Deportivo score memorable win

Deportivo Coruna scored one of the most memorable wins in their history when they beat Manchester United 3-2 at Old Trafford to go top of Champions League group G on Wednesday.

On a free-scoring night of action unfancied Sparta Prague became the second team to qualify for the last 16 with a 2-0 win at Feyenoord while the leadership changed in three of the four groups in action.

Because of the head-to-head criteria used to determine positions there is still everything to play for most teams, but defeats for Fenerbahce and Spartak Moscow mean they are eliminated, though the Russians could still finish third and grab a consolation UEFA cup place.

BARTHEZ BLUNDERS

There were five goals and some great football at Old Trafford but it was two blunders by United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez which handed Deportivo their win as they came from behind to beat Manchester United 3-2 and complete the double over them after beating them 2-1 in Spain last month.

Barthez had a misunderstanding with defender Wes Brown which allowed Sergio to score Deportivo's first after 37 minutes, and the same two players were also involved in the second mix-up.

Barthez came sprinting out of his penalty area, seemingly to clear a back pass from Brown, but ended up fluffing his clearance allowing the ball to run to Tristan who kept his cool under pressure by side-stepping Brown before scoring from an angle.

Tristan had earlier put Deportivo 2-1 ahead after 38 minutes with a powerful header after being left unmarked in the box.

Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy also scored two for United, his second after 40 minutes an absolute classic ending with him chipping over goalkeeper Jose Molina from an acute angle after a bullish run.

WIDE OPEN

The result threw the group wide open with Deportivo leapfrogging United into first place with eight points, followed by United (6), Lille (4) and Olympiakos Piraeus (4).

All four teams could still qualify after Olympiakos came from behind to beat Lille 2-1 in Greece although their night was spoilt by Giovanni getting himself sent off two minutes from time.

Substitute Salaheddine Bassir put Lille ahead after 37 minutes before the Greek champions won with second half goals from Alekos Alexandris (54) and Andreas Niniadis (64).

While group G is still a four-way battle, the race is almost run in group H with Sparta Prague, who have not conceded a goal in their four matches, assured of finishing either first or second.

Sparta guaranteed their place in the last 16 along with Real Madrid, who qualified on Tuesday, with a 2-0 win over Feyenoord in Rotterdam with a direct free kick from Jiri Jarosik (43) and a header from Jiri Novotny (78).

It was a miserable night for Feyenoord who had Pierre van Hooijdonk, for a dreadful tackle, and Ferry de Haan sent off in the second half.

ALMOST THROUGH

European champions Bayern Munich are almost through too after brushing aside Spartak Moscow but should they lose at home to Feyenoord next week the Dutch side still have a slim chance of pipping them.

Only 15,000 fans watched Claude Pizarro (7, 22), Elber (33, 52) and Alexander Zickler (90) win it for Bayern.

Barcelona moved to the top of group F with a 2-1 home win over Bayer Leverkusen with all the goals coming in the first half.

Patrick Kluivert (12) and Luis Enrique (38) delighted the 60,000 fans at the Nou Camp with their goals, but Bayer were always in with a chance after Carsten Ramelow struck in the 32nd minute and Barcelona defended desperately at the finish to keep hold of all three points.

They moved to the top with nine points from their four games, the same total as Bayer. They have identical head-to-head records but Barcelona have a better goal difference.

SLIM HOPES

Olympique Lyon kept their slim hopes alive and moved on to six points with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Fenerbahce.

The Turks went ahead through Oktay Derelioglu in the 35th minute.

Lyon equalised just before halftime through Sidney Govou and were inspired to victory in the second half by a great display from man-of-the match Eric Carriere who scored to put them 2-1 ahead after 52 minutes before Christophe Delmotte added the third.

There was also a change of leaders in group E with Juventus moving ahead of Celtic who slipped from first to third after losing 3-0 at Porto.

Juventus beat Rosenborg Trondheim 1-0 in Turin thanks to a 25th minute strike from Frenchman David Trezeguet.

That result, together with Porto's comfortable victory, means that Juventus now top the group with eight points, followed by Porto (7), Celtic (6) and Rosenborg (1).

Juventus play Porto next week in Turin while Rosenborg host Celtic.