The first division started off with Benfica setting the early pace. Benfica are considered to be a team close to winning the championship that has eluded them. They managed to defeat newly promoted Deportivo in a close match. They were 2 - 0 down after 15 minutes but pulled one back before half time, the went onto win the game with Otero grabbing his second and Brizuela scoring on the 65th minute. Inter are joint top after beating Roma. The former champions will want similar season to the first 3 season where they won the league. Inter went ahead from new signing Saviola on 6 minutes. Veron equalised later on 25 minutes. Then Roma took the lead on 72 minutes when Veron grabbed a brace. To Inters credit they didn't give in and George equalised again to make it 2-2. Batistuta turned out to be the hero and hand Inter and excellent 3-2 win. Panathinaikos were maybe the surprise team. They beat Milan. Milan went in the lead through Jardel on 12 minutes. Bugnet equalised for the visitors, but nine minutes later Szabics put Milan in the lead to take them to half time. Vassell equalised once more for Panathinaikos to make it level again. Against the odds Pana went in the lead on 62 minutes through Spyniewski. They managed to hold on for a great 3-2 victory.
After the first set of games in division two, it was newly promoted Udinese that topped the league. They played unmanaged Galatasaray. They went into the lead on 18 minutes where Sosa put the visitors in the lead. They managed to stay in the lead till half time. It was only 10 minutes into the second half when Udinese managed to double their lead when Nalitzis scored. It remained 2-0 for the rest of the match. Paul Bickley's brother's team, Real Betis occupied the second automatic position after beating newly promoted Atlanta. Betis got off to a great start after winger Mpenza put them in the lead on 6 minutes. 6 minutes later Atlanta equalised through Rinaldi. Vasquez put Betis in in the lead again on 23 minutes. It remained 2-1 at half time. Zauri equalised for Atlanta again, but Betis took the lead for the first tim. Sub, Coelho scored what appeared to be the winner.
Division 3 was headed by relegated Espanyol. They beat Spt Lisbon. Posse put Espanyol ahead on 15 minutes. It was not until 82 minutes when they doubled their lead, Velamazan scored the final goal of the game. Bari filled the second spot after a win against Parma. Bari went in the lead through gregorio on 9 minutes. Mazzarelli made it 2-0 on 34 minutes. Smardzic pulled back a valuable goal just before the break. Almeyda equalised for Parma to complete a come back. Poggi scored a winner with 3 minutes to go to send Bari home happy.
"W efeel that we under achieved in the top division. We fully believed that would could stay up or at least fight
In the early part of the season it was Perugia, one of the managed teams, who topped the group with 7 points and a goal difference of plus 3 was enough to keep them just ahead of second placed Sporting Lisbon. Udinese, the other managed team were lying in sixth place and only 2 points off the top. Torino propped up the table, yet to win or manage a draw.
The season progressed and Perugia manged to stay top on their own, two ahead of second placed Parma who had managed to move up one into the automatic places. Sporting Lisbon had been out of form and had dropped from second to sixth. Udinese had picked up their game and had managed to move up to third and looking to move up again. Torino managed to start to pick up some points but still remained bottom but only by one point.
With only a handfull of games left to play, the two managed teams were first and second. Perugia remained top and have been there from the very early stages of the season. They were 3 points clear of Udinese who have moved up as the season has progressed. They are 3 points ahead of Atlanta and 3 points behind Perugia. The play off places are still to play for with two able to make it with one win. Torino remained at the foot of the table and still one behind eleventh place.
Perugia then found themselves without a manager which had a big effect and Udinese took advantage. Udinese managed to overtake Perugia and on the last they of the season they had to play Perugia. The winner would win the title, but both are promoted. Udinese ran out winners 3-1 and managed to win the title comfortably by 5 points. Third placed Atlanta managed to come through the play offs and gain promotion the hard way. Torino lost form towards the end of the season and came bottom by 6 points.
Winner - Udinese
Runner Up - Perugia
Play Off Winner - Atlanta
LEAGUE - WK 3 LEAGUE - WK 13 LEAGUE - WK 22
1. Perugia 7pts +3 1. Perugia 27pts +10 1. Udinese 47pts +17
2. Lisbon 7pts +2 2. Atlanta 25pts +7 2. Perugia 42 pts +11
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3. Parma 6pts +2 3. Udinese 24pts +6 3. Atlanta 41pts +12
4. Fio'tina 6pts +1 4. Parma 20pts +2 4. Parma 35pts +2
5. Bilboa 5pts +1 5. Bari 17pts +3 5. Lisbon 33pts +4
6. Udinese 5pts +1 6. Lisbon 17pts -1 6. Fio'tina 27pts -4
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7. Zar'goza 4pts 0 7. Oly'kos 16pts 0 7. Bari 25pts +1
8. Oly'kos 3pts 0 8. Fio'tina 16pts -2 8. Oly'kos 25pts -1
9. Bari 2pts -1 9. Napoli 11pts -5 9. Bilboa 20pts -9
10. Napoli 1pt -1 10. Bilboa 11pts -5 10. Zar'goza 20pts -12
11. Atlanta 1pt -3 11. Zar'goza 10pts -8 11. Napoli 19pts -8
12. Torino 0pts -4 12. Torino 9pts -7 12. Torino 13pts -13
* Lyon sell Coupet (81 361 GK) to Valencia for 3 million.
* Real Betis swap Saarenpaa (81 360 CB) and Limberopoulo (81 344 W) for Carlos Puyol (81 370 FB) of Barcelona.
* Valencia swap Kerckhoven (81 362 CB) for Marlet (81 368 W) of Chelsea.
* Udinese buy Reina (80 372 GK) off Barcelona for 2 million.
* Liverpool buy Zepek (79 377 FB) from AS Roma for a fee of 1.75 million.
THERE WAS NO CUP MATCHES PLAYED THIS WEEK.
