LONDON, 21 October 2004 — Over 83,000 fans were present to welcome former AC Milan idol Frank Rijkaard to the San Siro stadium in the match of the night in Champions League action but the Barcelona coach left disappointed as his side went down 1-0.
Henrik Larsson had a chance to put the Spanish League leaders ahead on 19 minutes but the Swedish international’s shot came back off the crossbar. Barcelona were made to pay for Larsson’s miss 12 minutes later when Andriy Shevchenko headed home a Cafu cross.
Barca pushed forward after the break looking for the equalizer, but created only one clear-cut chance shortly before the end when Andres Iniesta hit the bar. The result leaves Milan virtually assured of qualification from Group F with nine points, followed by Barca on six.
Shakhtar Donetsk are now favorites to finish at least third in the group and with it a place in the UEFA Cup after a second half brace from Brazilian Matuzalem helped them to a 3-0 win over Glasgow Celtic. The Ukrainian side move onto three points while Celtic remain without a point.
Arsenal may have retained their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-2 draw away to Panathinaikos in Group E but coach Arsene Wenger will have to ask questions of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann who was at fault for both goals.
Swedish international Freddi Ljungberg put the Gunners ahead on 18 minutes when he latched on to a beautiful pass from Jose Antonio Reyes and clipped the ball over the approaching Konstantinos Chalkias.
Ezequiel Gonzalez equalized on 65 minutes when a Lehmann header landed at his feet and he chipped the German international and although Thierry Henry restored Arsenal’s lead Emanuel Olisadebe leveled matters when he headed in an Angelos Basinas corner Lehmann should have claimed.
PSV Eindhoven beat Rosenborg 2-1 thanks to goals from Jefferson Farfan and John De Jong in the other group match in Trondheim to move top of the group on six points, one clear of Arsenal and two clear of the Greeks.
Defending champions FC Porto look like not even making it out Group H after Paris Saint Germain scored twice in two minutes through a sublime Charles-Edouard Coridon volley and a tap-in from Portuguese international Pauleta.
Meanwhile, former Porto coach Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side maintained their 100 percent record in the same group with a competent 2-0 home win over CSKA Moscow.
John Terry opened the scoring for the Londoners after nine minutes, heading home from four meters after CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev failed to prevent Eidur Gudjohnsen from heading the ball back across his area.
The guests had several chances to equalize but instead with was Gudjohnsen who made it 2-0 in first half injury time when he headed home a Damien Duff free kick from the right. Chelsea now have nine points, followed by CSKA on four, PSG on three and Porto on one.
Two goals within a minute of each other shortly after the restart helped Inter Milan to a 5-1 win away to Valencia in Group G.
Dejan Stankovic headed home totally unmarked from 10 meters and less than 60 seconds later Curro Torres failed to clear a cross from Adriano on the right and Christian Vieri was on hand to steer the ball past Santiago Canizares in the Valencia goal.
Although Pablo Aimar pulled one back for Valencia midway through the second half, goals from substitute Andy van der Meyde, a fourth Champions League goal from Adriano and a last minute effort from another substitute Julio Ricardo Cruz completed the rout.
In the other game in Group G, Anderlecht went down 2-1 to Werder Bremen to leave the Germans on six points, three behind Inter.
Christian Wilhelmsson put the Belgians in front after 26 minutes, slotting home a cross from Vincent Kompany but Ivan Klasnic equalized for the German champions 10 minutes later after Anderlecht goalkeeper Daniel Zitka spilled the ball under a challenge from Miroslav Klose.
Klasnic got his second of the game after 59 minutes following a fine buildup between Klose and the impressive Johan Micoud.
