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Leverkusen serve up 3-0 thrashing for Real Madrid
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-16 09:56
Bayer Leverkusen started their Champions League campaign with a shock 3-0 win
over a sluggish Real Madrid in a Group B game on Wednesday.
Leverkusen outplayed the nine times European champions to gain a
measure of revenge for a 2-1 defeat by the Spanish side in the 2002 final.
Real, who have won only once in 19 visits to Germany over the years,
looked ordinary and vulnerable despite the presence on the pitch of all their
top players.
A stylish performance ensured the German team ended a seven-game losing
streak in the competition, a record they shared with Fenerbahce and Spartak
Moscow.
Poland midfielder Jacek Krzynowek put them ahead with a powerful shot
from 25 metres after 39 minutes.
Brazilian forward Franca doubled their lead from the edge of the
penalty area five minutes into the second half and Bulgaria striker Dimitar
Berbatov completed the victory from close range five minutes later.
Real, who started the season with two narrow league wins and were
jeered by their fans in a laboured 1-0 victory over promoted Numancia at the
Bernabeu on Saturday, were never in contention.
NO OWEN
Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldo were all substituted after
looking shadows of their usually brilliant selves as Real only managed to put
Leverkusen under sustained pressure in the closing stages.
Michael Owen stayed on the bench but the form displayed on Wednesday by
Ronaldo and Raul suggested the England forward could soon win a place in the
starting lineup.
The first chances fell to the home side with a header from midfielder
Paul Freier and a close-range effort by Berbatov, none of which troubled Real
goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Real did not threaten until Figo fired narrowly wide from the corner of
the area after 14 minutes and they came close to scoring only once in a fairly
dull first half when Ronaldo hit the post following a swift counter-attack in
the 26th minute.
Leverkusen immediately resumed their march forward and created a string
of chances before Krzynowek scored with an effort from a corner that hit the
inside of the post and Casillas's arm before going into the net.
A furious start to the second half enabled the German side to take
total control with two goals in quick succession, which prompted roars of
appreciation from the 22,500 fans packed into the tiny BayArena stadium.
Leverkusen had lost four times and drawn once in their five previous
Champions League meetings with Real, who are desperate to bounce back after
losing at the quarter-final stage last season but did nothing on Wednesday to
suggest they would.
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