Group E

A brace from Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy following an early strike from Diego Forlan saw Manchester United win the second leg of the so-called Battle of Britain. Scottish champions Rangers never really had a chance to come away from Old Trafford with a point as United turned on a thrilling attacking display.

Group leaders Stuttgart fell behind to Panathanaikos when Michalis Konstantinou scored just before the hour mark. The German side showed their class though when they came back, scoring three goals in eight minutes. First, an own goal from Panagiotis Fissas brought them level before two quick strikes from Kevin Kuranyi and Andreas Hinkel settled the game.

 

 

Pld

W

D

L

GF

GA

Pts

VfB Stuttgart

4

3

0

1

8

4

9

Manchester Utd

4

3

0

1

10

2

9

Rangers

4

1

1

2

3

6

4

Panathanikos

4

0

1

3

2

11

1


Group F

Real Madrid became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League but were made to fight hard before emerging with a goalless draw against Partizan Belgrade.

late in the game, Real keeper Iker Casillas pulled off a fine save from Ljubinko Drulovic`s deflected effort but he could only watch as Sasa Ilic closed in on the rebound.

However, faced by an open goal just five yards out, Ilic somehow stabbed his effort wide of the upright. The draw proved enough as, in the other game in the group, UEFA Cup holders Porto beat Marseille 1-0.

Free-scoring Marseille striker Didier Drogba almost salvaged a late point for his side deep into injury time but his free-kick crashed back off the crossbar.

The hosts had already recorded a 3-1 win in France a fortnight ago and now have a four-point lead on the Ligue 1 outfit with just two Group F fixtures to play.

 

 

Pld

W

D

L

GF

GA

Pts

Real Madrid

4

3

1

0

8

3

10

Porto

4

2

1

1

6

6

7

Marseille

4

1

0

3

7

8

3

Partixan Belgrade

4

0

2

2

1

5

2


Group G

Chelsea produced one of the great display's by an English side in Europe as they brilliantly beat Lazio 4-0 in Rome. A first half goal from Hernan Crespo settled the Londoners down and they added to their tally in the second period with goals from Eidur Gudjohnsen, Damien Duff and Frank Lampard.

In the group's other match, Besiktas brought themselves back into contention with a 1-0 win at home to Czech champions Sparta Prague. The Turkish side's goal came eight minutes from time through Ronaldo Guiaro's header.

That result sees the Czechs drop to third place in the group and Besiktas jump up to second. Chelsea have a three point lead at the top.

 

 

Pld

W

D

L

GF

GA

Pts

Chelsea

4

3

0

1

7

3

9

Besiktas

4

2

1

1

4

4

6

Sparta Prague

4

1

1

2

4

5

4

Lazio

4

1

0

3

5

8

4


Group H

European champions AC Milan went back to the top of Group H thanks to a spectacular late winner from Kaka at the Jan Breydel stadium gave the Italians a slender 1-0 win over Belgian side Club Brugge.

Having beaten the rossoneri, Brugge were looking to do the double over their illustrious visitors but, despite the dismissal of Alessandro Nesta, those hopes were shattered when the Brazilian volleyed in with five minutes left on the clock.

Celta Vigo and four-time winners Ajax produced one of the best matches of this Champions League season which ultimately ended in a 3-2 victory for the Spanish side.

The home side led 2-0 at half time through Peter Luccin's penalty and Savo Milosevic's towering header but Ajax, who reached the quarter-finals last year, pulled one back seven minutes into the second period through Wesley Sonck.

Brazilian midfielder Vagner restored Celta's two-goal advantage but Rafael van der Vaart produced a fine effort to make it nervy ending for the Galicians. A few moments from the final whistle Ajax's Zdenek Grygera was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. 

 

 

Pld

W

D

L

GF

GA

Pts

Milan

4

2

1

1

2

1

7

Ajax

4

2

0

2

5

4

6

Celta Vigo

4

1

2

1

4

4

5

Club Brugge

4

1

1

2

2

4

4


Champions League - 2003/2004

Champions League News