soccer-europe.com

26 October 1999

PORTO 3-1 MOLDE

Deco got Porto off to a flyer literally with a majestic diving header and then curled in a free kick. A punt upfield by Baia was missed by everyone save crucially Jardel who beat the 'keeper with ease. Berg Hestad headed in the consolation goal.

Attendance : 35,000


Real Madrid 3 (Raul 20, Morientes 64, Roberto Carlos 82)
Olypiakos 0

By Bill Bride

Real Madrid qualified for the next phase of the Champions League after they crushed Olympiakos Piraeus 3-0 in their Champions League Group E match.

Real Madrid, who cannot finish lower than second, attacked from the opening and Raul hit the bar after only six minutes. His efforts were rewarded 14 minutes later when, unmarked in front of goal, he banged home a Fernando Morientes pass from the edge of the box.

Several other good chances were squandered in the first half but Morientes ensured victory after 64 minutes with Real Madrid's second goal.

Roberto Carlos completed the Real Madrid rout with the final goal in the 82nd minute off a nice feed from Clarence Seedorf.

Valencia and Real Madrid, who are suffering thru disappointing seasons in La Liga, join Barcelona in the next phase of the Champions League.

Attendance : 9,000


20 OCTOBER 1999

PORTO 2-1 REAL MADRID

Jardel's effort took a wicked deflection off Campo past Illgner. Illgner flapped horribly at a corner, Chainho headed goalwards, Roberto Carlos handled on the line, no penalty? Obviously! Porto were not to be denied however and Jardel headed them further in-front despite Roberto Carlos's pathetic attempts to clear the ball off the line. Salgado succeeded where Roberto Carlos failed by making a magnificent clearance off his line when Illgner's block from Jardel cannoned off Hierro and headed goalwards. Not to be outdone Vilar? made a great goal-line clearance, where were the 'keepers? A brilliant flick by Geremi sent away Raul on the left flank and Peixe turned his center past his own 'keeper. Baia made a brilliant reflex save to deny Hierro as Porto held on.

Attendance : 32,000


Porto 2 (Jardel 13, 35)
Real Madrid 1 (Own goal 68)

By Bill Bride
Mario Jardel scored two goals in the first half to lead Porto a 2-1 win over Real Madrid. The win lifted the Portuguese side to first place in group E.

Porto had to fight off pressure from the Real attack after defender Emilio Peixe had given the Spanish renewed hope with a 68th minute own goal.

Great goalkeeping by former Barcelona goalkeeper Vitor Baia kept Real Madrid off the scoreboard as they went for the draw in the end. Real dominated the second half after coach John Toshack switched his midfield, bringing on Dutch international Clarence Seedorf and Jose Maria Gutierrez to boost the Real attack.

But despite the pressure, strikers Raul Gonzalez and Fernando Morientes saw their best efforts blocked by Baia or bounce off another Porto defender.

The victory gives Porto nine points from four games, two more than Real, and puts them great shape to advance. This loss won't hurt Real's chance in possible advancement too much. I think they can beat Olympiakos at home and Molde as well, but you never know....

Jardel's first goal came after only 13 minutes when his shot from the edge of the area took a deflection and curled over the head of Real Madrid goalkeeper Bodo Illgner.

His second came from a header in the 35th minute which was judged to have crossed the line before defender Roberto Carlos headed the ball clear. Television replays raised doubts about whether the ball had really gone in, but minutes earlier Roberto Carlos had appeared to handle the ball when blocking it on the line without a penalty being awarded. Lose one, win one I guess...

It was Porto's first win over Real Madrid in twenty years.

Attendance : 32,000


28 SEPTEMBER 1999

REAL MADRID 3-1 PORTO

Hierro and Helguera combined to give Morientes an easy goal. Bizarri made a horrendous mistake to gift Jardel a goal and more inept defending from Macca's corner restored Real Madrid's lead, Helguera slid in from close range. Roberto Carlos threw himself to the floor, no contact in the box, obvious penalty, Hierro converted.

Attendance : 27,000


OLYMPIAKOS 3-1 MOLDE

Jimmy Smitts, I mean Giovanni tapped in as the Molde defence stood still pathetically appealing for offside just as pathetic though was Eleftheropoulos's (I hope I don't have to write that again) attempts at claiming Lund's looping header. Giovanni's headed in Olympiakos second and Luciano added the third by skinning his marker and blasting a shot past the 'keeper.

Attendance : 50,000