25 October 2000
REAL MADRID 4-0 SPORTING
Figo's shot took a wicked deflection off Hugo, the ball conveniently ended up at the far post and Guti headed in. Savio finished off a sweet passing move,
Munitis skipped a lunging tackle before played the ball wide to Guti who unselfishly centred to the Brazilian. The returning Morientes added two more,
the first from a McManaman pass and the second a header from Solari's free kick.
Assist : Guti, McManaman, Solari
17 OCTOBER 2000
REAL MADRID 5-3 LEVERKUSEN
Five Leverkusen defenders failed to cut out Figo's cross and Guti squeezed a first time shot inside the post. Zivkovic headed on Neuville's corner,
Brdaric pulled the ball down and smashed it past Cesar. Four minutes later Real were back in front, Figo again supplying the cross this time for
Helguera.
Leverkusen deservedly equalised when old man Kirsten's headed in a corner. Guti was left with an easy finish after Roberto Carlos had made one of his
trademark surges into attack. Cesar made a fantastic reaction save from Neuville. A mistake by Nowotny gifted Raul a goal. Cesar punched a cross
straight to Kirsten, then recovered to save his shot but was helpless as Rink steamed in. Figo won and converted a penalty.
I know Nowotny is highly rated but every time I see him play in the Champions League he makes mistakes.
Assists : Figo (x3), Zivkovic, Neuville, Roberto Carlos, Solari, Kirsten
SPORTING 0-3 SPARTAK MOSCOW
Dimas knocked Titov's cross into his own net, it was fitting really as the build-up preceding the own goal was fantastic. Dimas continued his treachery,
his attempted clearance went straight to Marcao and he squared for Titov, 0-2. Guess who helped on a cross for Titov's second? Nightmare merchant
Dimas. Tough on Sporting as Acosta missed two un-missable chances.
Assist : Marcao
27 SEPTEMBER 2000
LEVERKUSEN 2-3 REAL MADRID
Kovac took a shot from outside the box, the ball deflected off Hierro and Schneider turned sharply to hammer a shot past Casillas. Guti won a free kick
on the edge of the box and Roberto Carlos blasted a shot through a gap in the wall past Zuberbuhler. Helguera headed out a corner, Ballack waited for the
ball to drop and let rip with a fantastic half volley. Helguera flicked on Figo's free kick via Kovac and Guti half volleyed Real level. Roberto Carlos stole a ball
off Nowotny and cracked a low shot into the net.
Assist : Guti
SPARTAK MOSCOW 3-1 SPORTING
Cruz swung in a corner, Filiminov should have caught the ball but dropped it at the feet off Sa Pinto, 1-0. Schmeichel flew out of his goal to block a shot but the
ball fell at Robson's feet and he couldn't miss. Marcao headed in Baranov's cross and combined with Robson to score his second.
Assists : Baranov, Robson
20 SEPTEMBER 2000
LEVERKUSEN 3-2 SPORTING
Zuberbuhler did a 'Dida' punching Cruz's corner kick into his own net. Sa Pinto was sent off for a second bookable offence, shirt pulling. Ramelow equalised by
turning in Brdaric's cross. Zivkovic split Sporting's defence with a fabulous through ball and Brdaric chipped the ball over the advancing Schmeichel.
Neuville won the match with a fantastic volley. Sporting went downfield from the kick off and Mpenza won a penalty, converted by Sa Pinto.
Assists : Brdaric, Zivkovic, Ballack, Mpenza
Red Card : Joao Pinto 41 (Sporting)
12 SEPTEMBER 2000
SPARTAK MOSCOW 2-0 LEVERKUSEN
Shirko intercepted Ojigwe's hospital pass and flicked the ball through for Titov who obliged with a cool finish. Robson was fouled as he made a pass, Bezrodny
burst through from midfield, ran onto the ball and shot inside the post. Deep into injury time Parfenov smashed a penalty against the post and blazed the rebound
over the bar.
Leverkusen's miserable start to the season continues. More so than the loss of Emerson I wonder if Daum's appointment as German national coach (next
season) is weighing on his mind?
Assists : Shirko, Robson
Attendance : 42,000
SPORTING LISBON 2-2 REAL MADRID
Sporting stunned the reigning champions with two goals late in the first half. Sa Pinto gave them the lead with a ferocious header from Cruz's corner.
Conceicao should have been booked for a reckless lunge on Sa Pinto on the edge of the area but Real where duly punished when Cruz stepped up and
curled the resulting free kick past a helpless Casillas.
Casillas made a spectacular one handed save from Sa Pinto at the start of the second half and it proved to be the turning point of the game. Raul was fouled
on the edge of the box, Roberto Carlos let rip with a free kick, 2-1. Jorge then deflected Raul's goal bound shot past Schmeichel. Figo wasted a great chance
late in the match but a draw seemed to be a fair result.
Assists : Cruz, Sa Pinto, Raul
Attendance : 42,000