| Team News | Olympiakos:
Nikopolidis, Mavrogenidis, Schurrer, Kostoulas, Anatolakis, Maric, Stoltidis, Djordjevic, Georgatos, Rivaldo, Okkas. Subs: Giannou, Kafes, Castillo, Giovanni, Vallas, Filipakos, Pantos. Newcastle:
Given, Carr, Andrew O'Brien, Bramble, Hughes, Dyer, Butt, Faye, Robert, Shearer, Kluivert. Subs: Harper, Jenas, N'Zogbia, Milner, Ameobi, Taylor, Bowyer. |
Graeme Souness recalled England midfielder Nicky Butt and Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert for this crucial UEFA Cup clash, while Andy O'Brien replaced the ineligible Jean-Alain Boumsong at the back. Olympiakos boss Dusan Bajevic was able to name both injury doubts Rivaldo and Dimitrios Mavrogenedis in his starting line-up.
 | | Kluivert is tackled by Anatolakis |
The home side's fans had turned up in numbers long before kick-off and were
roaring their encouragement with a ball still to be kicked - and the noise increased once the game got under way. Newcastle struck first following a challenge on Dyer. Spanish referee Arturo Ibanez pointed to the penalty spot and sent Georgatos off. Alan Shearer smashed the ball into the back of the net. Penalties apiece But, if the home crowd thought the referee was too hasty with his first major decision, he went some way to redeeming his reputation, in Greece anyway, when he gave Olympiakos a penalty for O'Brien's challenge on midfielder Stoltidis. Predrag Djordjevic stepped up to the spot and levelled the score. It was something of a bad tempered game on both sides. Stephen Carr was booked for tripping Djordjevic, who made a theatrical fall. Seconds later, Dyer was hacked down by Kostoulas, and the yellow cards were flying. Newcastle gained the lead again 11 minutes before the break after Robert was brought down by Argentinian defender Gabriel Schurrer. Robert converted a magnificent free kick to put the Magpies ahead and mute the cacophony of the excitable home fans. Raised protests They soon gave voice to their rage though, and threw objects onto the pitch, when the referee booked Koustalas for the second time for a foul on Butt, reducing Olympiakos to nine men.
 | | Laurent Robert celebrates his goal |
After the break, a reduced Olympiakos returned to the pitch with Rivaldo their lone striker up front. To their credit, they refused to admit defeat with Djordjevic proving a threat at regular intervals and Stoltidis firing just over on 50 minutes. There was more inconsistency from the match officials as Schurrer escaped a card for a lunge at Shearer. Souness opted to rest some of his players after an hour, substituting Dyer and Robert in favour of Jermaine Jenas and James Milner. Milner played a significant part in Newcastle's goal on 69 minutes as he squared the ball for Kluivert to slot home. Olympiakos tried to find a way back into the match, but their lack of numbers made life comfortable for Newcastle. Given maintained his concentration throughout to mop up whatever did get past the defenders, leaving Newcastle with a comfortable margin ahead of the return leg at St James' Park |
