British sides had a very mixed set of resulsts whilst Lyon French side Lyon became the first side to qualify from the Group Stages. Also, Real Madrid all but qualified with a convincing win in Norway.
First of all, Liverpool romped to a 3-0 win over Belgian side Anderlecht. The goals came from Spanish duo Morientes and Garcia, also Cisse got on the scoresheet after coming on for Crouch during the second half. Anderlecht were reduced to ten men late on when Nenad Jestrovic was sent off for a racists comment to Sissoko. Chelsea suffered their first defeat in the Champions League this year at the hands of Spanish outfit Real Betis. The La Liga side took the lead substitute Dani grabbed the only goal with a cool finish past Petr Cech just before the half-hour mark. The win for Betis now lifts them to within a point of Chelsea.
Rangers twice took the lead against Artmedia Bratislava but only to be pegged back twice and the match end in a draw. Dado Prso and Steven Thompson twice put Rangers ahead but Balazs Borbely and Jan Kozak levelled on both occasions. The second goal for Bratislava was down to a goal keeping error from Wateruss. Inter Milan came from behind at home to FC Porto to stay in control of Group H with a 2-1 victory. Miguel Hugo Almeida put the 2004 winners in front with a brilliant free-kick but Julio Cruz bagged a brace to seal three points for the Italians. That group now looks like going down to the wire with all sides very close to one another.
Lyon booked their place in the knock out stages after a hard fought win over Greek side Olimpiakos. The Greeks went in front through Haruna Babangida, but Juninho levelled before a John Carew brace and Mahamadou Diarra strike put the result beyond doubt. Real Madrid all-but-guaranteed their progress with a comfortable 2-0 victory away at Norwegian side Rosenborg. Mikael Dorsin put though his own net before Guti wrapped up the points. The game marked David Beckham's 100th Champions League appearances.
PSV Eindhoven took top spot in Group E from AC Milan with a 1-0 victory over their Italian rivals in Holland. PSV went ahead early on through striker Jefferson Farfan and held on as Milan were reduced to 10 men, Jaap Stam seeing red with six minutes to go. Schalke also went above Milan with a 2-0 win over nine-man Fenerbahce. Kevin Kuranyi opened the scoring and the Turks had Fabio Luciano and Marco Aurelio both sent off before Ebbe Sand finished them off towards the end.
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