Bayern and United go through
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Article summary
uefa.com updates the state of play in Groups A-D after Tuesday night's Matchday 5 fixtures.
Article body
Former title-winners FC Bayern München and Manchester United FC joined Juventus FC, Olympique Lyonnais, FC Internazionale Milano and Chelsea FC in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round after tonight's Matchday 5 fixtures in Groups A-D. Fenerbahçe SK and last season's semi-finalists RC Deportivo La Coruña were eliminated.
Group A
Olympiacos CFP's 1-0 win against Deportivo ended the Spanish side's hopes of even a UEFA Cup place, while the Greek team now need only a draw on Matchday 6 at Liverpool FC. AS Monaco FC defeated Liverpool 1-0 and will go through with victory at Deportivo next time out, with Liverpool requiring three points against Olympiacos to progress in the Champions League. If Liverpool win and Monaco draw, the English side will be through but who joins them will depend on their margin of victory.
Group B
Only one issue is settled: AS Roma's defeat at FC Dynamo Kyiv has ended their European campaign. Dynamo are two points clear of Real Madrid CF and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who drew today, and the Ukrainian side can qualify with a point in Germany on 8 December. Madrid will be through if they win in Rome, but should they draw they must hope Leverkusen lose against Dynamo, otherwise the Spaniards will instead enter the UEFA Cup. A Roma win would ensure Leverkusen and Dynamo both progress.
Group C
Juventus had already won the group before tonight, and Bayern will now definitely finish second after defeating Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC 5-1. AFC Ajax cannot now catch Bayern as they lost 1-0 at Juventus, but as long as they do as well against the German side as Maccabi do against Juventus on Matchday 6, the Dutch contenders will pip their Israeli counterparts to a UEFA Cup berth.
Group D
A 2-1 win over Lyon ensured Manchester United FC progressed, but Lyon will still finish top if they beat AC Sparta Praha on Matchday 6 and United fail to win at Fenerbahçe. The Turkish team's 1-0 win at AC Sparta Praha was not enough to keep alive their Champions League hopes but they are at least assured of a UEFA Cup place.
