Champions League

Arsenal and Lyon win, Spartak out, Real and Leads
advance to the quarterfinals

LONDON, March 6 - Arsenal and Olympique Lyon were  the big winners on Tuesday
as they kept alive their hopes of  reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Arsenal beat Spartak Moscow 1-0 at Highbury and Lyon scored one of the best results
in their history to beat Bayern Munich  3-0 to leave three teams challenging for the two
qualifying spots from group C.

With one match to play, Bayern (10 points), Arsenal (8) and Lyon (7) all have a chance
of reaching the last eight.  Bayern host Arsenal and Lyon travel to Moscow next week in
the final matches wich will decide who goes through. The major issue decided was that
Spartak Moscow stayed bottom of the group on three points and were eliminated.

In group D, European champions Real Madrid beat Leeds United 3-2 to settle the matter
of which of the two already-qualified teams finished first. The victory moved Real on to 13
points from their five matches -- four clear with one match left. They now have the added
bonus of playing the second leg of the quarter-final at home, and being drawn against a second-placed group finisher.

Leeds, also assured of a place in the last eight before the match, took second place. Lazio defeated Anderlecht 2-1 in Rome between the two sides already eliminated. The Real-Leeds match was the best of the night with both sides holding the lead at one stage before Real scored
a somewhat fortunate win.

Two goals from Raul -- taking his already all-time high tally in the Champions League up to 26, and one from Luis Figo sealed the points for Real. But Raul's first goal was the result of a flagrant handball which the officials missed and their second came after a Figo  cross took a freak bounce and ended up in the back of the net. In reply, Alan Smith scored a goal that looked suspiciously offside and Mark Viduka headed home.

POSSIBILITIES

While the outcome in group D was clear, the possibilities in group C remained intriguing. Depending on next week's results any two of the three clubs can reach the last eight -- and Frenchman Thierry Henry made sure Arsenal stayed in with a chance by scoring the only
goal of the game at Highbury with an 82nd minute header.

"I did not play all that well tonight, and I do not usually score goals with my head," he said,
"but I had to get a goal because I had missed a couple of easy chances earlier -- and the
team had played very well despite me."

It was the first time Arsenal had beaten Spartak following three previous defeats against the Russians in Europe. And they are now on the verge of reaching the last eight of Europe's
premier club competition for the first time since 1972 when they reached the quarter-finals
of the old European Cup.

Lyon beat Bayern with two goals from Sidney Govou and one by Pierre Laigle and made a mockery of the fact they had three players suspended. Laigle said: "We deserved this win -- we took our chances well ...we are still in with a chance."

The Champions League continues on Wednesday with Manchester United facing Panathinaikos
in Athens and Sturm Graz playing Valencia at home in group A.

In group B Deportivo Coruna meet Paris St Germain and Galatasaray play AC Milan.

MADRID - Real Madrid secured first place in Champions League group D after making the most of their luck to beat a lively Leeds United side 3-2. Victory came through a 60th minute glancing header from Raul after Luis Figo had spun a teasing cross into the heart of the penalty area.

But Real's other two goals contained more than their fair share of good fortune. The first was the result of an outrageous handball by Raul and the second came after a Figo cross took a freak bounce and ended up in the back of the net.

The result means that the reigning European champions have ensured they will enjoy the double benefit of home advantage in the return leg of their quarter-final in a tie against one of the tournament's second-placed teams.

Leeds made a dream start, taking the lead after just six minutes. Mark Viduka skipped past a half-hearted challenge by Aitor Karanka on the right and curled in a neat pass to the feet of the advancing Alan Smith. The England Under-21 striker, who had looked suspiciously offside, neatly slotted the ball past Real keeper Cesar to make it 1-0. But Real took less than a minute to pull level, albeit after Raul's blatant handball. Figo spun in a free kick to the near post and the Spanish international striker directed it into the net with his hand. To the surprise of the crowd the goal was allowed to stand.

Real dominated the possession, but it was Leeds who were impatient to test the Real defence once more. Harry Kewell made good ground on the left and sent a well weighted cross into the area where it was met by his compatriot Viduka. But the Australian could only manage to head into the ground allowing Cesar to gather with relative ease. Real then had two good chances to take the lead. Raul tried his luck from long distance on 18 minutes, but Nigel Martyn saved sharply. A minute later Cameroon international defender Geremi muscled past two defenders by the right corner flag, but his cross was squandered by Steve McManaman who sliced his shot well over the bar. Real strung together some smooth passing movements, but it was Leeds who played with more urgency. David Batty chased hard and directed the Leeds midfield effectively.

The home side made the most of their luck once more and took the lead four minutes before half time. Figo escaped past Dominic Matteo on the right and his cross bobbled across the greasy surface and hopped over Martyn into the net to make it 2-1.

Leeds levelled nine minutes into the second half as Viduka rose well after a corner to head past the feet of Cesar. But David O'Leary's young pretenders were unable to stop the Raul-Figo combination giving the European champions victory.

This time Raul extended his record Champions League tally to 26 with a quality header. He has scored his 26 goals, three more than Brazilian Jardel of Galatasaray, in 50 games.