“Lyon” - “Roma” - 0: 2 (first match - 0: 0)
A draw in the first play-off home match, according to champions' tradition, is considered a sentence of failure. The last time Porto came out of this situation three years ago, having defeated the Deportivo semifinal. After that, there were ten attempts in other versions. And not one successful one! If desired, here you can add two fresh punctures - at “Porto” and “Inter”.
So appreciate the volume of the Lyon triumph of "Roma"! Yes, against the background of another statistical phenomenon. Indeed, for the champion of France on Tuesday night, a series of unbeaten home appearances in European competitions, calculated from the fall of 2002, was interrupted at the 19th match.
“Lyon” burned out on a reckless drive forward. And also on Reveyer. This right-back was a key extras (yes, exactly!) During the brilliant counterattack of the Romans. First, he was “made” on the flank by a colleague in the line, Tonetto, who laid out the ball with precision on Totti's head. He slipped away from Chris's obsessive attention in time and, running to the goalie line, landed the ball behind the Coupe behind his head.
An away goal by the Romans immediately discarded the hosts by “minus 2”. “Gerlan” became agitated and drove them to an attack. And the answer to him was the circus goal of Mansini. Left face to face with Reveyer, he rocked the poor fint until he lost his orientation in space. Then the Brazilian used his opponent for cover and from under him left shot at the near “top”.
The second half was the time of Doni, who shone at the gates of the guests.
“Roma”, for the first time in the Champions Playoffs, immediately entered the quarterfinals. “Lyon” went there in three consecutive previous draws. Ironically, the tradition was broken when the team of Gerard Houlier began to read together much more.
“Valencia” - “Inter” - 0: 0 (first match - 2: 2)
Here, in addition to the players, old scores played. “Inter” twice knocked “Valencia” from the European Cups. And the last time - in 2004, at the group stage - left “Mestalla” a gloomy memory of the defeat of 1: 5. The wound did not really have time to heal.
Roberto Mancini should not complain about the loss of the spinal cord of Vieira - Cambiasso. The problems of Kike Flores in the same zone turned out to be comparable: to the disqualification of Albelda, the quick injury of Baraha was added.
This had little effect on the expectant positional nature of the game. “Valencia” did not have to score. And Mancini got a bit late in the creative that his team lacked and tried to add aggression by introducing Cruz, Figo and Grosso into the game. Did not help. At the end of the match, “Valencia” impressed with a perfectly organized game “in a row”.
And the way out of emotions was given only after the final whistle. At such a level, there have not been such massive battles wall to wall for a long time. UEFA disciplinary action must be corrosive and biased. It is possible that by the quarter-finals Flores will have to make up the composition of those who will be left ...
Sergey NOVIKOV