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Leverkusen serve up 3-0 thrashing for Real Madrid
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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