Leeds United's 00/01 European Adventure Part 2: Continental Giants, Tough Starts, and Magical Moments.

After making harder work than necessary for their 3rd round Qualifying victory over 1860 Munich, Leeds only had to wait two days to find out who awaited them in the first group stage. The draw was to be made in Monaco and a coefficient of 43.728 (I won't pretend to know how UEFA arrived at this number) meant that Leeds would be placed into pot 3.

This would be Leeds' debut in the first group stage in the Champions League; previously, the European Cup, as it used to be known, was a simple tournament of knockout rounds. The only time Leeds had qualified for the Champions League since its makeover, was the 92/93 season where they lost to Rangers in the qualifying rounds, thus failing to make the group stage.

It was hard to know what to expect or what to hope for as Leeds fans. Do you cross your fingers hoping to land the big clubs and the 'glamour' ties that go along with them? Or do you hope to get the easiest possible draw, giving the team the best chance for further progression? Personally, I would prefer to play the teams we have the best chance of beating, those glamour ties will come eventually. At the time though I was just a kid, excited to be able to go to my Nanna and Grandad's house, stay up late (on school nights!), and watch football. Of course, this childish love of my club and football in general has been replaced by a support far more bitter and mean-spirited as I've reached adulthood.

In Monaco, Leeds were drawn into group H alongside indisputable continental giants Barcelona and AC Milan, with the Turkish club Besiktas filling the 4th spot. Talk about a baptism of fire: Leeds couldn't have really asked for a harder group. At the time, Barca and AC had won 6 Champions League titles between them (they've both since added several more), and it didn't go unnoticed that going back to Istanbul after what happened mere months earlier, would be emotionally difficult for every involved with the club.

Tough Starts

Leeds started their group stage campaign with arguably the toughest game of all: Barcelona at the famous Nou Camp (although playing AC Milan at the San Siro wouldn't have been much easier). If the Leeds players and fans were under any illusions as to the level of class they'd be up against, then those illusions were quickly shattered.

A still depleted Leeds team faced a Barcelona team brimming with talent; Rivaldo, Kluivert, Overmars, and Frank De Boer were all in the home side's line-up at the Nou camp. The difference in quality and experience was stark, and it showed on the pitch with Barcelona strolling to a 4-0 victory. The Leeds players had lessons to learn and they'd have to learn quickly.....

Dida's Disaster Gives Leeds a Famous Win

The following week, AC Milan were in town. Not exactly the game you'd want after a thrashing at the hands of another European heavyweight, but the Champions League isn't the place to be looking for easy games. At least this time they'd have the vocal Elland Road support backing them.

The Italians, managed by Alberto Zaccheroni, arrived in West Yorkshire with an array of stars as equally as impressive as anything Barcelona could offer; Shevchenko and Bierhoff up front, Costacurta and Maldini at the back. Formidable would be an understatement.  AC Milan may have had the superior team on paper, but the fact that they had yet to start their league campaign and the absolutely biblical weather conditions played into Leeds' hands.

Leeds' nerves were evident in the opening moments, but with the Italians looking off the pace, they began to dictate the tempo, and in the 20th minute they should have taken the lead; Eirik Bakke headed over from 8 yards out after meeting Bowyer's inch perfect cross.

The Leeds defence had managed to keep Shevchenko relatively quiet, but in the second half he showed glimpses of his undoubted talent by forcing Nigel Martyn into two fine saves. First, the Ukrainian striker brilliantly shifted his balance to create space on the edge of the box, before firing a ferocious shot towards the Leeds goal, which Martyn acrobatically tipped over the bar. Martyn was then forced to parry another hand-stinging Shevchenko strike behind for a corner.

But as the 90 minutes were almost up, Leeds struck. Bowyer hit what could be best described as a 'speculative' shot, which Dida somehow managed to drop the ball over the line. Calamitous stuff from the Brazil and Milan keeper, not that Leeds fans cared as their celebrations pierced the rain soaked sky.

I can still remember the slightly delayed celebration from everyone watching in my grandparents' living room; the fleeting moment from the slight groan when it looked  like Dida would easily collect the ball, to pure, slightly terrifying (for a 10 year-old), jubilation when everyone realised what had happened. An incredible memory.

It was a defiant win, and proved that the club weren't just there to make up the numbers. After the Nou Camp performance, questions were asked and concerns were understandably raised, but the players came out fighting against AC Milan. The goal may have been fortunate, but the performance was anything but, and Leeds were good value for the win.

Leeds Hit Besiktas for 6

If the AC Milan performance was Leeds putting down a marker, what came next was a real statement of intent. This time, Leeds would again be at home, and Besiktas would be the visitors. Given what happened against Galatasaray only months beforehand, there was a heightened air of tension surrounding the match. The security operation took months of planning (apparently the biggest since President Clinton visited the city), officially charted planes were cancelled, and only 70 Besiktas fans travelled for the game. Thankfully, the match passed without any serious incidents.

The Leeds players managed to block out all the pre-game distractions to deliver one of the club's most complete performances in Europe. They not only beat Besiktas, but humiliated them. Bowyer scored a brace, with Viduka, Matteo, Huckerby, Bakke also contributing to the 6-0 score-line. My lasting memory of this game was Lee Bowyer's performance, and how much he impressed my dad. He was everywhere there night, displaying the perfect mix of quality and absolute determination that Leeds fans love.

All To Play For

At the midway point in the group, Leeds had bounced back from their tough start, with 6 points on the boards, joint with AC Milan and 3 ahead of both Barcelona and Besiktas. It was a position that few 'experts' predicted they'd be in. However, there was a long way to go before they could start patting themselves on the back.

The first game back after the mid-group break, saw Leeds travel to Turkey, again. Due to the aforementioned tragedy that occurred back in April in Istanbul, the security was incredibly tight, as it had been at Elland road, with only a few Leeds fans able to travel and watch the game. Unfortunately, from Leeds point of view, there wouldn't be a repeat of the 6-0 thrashing as both teams played out a 0-0 draw. Hardly ideal, as this would've been the fixture that Leeds would've earmarked as one that they were most likely to pick up points from. Thankfully, Barcelona and AC also drew with each other, which meant the points gap and goal difference remained unchanged.

Heroics and Cruelty

On the 24th of October, Barcelona were the visitors for Leeds' last home game of the group stage. This may have been the Barcelona team who put 4 past them only a month earlier, but Leeds were unfazed, and started the game in exceptional fashion. 5 minutes into the game, Leeds won a free-kick deep on the left flank. Lee Bowyer stood over the ball as both sets of players gathered in the box waiting for the cross. Instead, Bowyer whipped the ball high towards the back post, leaving Dutruel in the Barcelona goal grasping at thin air as the ball sailed over his outstretched arms, and into the net. 1-0 Leeds.

It was an incredible start, but there were still 85 minutes to play, and Barcelona knew a defeat would see them crash out of the champions league - they were going to throw everything at Leeds. The rest of the game was a battle of wills between both teams, with 2 players in particular taking centre stage; for Barcelona it was their World Player of the Year Rivaldo, while for Leeds it was England under-21 'keeper Paul Robinson.

As the 2nd half wore on, Barcelona, and particularly Rivaldo, had chance after chance, but Robinson stood up to everything fired his way, producing some fine saves. Even when Rivaldo thought he'd finally got the better of the young goalkeeper, the offside flag came to Leeds' rescue.

And just when it looked like Leeds might secure another famous victory to qualify for the next stage, and send their illustrious opponents out of the competition, cruelty struck, as it so often does in football. With the game in injury-time, Barcelona launched yet another cross into the box after a failed Leeds clearance. Leeds had defended resolutely in the air, but this time it was a Barcelona head that connected with the cross, which sent the ball cannoning off the post. Leeds didn't have time to feel relieved as the ball bounced towards the penalty spot where Rivaldo was waiting to finish. He'd finally beaten Robinson. A couple of hundred miles away in Scotland, a quiet air of deflation filled my grandparents living room.

The equaliser was certainly devastating, but there were positives. Firstly, Paul Robinson, who was deputising for the injury Martyn was heroic in goals and his performance belied his age and experience. Secondly, Leeds were still 3 points ahead of Barcelona with a superior goal difference. A point at the San Siro would see them through, regardless of what Barcelona did against Besiktas. Getting a point at the San Siro is easier said than done, of course.

Matteo's Moment of Magic

Leeds arrived at the San Siro ready to make one final push for qualification to the next group phase. AC Milan had already secured their qualification, but ever the professionals, they didn't allow themselves to become complacent. Serginho and Shevchenko looked dangerous in the early exchanges, but they couldn't make a breakthrough. Instead, on the stroke of half-time, Dom Matteo scored what would be Leeds' most significant goal of the campaign so far. He broke free from the scrum of players in the middle of the box awaiting Lee Bowyer's corner, to meet the ball at the near post, and directed his header past Dida. It was another magical moment for the Leeds fans to savour and a goal that would enter Leeds folklore, one that is still sung about from the Elland Road stands to this day.

AC Milan equalised in the 68th minute, making the last 25 minutes nervy for Leeds , but ultimately it didn't matter. Leeds secured their point and qualification along with it. This young, and inexperienced team showed that they could face up to some of Europe's best teams, and grind out results when necessary. With each game they matured; O'Leary's babies were growing up.

Next Stop: the 2nd Group Phase

As impressive as it was for Leeds to qualify from such a strong group, defying all odds and predictions, they couldn't bask in their achievement for too long. It was only 3 weeks until the second group phase kicked off, where an even tougher test awaited.