
Club Brugge ........ 8 points
Ajax......................... 6 points

Celta Vigo made it through to the last 16 against all odds after winning 1-2 against AC Milan in the San Siro stadium. With seven players already in Tokyo for next weekend's Toyota cup, the Italians put out a weakened side. However their replacements started strongly, and Cavallero was forced to save from Borriello (twice) and Kaká in the opening minutes. Serginho also hit the bar from a well struck free kick, and it was no surprise when Kaká gave them the lead five minutes before the break, picking up a long ball from Abbiati and playing a one-two with ex Real Madrid midfielder Redondo before beating the keeper.

Celta had been stage struck up to that point, but they finally woke up to reality and Jesuli levelled the scores only two minutes later, making himself space on the edge of the box to beat Abbiati with a shot inside the post. And before the half time whistle went, Milosevic could have put his side ahead with a long shot which the keeper just managed to hang on to.

Ancelotti was clearly treating it like a training session though, and at half time he replaced Kaká and Seedorf with Tomasson and Rui Costa. That was fine for the Spaniards though, and Juanfran burst through and sent a shot into the side netting. Abbiati saved from Milosevic and Jesuli and Luccin shot wide before Celta got the goal they were looking for, José Ignacio failing to control Luccin's through ball at the first attempt but having plenty of time to turn it past the stranded keeper at the second.

Juanfran could have increased the lead when he got through only to shoot straight at the keeper, but it didn't matter as by then the Milan players were more interested in checking their Tokyo guide books. Ajax's defeat at Club Brugge meant that the Galicians had finished second, and manager Miguel Angel Lotina won himself an unexpected reprieve.