Makaay's late goal at Riazor knocks Bayern out of the Champions League

Bayern Munich's signings for 2002–03 included Michael Ballack, Zé Roberto and Sebastian Deisler, and they had Oliver Kahn, the player of the tournament at that summer's World Cup, in goal. Early elimination from the Champions League was not expected.

Their group had AC Milan, Lens and Deportivo La Coruña in it, and it went wrong on the first night. In September, at the Olympiastadion, Roy Makaay scored in the 12th minute, again just before half-time and a third time in the 77th. Hasan Salihamidžić and Giovane Élber scored for Bayern in between, and Deportivo won 3–2. Bayern drew 1–1 at Lens next time out. "We now have to beat Milan at home," Ottmar Hitzfeld said.

Riazor

When Bayern went to La Coruña on 29 October, Kahn was not in the side; Stefan Wessels kept goal. Javier Irureta's Deportivo included Makaay, Víctor, Mauro Silva, Noureddine Naybet and Joan Capdevila.

Víctor gave Deportivo the lead nine minutes after half-time. Hitzfeld had already sent on Roque Santa Cruz at the interval, and in the 77th minute Santa Cruz equalised.

In the 89th minute Makaay scored the winner. It was his fourth goal in two games against Bayern. Deportivo won 2–1, and in Bayern's own telling of their history, it was a Makaay goal for Deportivo that put them out.

Bottom

Bayern finished last in the group with two points, no wins, two draws and four defeats. Milan and Deportivo both finished on 12 points and went through.

At home Bayern had no such trouble. They won the Bundesliga by 16 points from Stuttgart and beat Kaiserslautern 3–1 in the German Cup final, Ballack scoring twice, for the club's fourth double.

Makaay finished the season with 29 goals, the most in Europe, and won the Golden Boot. That summer Valencia and Barcelona wanted him too. He chose Bayern, who paid Deportivo a club-record fee; Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had been important in persuading him.