Captain Raul came to Real
Madrid's rescue when he equalled Alfredo Di Stefano's record of
49 goals in the European Cup to earn his side a 1-1 draw at home
to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
Real, who now must win their final Group B match at AS Roma
on December 8 to qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions
League, had a chance to snatch victory but Luis Figo's 81st
minute spot kick was brilliantly saved by Hans-Joerg Butt.
Dynamo Kiev lead the group with 10 points with both Real and
Leverkusen on eight points and AS Roma out of the reckoning with
one. Dynamo and Leverkusen also meet on December 8.
The home side were on the ropes for much of the match and
were in deep trouble when Dimitar Berbatov gave the visitors the
lead nine minutes before the break, firing into the roof of the
net from close range.
But Real claimed the draw thanks to a marvellous piece of
individual skill from Figo and smart finishing from Raul 20
minutes from time.
The Portuguese midfielder weaved his way past three
defenders, exchanged a smart one-two with Zinedine Zidane and
slipped the ball to Raul, who guided it into the net from two
metres out.
Leverkusen made a cautious start as they got men behind the
ball, looking to play on the break and appearing content to hand
the early initiative to Real.
But the home side struggled to make inroads against the
Leverkusen defence and their only chance in the first quarter
came when Raul screwed a close-range header over the bar after
David Beckham had swept in a free kick from the right.
With Real failing to create any serious danger and the home
crowd showing their impatience by whistling their own side,
Leverkusen gradually grew in confidence and began to push
forward in numbers.
They gave Real a warning of their intent in the 34th minute
when Krzynowek sliced wide with the goal at his mercy after the
ball fell to his feet seven metres out. Two minutes later,
however, Leverkusen made no mistake.
BECKHAM OFF
Skipper Jens Nowotny clipped in a cross from the right,
Andriy Voronin headed on to the bar and after the ball
ricocheted off Real defender Walter Samuel, Berbatov smashed it
into the roof of the net.
Real coach Mariano Garcia Remon rang the changes after the
break, taking Beckham off and giving Fernando Morientes a rare
run-out up front.
It was Leverkusen, though, who should have extended their
lead six minutes into the second half after Samuel gifted
possession to Berbatov 40 metres out from goal.
The Bulgarian slipped the ball to Krzynowek, who had a free
run on goal, but keeper Iker Casillas responded with a brilliant
reflex save to block the Pole's powerful shot.
Real finally burst into life 20 minutes from time when Figo
set off on a wonderful mazy run to set Raul up for the equaliser
and had it not been for some outstanding keeping from Butt the
Spaniards would have claimed the win.
A minute after Ronaldo had hit the post from close range in
the 77th minute, Butt produced a point blank save to deny Raul.
He then capped an excellent display with his penalty stop
just nine minutes from time after Zidane had manufactured the
spot kick by going down on the edge of the area under pressure
from Leverkusen defender Juan. |