19 March 2003
MILAN 0-1 DORTMUND
Rivaldo should have given Milan the lead following a great passing move involving Nesta, Tomasson and Rui Costa but having rounded Lemon he shot wide. Rui Costa forced the ex Milan 'keeper into a save late in the half. Lemon was fortunate when Gattuso's first time shot rebounded off a post, hit him and rolled wide. Abbiati pulled off what used to be a trademark impossible one handed save from a devastating Amoroso shot. Koller missed two chances before scoring what appeared to be an offside goal but replay's showed the decision was correct.
Assist : Ricken
Milan should be looking to avoid Juve in the quarter-finals. The spectacular football played by Milan in the early rounds have ceased thanks largely to Shevchenko and President Berlusconi's insistence that Ancelotti field both Shevchenko and Inzaghi in attack.
LOKOMOTIV 0-1 REAL MADRID
Loskov headed into the ground when unmarked on a corner. Dodo scored a rare headed goal from a Figo cross. Loko missed numerous chances to equalise, Loskov and Julio Cesar in particular guilty of two unbelievable second half misses.
Assist : Figo
If Real defend like this in the next phase they'll get their arses handed to them. Barca or any team from Group B represents their best chance of making the semi's.
12 March 2003
DORTMUND 3-0 LOKOMOTIV
Lokomotiv failed to clear a corner, the ball fell to Frings 30yds from goal and hit a shot with dipped and curled wickedly past Ovchinnikov. Ewerthon miss-hit a cross, his finishing is truly awful, a Lokomotiv defender kicked the ball straight to Koller and he bagged his 7th champions league goal. Amoroso finished off the Russians with another excellent long range shot.
Assist : Koller
REAL MADRID 3-1 MILAN
Milan gave Fernando Redundant a testimonial match against his former club. Ronaldo flicked on a cross, Raul shot straight at Abbiati who pathetically parried
the ball into his own net. Dodo, who looks like he's gained 5lbs since the last Champions League match, missed an absolute sitter - shooting straight at Abbiati
when clean through on goal. Real's second was absolutely sensational and all the teams best players were involved. Figo sprayed the ball from one wing to another,
just as the ball drooped Zidane backed heeled to Bobby Carlos, he centred, Raul feigned to shoot, crucifying Redondo and Laursen in the process, took one step forward and lashed the ball into the top corner. Having fielded a weakened team Ancelotti bizarrely brought on Nesta and Pirlo late in the match. Pirlo came on for the awful Redundant who left to applause from his beloved Madrid fans. Milan pulled a goal back almost immediately. Rivaldo with a simple header following good work by Seedorf and a classic surging run and cross from Maldini. Guti ended any hopes of a comeback minutes later when Abbiati's attempts to block a cross left him unmarked in front of goal.
Now that Milan have given Redondo his testimonial they should get rid of him. He's so slow he makes Rui Costa look like Henry. Abbiati also better look for a
new club in the summer. He was one of the best young 'keepers in the World not too long ago.
Assists : Ronaldo, Bobby Carlos, Maldini
Milan will roll over and die for Dortmund but I can't see Lokomotiv putting up much of a fight against Real.
25 February 2003
LOKOMOTIV 0-1 MILAN
The first two chances fell to Seedorf. Lokomotiv 'keeper Ovchinnikov made a fantastic reaction save from Seedorf as he volleyed Rivaldo's free kick goalwards. Seedorf brilliantly pulled down a long Serginho pass but shot straight at the 'keeper. Milan were awarded a penalty when Evseev pulled down Inzaghi. Rivaldo converted. Ovchinnikov continued to win his personal duel with Seedorf in the second half, denying the Dutchman for the third time from a free kick. Loskov had Lokomotiv's best chance but he blazed over from the edge of the box after Julio Cesar had danced through the Milan defence.
Assist : Inzaghi (won pen)
DORTMUND 1-1 REAL MADRID
A frantic opening saw Casillas deny Ewerthon with a Peruzzi-esque charge off his line. At the other end Lehmaan almost injured his bollocks when attempted to stop Raul, a phenomenal tackle by Madouni denied him on the rebound. Ewerthon shot straight at Casillas from a Koller flick on. Koller got on the score sheet minutes later with a fine half volley. Ronaldo, who looked wasted after just half an hour, missed chance, after chance after chance. Ewerthon however was guilty of the worst miss, heading wide with an open net at his mercy after Koller pounced on a mistake by Bobby Carlos and floated the ball to the back post. Portillo scored minutes after coming on as a substitute, sweeping Zidane's pass inside Lehmann's post.
Assists : Kehl, Zidane
Unless Milan make an effort in the Bernebeu, which is minor possibility even considering the prestige and past history of the two clubs, Dortmund are out.
19 February 2003
REAL MADRID 2-1 DORTMUND
Dortmund scored with their first attack. Koller played a one two with Rosiky then hit a shot under Pavon beyond Casillas. Raul equalised just before half time having gone close twice before Dortmund took a shock lead. Raul received a pass with his back to goal and was being man-handled by Worns and Metzelder, he fell to the ground but still managed to hook the ball into the net. Both 'keepers made great saves, Lehmaan from Raul and Casillas from Ewerthon. A mistake by Frings allowed Zidane to run onto Figo's pass, cross to the back post and Ronaldo was left with a tap in but shot straight at Lehmann but he couldn't keep it out.
Assists : Rosicky, Zidane
MILAN 1-0 LOKOMOTIV
Milan were frustrated by an 10 man defence but stuck to their game plan and were eventually rewarded just past the hour mark. Rui Costa dropped a fabulous long ball upto Inzaghi, he pulled it down brilliantly before shooting, Ovchinnikov saved but Tomasson, given a rare start, tapped in the rebound. Serginho made a welcome return minutes later and almost scored when his cross/shot hit the woodwork. Inzaghi missed a sitter late on. Milan should have a lot more space to work in next week.
11 DECEMBER 2002
DORTMUND 0-1 MILAN
An excellent one touch passing move gave Milan the points in this otherwise dull encounter. Ambrosini headed a clearance to Rui Costa, Rui Costa rolled the ball to Seedorf and the Dutchman hit a perfect first time lobbed pass to Inzaghi, Inzaghi slammed the ball past the advancing Lehmann. Dortmund's best chance arrived in injury time - Rosicky thumped a half volley against the crossbar.
Assist : Seedorf
REAL MADRID 2-2 LOKOMOTIV
The first real chance, no pun intended, fell to Pimenov but not for the first time Casillas bailed out his sorry excuse for a defence with a smart save. Real took the lead after some brilliant rapid passing ended with Ronaldo hitting a superb disguised pass to Raul and he drew out the 'keeper before rolling the ball into the net. Lokomotiv's equaliser wasn't bad either. Loskov tackled Raul deep in his own half and hit a pass into Obiorah, Obiorah played the ball back, spun round and charged forward, Loskov sent him clear and he made the most of a deflection off Pavon to equalise. Zidane and Guti wasted chances to restore Real's lead. Mnguni latched onto a typically weak headed clearance from Roberto Carlos, weaved his way past Zidane and Roberto Carlos before violently slamming the ball into the net. Raul equalised immediately from a Figo cross. Pavon saw his header cleared off the line and the ref blew for full time after Obiorah has skinned Roberto Carlos and was through on goal.
Having already placed their strongest challengers on paper at least, Milan will guarantee themselves a place in the knockout stages with a double over Lokomotiv in their next two matches. Real need to start winning and start winning quickly. Today's home draw could prove very costly indeed.
Assists : Ronaldo, Figo
26 NOVEMBER 2002
LOKOMOTIV 1-2 DORTMUND
Pimenov brilliantly turned Reuter before laying the ball off to Iganshevitch who shot first time inside the post. Dortmund were level two minutes later when Frings headed in a Rosicky cross. Koller scored a tap in form Dede's deflected cross.
Assists : Pimenov, Rosicky
MILAN 1-0 REAL MADRID
There were two survivors from the infamous night back in 1989 when Milan thrashed Real 5-0 in the San Siro, Costacurta and Maldini. Ancelotti, who scored the opening goal, was of course on the bench as coach.
Milan could have taken the lead inside the first five minutes. Ambrosini pounced on a loose ball and passed to Maldini who in turn laid the ball off to Rui Costa, Rui Costa hit a beautiful reverse pass into Seedorf, Seedorf ran into the box, cut inside Helguera and sent a shot towards the top corner but Casillas saved. Shevchenko, with his back to goal, brilliantly pulled down Gattuso's cross, turned and shot just wide of the post. Morientes wasted Real's best chances, shooting weakly at Dida from a Zidane pass and then missing horribly from close range following a superb passing move. Rui Costa hit a fabulous 50yd pass deep from his own half to Shevchenko who raced away before slotting into the corner.
Casillas made a brilliant save when Rui Costa hit a spectacular dipping shot from the edge of the box. Shevchenko headed wide from a Simic cross and controlled a sensational 50yd pass from Rivaldo on his chest but Casillas was quick off his line to deny him a certain goal. Seedorf blazed on the bar from close range, a desperate tackle by Pavon denied Rivaldo as he ran in on goal. Kaladze failed to find the finish to a brilliant move involving Serginho, who tortured Salgado when coming on as a substitute, Seedorf and Ryhno Gattuso. Raul had a goal disallowed for handball. Milan comfortably held on for a deserved three points.
Milan's big game players came up well big. Rivaldo was outstanding, especially in the second half. Only a lack of sharpness prevented Shevchenko from scoring a hat-trick, he absolutely destroyed the Real defence. The new and improved Seedorf was as the heart of all Milan's attacks. Even Rui Costa had a good match! Real's players got away with murder, lots of niggly, game breaking fouls.
Assist : Rui Costa