
PARIS, Sept 29: The two most successful sides in the history of Europe8217;s premier club competition had mixed fortunes in yesterday8217;s European Champions League with Real Madrid taking control of Group E with a 3-1 victory over closest rivals FC Porto while in Group H, AC Milan are still looking far from convincing after a 1-1 home draw with Hertha Berlin.
Real, second behind FC Porto before the start of play in Group E, won 3-1 at their Bernabeu Stadium fortress to leapfrog the Portuguese side in the table and give their campaign for an eighth European title a boost.
An Ivan Helguera strike eight minutes before the interval put the Spanish side back in front and a Fernando Hierro penalty after 68 minutes calmed the nerves of the fans and Real8217;s Welsh coach John Toshack.
Scores
Group E: Real Madrid 3 Fernano Morientes, Ivan Helguera, Fernano Hierro bt FC Porto Jardel; Olympiakos 3 Giovanni 2, Luciano bt Molde 1 Andreas Lund.
GROUP F: Bayern Munich 1 Giovane Elber drew Valencia 1Gerard Lopez; Rangers 1 Jorg Albertz bt PSV Eindhoven 0.
Group G: Bordeaux 2 Wiltord, Johan Micoud bt Spartak Moscow 1 Artem Bezrodnyi; Sparta Prague 4 Jiri Novotny, Martin Prohaszka, Tomas Rosickybt, Jiri Jarosik bt Willem II Tilburg 0.
Group H: AC Milan 1 Oliver Bierhoff drew Hertha Berlin 1 Ali Daei; Chelsea 1 Petrescu bt Galatasary 0.